May 17, 1853

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lizzie Ellicott

Chastises her lightly for not replying to his note and gift sooner. Mentions that he was in Syracuse, New York and visited Gerrit Smith in Petersboro where he also gave a speech. Hopes to visit in July.

GLC00644

October 6, 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Lee

Confederate Major General Smith discusses troop activities and movements, including an attack on Union gunboats. Also discusses a requisition for "negroes to work upon the fortifications under recent act of the Legislature - When we get negroes the works will be finished rapidly to completion." Refers to the request of North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance "for more protection for the eastern portion of the state." Writes "The yellow fever at Wilmington will prevent the enemy from attempting anything in that quarter for some time to come - and during the epidemic the Troops had better be…

GLC00648

December 21, 1863-August 23, 1864

Waltz, Henry J., 1832-1910

Diary

Title: [Collection of Henry J. Waltz, Company I, 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry]

Autograph manuscript signed by Waltz, a Lieutenant in I Company of the 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered from service in 1864. Diary entries include Battles of Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Ana, and Cold Harbor. Includes separate manuscript concerning the Battle of Petersburg in Size 1.

GLC00653.13

1863-1866

Macgowan, Ed, fl. 1863-1866

Manuscript

Title: [List of deceased soldiers for New York State Soldiers' Depot]

Book lists soldiers who died in New York State Soldiers' Depot. Entries on first thirteen pages include possessions for the deceased. These entries list name of deceased, their unit and residence, any effects they had, and whom these effects were given to. Some entries also include notes. Most soldiers left clothing and cash, generally sent to their families. The remainder of the book lists chronologically those that died in the hospital. This section begins "The N.Y.S. Soldiers Depot for Reception of Soldiers 20th May, 1863. The first case received in hospital was on that date...Was…

GLC00653.16

1864-1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George B. Cook, E company, 42nd regiment, North Carolina, infantry] [decimalized]

This collection consists of a series of letters from Private George B. Cook of the 42nd North Carolina infantry regiment to members of his family. Cook was drafted into the army of the Confederate States of America on September 11, 1864. He was 19 years old at the time. He was mustered into E Company of the 42nd infantry regiment as a private on the same day. The date and method of his discharge is unknown, but he was paroled on June 7, 1865 in Mocksville, North Carolina. At the time of Cook's enlistment, the 42nd North Carolina was part of the Army of Northern Virginia. Cook fought at the…

GLC00653.22

July 7, 1857

Clymer, George, 1804-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

Instructions on how to write to her husband, Captain William McBlair, while he is at sea off the African coast. George Clymer was a U.S. Naval surgeon.

GLC00722.57

July 8, 1858

Winder, Edward L., fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Relates a conversation with British Naval Commander Wise regarding capture of a slave trading ship. Winder, an American sailor had been stationed on the British ship "Vesuvius," under the command of Wise. Wise told Winder that he had boarded a ship, convinced she was "a slaver," but "could not touch her" because she flew the American flag. When Wise warned the ship that he would inform the "Dale" of her presence, the American flag was brought down, and the captain surrendered. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Edward Lloyd Winder, a Lieutenant in the United…

GLC00722.39

July 8, 1858

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Ordering that William Ford, a Landsman on board the "Dale" be sent home to the United States, because he has been "condemned by Medical Survey." Letter written on board the "Cumberland" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Conover was commander of the African Squadron.

GLC00722.40

31 August 1858 - 3 September 1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Manuscript document

Title: Report of target practice on board the U.S.S. Dale

Reporting the outcomes of three target practice sessions, for cannons, muskets and rifles, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Docketed in clerical hand, with note: "Sent to Chief of Bureau"

GLC00722.41

October 9, 1858

Engels, L. Allen, fl. 1858-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports that the water being taken on board the ship is "undesirable" for drinking and should not be used by the crew. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" near Quittah, Ghana. Engels was an assistant surgeon.

GLC00722.42

January 1, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

John S. Cunningham reports on the capture of the American schooner "Angeline" by a British ship. Relates a conversation he had with William Kerr, a sailor on the "Angeline," regarding its capture. States that forces from the British steamer "Conflict" captured the "Angeline," despite the fact that she was flying the American flag and had American papers. The British forced the captain to surrender, took the ship and left its crew in Africa. Says the "Angeline" was not a slave ship and wonders why, if the ship was supposedly a slave trader, the British members of the crew were not sent to…

GLC00722.43

January 10, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Informs McBlair that he is "in debt to the United States for six months provisions" due to a change in rules governing rations. The rule reads "'The Rule' in regard to the change in keeping the accounts of Provisions issued to officer's messes from Invoice cost to Ration Table price should take effect from the Commencement of the Quarter after the date of its receipt by the Purser." Cunningham has learned of this rule change through a letter recently sent to him "from the Government." Written on the docket, in pencil "Cunningham was too fast." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at…

GLC00722.44

January 18, 1859

Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reporting Samuel Brown, a boy, for disobedience and abusive language, "for threatening to revenge himself upon my person should it be five years hence." Docket notes that Hasker "slapped the boy." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Charles H. Hasker was a boatswain on the U.S.S. "Dale"; he later served as a Lieutenant in the Confederate Navy.

