June 13, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Cameron

Lincoln writes to Secretary of War Cameron to express his desire to accept a fifth regiment from Michigan. He is referring to the 16th Michigan Volunteers, under Colonel T.B.W. Stockton. Lincoln seeks Cameron's approval of this action.

GLC00966

6 September 1862

Seward, Frederick William, 1830-1915

Letter signed

Title: to Cephas Brainerd

Encloses President Abraham Lincoln's appointment of Brainerd as Arbitrator for the United States for the suppression of the African slave trade (not present). Asks Brainerd to acknowledge receipt and supply his place of birth. Also encloses an official oath Brainerd needs to return if accepting the commission (not present). Signed as Assistant Secretary.

GLC04471.06

20 July 1863-15 May 1864

Simpson, Edward, 1824-1888

Diary

Title: Diary of Lt. Commander Edward Simpson

Diary of captaincy of the "Submarine Battery 'Passaic'". Details attacks upon Charleston, Fort Moultrie and Battery Gregg; inner workings of a Monitor and intraservice rivalries. Quarter calf, marbled boards, pencil loops. The USS Passaic, one of a series of single-turret ironclad gunships designed by John Ericsson, was commissioned in November of 1862 and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She saw action at Fort McAllister in March of 1863 and at Fort Sumter in April of that year. Following the latter engagement, she was sent to New York for repairs and command was…

GLC05911.04

8 June 1864

Smith, Melancton, 1810-1893

Manuscript document signed

Title: [General order to be read aloud by the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Miami]

General order to read letter from Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. A transcription of Welles' letter, a response to Smith's report of the action at the Battle of Albermarle is attached. Welles "congratulates all of the Officers and Men of the U.S. Navy who participated in this remarkable contest between wooden gun boats and a formidable armored vessel -- in which the latter was forced to retreat to prevent capture."

GLC02254.20

January 30, 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Letter

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

Continued 1 February and 2 February. Due to a measles outbreak, three companies are being detained on another ship further up the river. On his ship many are sick with fever. Describes Southern plantation houses, arrival and setting up at their new camp. Rumors about Seward and Stanton's resignation, Burnside being superseded by Freeman. Also mentions rumor of the withdrawal of troops by all Democratic governors from the federal army. [Expresses anxiety which followed the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg.] Gives address as 114 Regt NY Banks Expedition, N. Orleans.

GLC04703.04

27 March 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter

Title: to Louis M. Goldsborough

Mentions the receipt of dispatches from Goldsborough and Rowan, who had been involved in the capture of "rebel batteries upon the Neuse River." Writes about the "brilliant victory" at New Bern and requests that Goldsborough "convey to Commander Rowan and the Officers and men of the Flotilla, the thanks of the Department and of the Government." Welles was secretary of the Navy.

GLC02254.03

23 September 1863

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

Letter

Title: to Douglass Ottinger

Sends Ottinger orders to "proceed to Beaufort, N.C. and take command of the Revenue Cutter 'Forward'." Encloses "copies of Regulations recently issued governing the trade between the loyal States and those States heretofore declared to be in rebellion." Mentions the "immense frauds which have been practiced in the shipment of goods" which it is Ottinger's duty to prevent, and also places him in command of the Revenue Cutter Agassis at New Bern. Describes Ottinger's duty to visit "places in the waters of North Carolina...and minutely and carefully to investigate the character of their…

GLC02254.15

1815-1860

Chase, S. P.

Signature

Title: S. P. Chase

GLC05603.02.07

1815-1860

Seward, William, fl. 1815-1860

Signature

Title: William Seward

GLC05603.02.09

1815-1860

Usher, John Palmer, 1816-1889

Signature

Title: J. P. Usher

GLC05603.02.12

1815-1860

McCullough, Hugh, ?

Signature

Title: Hugh McCullough

GLC05603.02.13

1815-1860

Speed, James, 1812-1887

Signature

Title: James Speed

GLC05603.02.14

1815-1860

Blair, Montgomery, 1813-1883

Signature

Title: Montgomery Blair

GLC05603.02.15

February 21, 1865

Blair, Montgomery, 1813-1883

Signature

Title: Edward Bates

GLC05603.02.16

1815-1860

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869

Signature

Title: W. P. Fessenden

GLC05603.02.03

29 November 1862

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

Printed document signed

Title: [major general Reynolds' commission]

Informing Reynolds of his commission as Major General of Volunteers and orders him to report for duty to Major General Rosecrans.

GLC03614.02.02

16 November 1864

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Manuscript document signed

Title: Special Orders No. 400. Extract

"Special Orders. No. 400. Extract" Assigning Reynolds "to the command of the Military Division of West Mississippi during the disability of Major General Canby. . . ."

GLC03614.02.04

4 April 1864

McSherry, Henry F., fl. 1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gideon Wells

McSherry to Gideon Wells, Secretary of the US Navy on his appointment to surgeon.

GLC09324.39

27 June 1861

Jackson, Richard H., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

He thanks his father for his kind letter and for writing to the Secretary for his discharge. Sorry to hear his father feels bad about it.

GLC07705.013

1861-1877

Envelope

Title: Lincoln and Cabinet

GLC08484.2

19 October 1862

Albert, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

His arm seems to be getting better. He read Sumner's speech. He says he has had an opportunity to study the black man "and it is seldom that you meet a negro that is in any way intelligent. These enlightened ones have white blood in them."

GLC07205.089

7 October 1861

Chase, M.E., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L.P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury

He wishes to establish a scientific and religious institution. He mentions Fellows as a mutual acquaintance as a way of introduction.

GLC02745.018

January 12, 1863

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife from camp near White Oak Church. Notes Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, will not allow his regiment to return to "the state," possibly Pennsylvania, where he is from. Refers to a victory of [General William] Rosecrans "in the South West" (possibly the Battle of Stones River). Writes, "But i am afraid it is dearly won when we look at the immense loss of life... our men have got in earnest and the Rebels will fight to the death... it will never Be settled now till one side [or] the other is whipped and it will never be the north..."

GLC02155.076

28 March 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W. McKean

Conformation of appointment as flag officer

GLC04188.17

February 6, 1866

Dunphy, Richard D., 1824-1904

Letter

Title: to Gideon Welles

Letter written for Dunphy, who lost both his arms during the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864, to Secretary of the Navy Welles. Also includes a carte de visite (10.1 x 6.2 cm.) pasted to the letter of Dunphy in his uniform with no arms. Wants to know how he can get the medal of honor that was promised to him by Vice Admiral David Farragut. Was on board the flagship USS "Hartford" and says "I was one of the sailors who were wounded in that action and I believe I stand to day the only one in the American Navy who lost both Arms in the late Rebellion." Farragut said he would send the medal by…

GLC08655