1861-1865 circa

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters, clipped signatures, and newsclippings from Lincoln's cabinet members [decimalized]

The collection is split into three subsections: .01, .02, and .03. GLC05603.01 is a collection of letters from Lincoln's cabinet members regarding Civil War legislation and other matters. It is decimalized .01-.33. GLC05603.02 is a collection of clipped signatures and notes from members of Lincoln's cabinet, the Civil War legislature, and other associates. Includes items of Charles Sumner, Horace Greeley, Edward Everett, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe among others. Also includes nine Lincoln cartoons reproduced from Punch. It is decimalized .01-.94. GLC05603.03 is a…

GLC05603

24 July 1864

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James W. Grimes

Worries about the defense of Washington and discusses his new position as Secretary of the Treasury. The state of the treasury is bad, his task is very complicated, and his health makes the problem worse. Worries about the safety of Washington, the strategy of the Union army, and the actions of the politicians. "In my humble judgment, we are going to the Devil politically, at a pretty swift pace. Every body sees it except those who should see it most clearly, and yet we blunder on as stupidly, or more stupidly, than ever. Only worse blunders on the part of our adversaries will save us -…

GLC05603.01.01

22 March 1864

Pierrepont, Edwards, 1817-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Evarts

Recounts a private conversation with the Secretary of State William H. Seward. Discusses presidential politics. Reports that Salmon P. Chase has withdrawn from the election. Remarks, "Mr. Lincoln has the people; there is no doubt of this; but he has not the upper classes nor the Politicians ... The Copperheads are all for McClellan. The radicals and Germans for Fremont. The Common Man for Lincoln ... " Mentions the ongoing Civil War, "Grant [General Ulysses S.] comes here today and leads the Army of the Potomac. We have every confidence that Lee must be destroyed ... We expect bloody…

GLC05603.01.02

circa April 6, 1865

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Mary Todd Lincoln]

Last three pages of a longer letter. Recipient inferred based on content. Senator Sumner, en route with Mrs. Lincoln to City Point to meet up with the president, responds to her note regarding Lincoln's return to Washington in the wake of Secretary of State Seward's serious carriage accident. The First Lady wanted the president to wait at City Point for their arrival; Sumner strongly advises that they wait for the president. The carriage accident would end up, indirectly, saving Seward's life on the night of the Lincoln assassination.

GLC05603.01.03

26 April 1865

Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Writes that he deeply regrets not having gone to the theatre with President Lincoln as he was asked to. Also feels that his habit of constant vigilance may have prevented Lincoln's murder. States that he will give a speech on President Lincoln in Chicago and will go to Springfield with the remains of the president.

GLC07543

January 1, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document signed

Title: Emancipation Proclamation

Wide margined copy of the Leland-Boker "authorized" edition, produced for raising money at the Philadelphia Great Central Sanitary Fair in June 1864. The Sanitary Commission engaged in hospital and other charitable work during the Civil War; it was a forerunner of the Red Cross. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward and Lincoln's personal secretary John G. Nicolay. Charles Eberstadt lists this as no. 32 (Leland-Boker autographed edition) in his bibliography of the Emancipation Proclamation. 48 copies were printed, but only half are known to survive. Mounted dimensions: 55.8 x…

GLC00004

February 24, 1862

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nahum Capen

Less than a month after being appointed Secretary of War, Stanton makes a thinly-veiled attack on Lincoln's economic policies. Excerpt: "No public man, in times like these, can fail to have both his words and acts misunderstood & any one is fortunate whose conduct is so leniently criticized as mine has been. My official position was not sought for; it is held at great personal sacrifice, and aspiring to nothing beyond, having a heart single to the one great object of overcoming the rebellion and restoring the authority of the government in time to save the nation from the horrible gulf…

GLC00008

November 19, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for the Secretary of State to affix the United States seal to President Lincoln's proclamation]

A docket in pencil indicates that this document refers to a proclamation to lift a blockade from ports in Virginia and Florida. This document is printed and all handwritten text is underlined.