GLC00722.45

January 31, 1859

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting a survey of the ship's sails, with an autograph endorsement signed by McBlair at the bottom of the page, ordering his lieutenants to conduct the survey. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," while at sea. King was the sailmaker on board the "Dale."

GLC00722.46

January 31, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reporting, at McBlair's request, that $1,568 is "on board to the credit of the government" and $1,450 is due to the "Kroomen" (native crewmen from Liberia) of the ship. Also notes that he requested $6,000 from the flag ship, but received $4,000. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" while at sea.

GLC00722.47

March 15, 1859

Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Report against Clement Brooke for drunken behavior. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree Island, Senegal.

GLC00722.49

March 18, 1859

Engels, L. Allen, fl. 1858-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter with McBlair's autograph endorsement signed at the bottom, regarding the injury caused by confinement at sea. Letter reports that Henry O. Jennings and William Bainbridge have been ordered by a court martial to be confined in cells for eight hours a day for ten days, but Engles believes this will injure their health. Engles believes "confinement in the cells for a longer period than 6 consecutive hours is calculated sensibly to injure the health of the persons confined." McBlair's endorsement reduces the sentences for both men to six hours a day of imprisonment. Written on board the U.…

GLC00722.50

21 March 1859

Speiden, Robert, fl. 1857-1859

Document signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter to McBlair listing the provisions on board the U.S.S. "Dale." The letter is a "Statement of provisions required for 116 person for sixty days and the quantity now on hand." Notes how many pounds of bread, beef, coffee, whiskey and other items are required for the vessel, and how many are, in fact, on board. (Quantities of some items on board are less than the required amount. ) Speiden also notes that "The greater part of the Flour is not good." Written on board the "Dale" off Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.51

March 23, 1859

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Conover orders McBlair to receive two prisoners for transport to the United States. McBlair is to transport Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf back to the United States. Both were discharged from the Navy for "Bad Conduct." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.52

March 25, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Forwarding papers describing the sentences of Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf. Both men had been discharged from the Navy for bad conduct. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya. Benjamin J. Totten, the commander of the U.S.S. "Vincennes," was later promoted to commodore, served as governor of the Naval asylum at Philadelphia for two years, and published a number of works regarding the Navy.

GLC00722.53

February 24, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Document signed

Title: Case of Fredk Breckendorf, seaman

Breckendorf was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged after being found with marine drummer boy Edwin Donnohoe "under improper and suspicious circumstance." He was also placed in solitary confinement for thirty days for his "scandalous conduct." Signed twice by Totten.

GLC00722.54

March 25, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Totten ordering McBlair to receive two prisoners, and to exchange drummer boys. He informs McBlair that he will receive on his ship "the men Connor and Breckendorf, sentenced by Summary Court Martial to be discharged from the Naval Services." He also orders McBlair to exchange drummers. Edwin Donnohoe, the drummer boy on board Totten's ship, is being sent to McBlair's ship because he "was implicated in an unnatural crime with the man Breckendorf, and perjured himself before the Summary Court Martial, and therefore should be discharged from the corps as soon as possible." Letter written on…

GLC00722.55

March 28, 1859

Fusner, George P., fl. 1859

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Transmitting the "Size Roll, & Clothing Account of Drummer" Edwin Donnohoe. Donnohoe was being transferred to McBlair's ship because of his improper involvement with a sailor on board his previous ship. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.56

October 13, 1857-October 17, 1857

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to V. McBlair

Writing to his wife, discusses attempts to catch a slave trader, life at sea, family matters, and religion. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea.

GLC00722.58

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to V. McBlair

Letter to his wife discussing life at sea and his visit to Liberia. Upon arrival in Liberia, McBlair's ship "Dale" gives the young nation a twenty-one gun salute. In Monrovia, the Liberian capital, McBlair meets with President Benson and former President Roberts, both of whom he speaks highly of. He discusses the "sleepy disease," which has killed one of his men. Also discusses family matters. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea. Stephen A. Benson served as president of Liberia from 1856-1864. Joseph Jenkins Roberts was the first president of Liberia, from 1848-1856, and again…

GLC00722.59