GLC00030

February 3, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Discusses future appointments within the army. Suggests that the state of Tennessee should be under one commander and that west Kentucky and west Tennessee should be added to General George H. Thomas's command. Mentions General Cadwallader C. Washburn and General Napoleon J. T. Dana. Comments that Dana "might do well in the field. I do not think him the most suitable...for the command of a Dept." Writes that "[i]f Gen. [Nathaniel P.] Banks is not to go back to the Dept. of the Gulf I would suggest some other officer than Gen. [Stephen A.] Hurlbut for the command of that Dept," probably due…

GLC00090

December 22, 1861

Cowdin, Elliot Christopher, 1819-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Kate Cowdin

Christopher Elliot Cowdin updates his wife of a recent visit to see his nephew Wallis, who belonged to an Irish Brigade which was part of the Army of the Potomac. He reports meeting General Newton (possibly John Newton), the brigade commander, and General Franklin (possibly William B. Franklin), the division commander. He describes attending the grand review of General Fitz-John Porter's division, where he witnessed the activities of (and was possibly introduced to) General George Brinton McClellan, General Simon Cameron (Secretary of War), Francois Ferdinand Philippe Louis Marie (Prince de…

GLC00333

April 16, 1865

Stonehouse, John B., 1813-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Stonehouse Jr.

Writing to his son, John B. Stonehouse describes the interruption of the Washington, D.C. celebration of Lee's surrender by the assassination of President Lincoln and stabbing of Secretary of State William Seward. He then continues to give a detailed description of the events surrounding the attack on Seward and the assassination of Lincoln. He is first informed of Secretary Seward's stabbing by an unidentified man. Stonehouse then goes to Ford's Theatre where he describes people rushing from the building. Also includes his account of the knife Secretary Seward was stabbed with and the pistol…

GLC00368.01

June 1862

Header Record

Title: Letter from Charles H. Olmstead to Edwin M. Stanton with transmittal letter concerning prisoners of war after Confederate surrender of Fort Pulaski [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00319

15 April 1865

Medill, Joseph, 1823-1899

Newspaper

Title: Chicago tribune. [Vol. 28, no. 280 (April 15, 1865)]

Reports that president Lincoln has been assassinated and that an attempt was made on Secretary Seward's life. Also reports that Jefferson Davis has issued an edict at Danville. Article about reconstruction in Virginia on second page.

GLC00339.03

1865-1885

Stonehouse, John B., 1813-1885

Header Record

Title: Letter regarding Lincoln's assasination with related documents [Decimalized .01-.06.02]

A letter from John B. Stonehouse to his son that discusses the assassination of President Lincoln, and other documents related to Stonehouse and his family.

GLC00368

1864

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Book

Title: Letter of the Secretary of War, transmitting report on the organization of the Army of the Potomac...

Title continues " ... and its campaigns in Virginia and Maryland, under the Command of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, from July 26, 1861 to November 7, 1862." Printed by the government printing office, Washington, D.C. Cloth bead binding.

GLC00267.388

June 14, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Bates

Writing to Attorney General Bates, Lincoln recommends Philip Fraser, a unionist lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida be appointed District Judge for the Eastern District of Florida. Fraser comes recommended by Senator David Wilmot and House Speaker Galusha A. Grow. Lincoln requests a nomination for him unless Bates can give a reason against it. Written on Executive Mansion Stationery.

GLC00411

July 5, 1861

Spinner, Francis Elias, 1802-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. H. Pomeroy

Spinner, United States Treasurer, discusses financial matters with Pomeroy, a lawyer from Mohawk, New York. Discusses troops from New York who were stationed in Virginia. Declares "If the officers were only worthy of the men they command, what a mark we would make on the World's history." Written on House of Representatives stationary.

GLC00431.07

March 3, 1864

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin McMasters Stanton

Union General Grant transmits a communication just received from Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Stanton, Secretary of War, regarding the exchange of "Citizen prisoners and prisoners of War improperly captured." States that Union General Edward Otho Cresap Ord discussed the prisoner exchange with Confederate General James Longstreet. Requests instructions as to how he should proceed. Labeled "Cipher." Writes "The following communication has just been received from Gen. Lee ... Gen. Ord met Gen. Longstreet a few days since at the request of the latter to arrange for the exchange of…

GLC00445

27 May 1864

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Pamphlet

Title: Letter from the Secretary of War, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives, transmitting Major General G. W. Morgan's report of the occupation of Cumberland Gap.

Report of General George W. Morgan's occupation of the Cumberland Gap forwarded by Secretary of War Stanton to the House of Representatives. Pages 1-7 consists of Morgan's report. Pages 8-19 consists of supporting correspondence. Dated from the date it was read and ordered to be printed. Cover appears to be missing, or the pages were pulled from a larger book.

GLC00267.289

1860

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Book

Title: A political text-book for 1860: Comprising a brief view of presidential nominations and elections: ...

Title continues, " ... Including all the national platforms ever yet adopted: also, a history of the struggle respecting slavery in the territories, and of the action of Congress as to the freedom of the public lands, with the most notable speeches and letters of Messrs, Lincoln, Douglas, Bell, Cass, Seward, Everett, Breckinridge, H. V. Johnson, etc., etc., touching the questions of the day; and returns of all presidential elections since 1836. Compiled by Horace Greeley and John F. Cleveland." Published by the Tribune Association.

GLC00267.205

December 1, 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the Secretary of Navy

Secretary of the Navy Welles report on naval activities in 1862, including operations on the Mississippi (especially New Orleans), Galveston, Forts Henry & Donelson, and Fort Pulaski. Several charts throughout. Original blue wrapper cover.

GLC00267.324

December 5, 1863

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Pamphlet

Title: Reports of the Secretary of War and the Commander-in-Chief.

Includes reports submitted to President Abraham Lincoln by Stanton, Secretary of War, and Halleck, General-in-Chief. Stanton states "The colored troops have been allowed no bounty, and, under the construction given by the department, they can only, by existing law, receive the pay of ten dollars per month, white soldiers being paid thirteen dollars per month, with clothing and a daily ration. There seems to be inequality and injustice in this distinction, and an amendment, authorizing the same pay and bounty as white troops receive, is recommended." Stanton discusses items purchased for…

GLC00267.325

1863

United States. Congress

Book

Title: Report of the Secretary of War, communicating, In answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant, a copy of Major General Rosecrans's report of the Battle of Murfreesboro', or Stone River, Tennessee.

Cover is missing. Contains a report transmitted to the Senate by Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, concerning the Battle of Stones River, or Murfreesboro. Comprises the full report of the battle, issued by General William Starke Rosecrans. Among other topics, contains reports of the Chief of Artillery, the chief quartermaster, and the chief commissary of subsistence; a list of officers who distinguished themselves during the battle; fold-out battle field maps; a report on flags captured during battle, and a percentage of losses in brigades, division, and corps.

GLC00267.330

1864

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Book

Title: Commodore Charles Wilkes's court martial

First 301 pages is the document titled "Commodore Charles Wilkes's Court-Martial," while the last 24 pages is a separate document titled "Commodore Charles Wilkes's Court of Inquiry." A report submitted by Secretary of the Navy Welles to the House of Representatives consisting of correspondence and documents pertaining to the court martial and court of inquiry of Charles Wilkes in 1864. Wilkes's court martial stemmed from a scathing letter he wrote expressing his anger about Welles's report on Wilkes's behavior after the Trent affair. Wilkes was the commander of the vessel that captured two…

GLC00267.348

1865

United States. Congress. House

Pamphlet

Title: Exchange of prisoners. Letter from the Secretary of War, in answer to a resolution of the House of 21st December last, relative to the exchange of prisoners of war.

House of Representatives, 38th Congress, 2nd session, Executive Document no. 32.

GLC00267.354