1777/03/24

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Warren indicates that he has recently written "a long letter to Mr. Adams" that communicated all consequential information, so this letter is written out of friendship rather than to provide intelligence. Comments on the arrival of a French officer, who did not receive a proper welcome because of he arrived on a Sunday. Notes "Impatience for the Arrival of the ships from France destined to" Boston. Discusses concern over matters in the House regarding the army and the embargo, lamenting the venal spirit that he views as destroying patriotism during the American Revolution.…

GLC03962

1812/06/26

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Printed document signed

Title: An Act concerning Letters of Marque, Prizes & Prize Goods.

Copy of the act along with "Instructions for the Private Armed Vessels of the United States," in this case, issued to privateer Captain George Taylor of the ship Amiable. Issued one week after the declaration of war in the War of 1812. Signed by Monroe as secretary of state.

GLC04616

1817/01/17

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Plumer

Regarding the European feeling that Americans shall "become dangerous members of the Society of Nations." Naval Victories, state of Barbary (fighting the pirates of Barbary and Algiers rather than giving them tribute), enemies everywhere, few friends except Russia. Also mentions subserviency to "Holy Religion, and the Press Gang."

GLC04755

1776/03/23

Broadside

Title: Rejection of Olive Branch Petition by Congress; lets colonists arm vessels

The document sets regulations for arming vessels for defense and privateering. Printed by John Dunlap.

GLC04771

1773/07/02

Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, 1723-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: Legal bond of naval officer Richard Lee, Daniel Dulany & Benedict Calvert

Signing as Justice of the Peace. Lee was to assume the position of Maryland's Naval Officer of the port and district of the North Potowmack [isc].

GLC04842.26

1796/06/30

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Ellsworth re: asking advice in interpreting treaty on privateering

Discusses the sale of prizes taken from the British by the French which violates the 24th Article of Jay's Treaty (1794) with Britain.

GLC04875

1812/06/24-26

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush re: economic policy, declaration of war

"The prudence of an individual is the policy of a nation. Self preservation is the first law of nature to both...France, under Washington's administration, had in defiance of all laws human and divine, plundered our commerce in every sin in Europe and the West Indies...a plan was laid...which looked forward with a prudent foresight to the defence and preservation of the country...who destroyed this system? The Congress of the Nineteeth Century who by repealing the taxes, have emptied their treasury? Who by mud docking my navy have disarmed themselves at sea?...June 26. War! War! War! Sure…

GLC07306

1863/09/04

Gilmore, Quincy A., fl. 1863

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: Endorsement on back of G.B. Brooks ALS re: idea of a "boat infantry"

Endorsement on T.B. (or G.B.) Brooks letter, with manuscript proposal entitled "Boat Infantry," a mobile attack force. Gilmore refers the proposal to a Board of Approval. The proposal may be response to the carnage the attack on Fort Wagner. (Water damage)

GLC07303

1759/10/09

Appy, D.J., fl. 1759

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Col. John Bradstreet

Military situation at Crown Point: "The brig and sloop are expected here this day, if they arrive our navy and part of the army proceed down the lake to...endeavor to burn and sink and destroy enemys vessels, and attempt what further may be done."

GLC08014.03

1746/12/22

Nicholls, Richard, 1624-1672

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Caldwallader Colden.

Relaying information from Governor George Clarke during King George's War: "He says it was expected at home that Crown Point would be reduced by our troops, so that way be open to Montreal when the fleet and forces come over."

GLC08014.04

February 28, 1813

Turner, Charles, 1760-1839

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Informing Aaron Hobart that the Secretary of the Navy is considering his application but has not decided anything.

GLC06313.04.024

1865/07/30

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Details Archer's life from his departure from London bound for Bermuda on June 13, 1864 to his return from Florida through the blockade on March 23, 1865. "...[I] made every narrow escape from, starving to death, and being eaten up by alligators..." Included in his travelogue are the ruminations undertaken by himself and several other Confederates through Bermuda, Havana, Florida's marshy coasts, through St Marks Tallahassee and Quincy to Albany and Macon before finally discovering the fate of the Confederacy. Numerous graphite additions have been inserted into the text in a hand rather…

GLC01896.079

1878/02/24

City, George W., fl. 1859-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Condolences and discussion of the late Robert Archer. City reminisces with Edward Archer about his father, whom he didn't know intimately but considered himself an aquaintance. "This aquaintance was very much increased by the long chats which you and I had at sea on the hurricane deck of the Powhatan. Your subjects on those occasions...were most always some reminiscence of early home life." City reminds Archer of the time his father offered to reward him a "large specified sum of money" if he were to wait until he was 21 to begin drinking. Also mentions his father's love for children and vise…

GLC01896.099

1863/08/25

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel J. Harrison

Application for the position of Chief Engineer "on board the steamer to be commanded by Captain Dacey Va Volunteer Navy." Lists qualifications, former service record, and references enclosed testimonials of his qualifications. Docket on verso: "Application for Appointment in the Vol. Navy Aug 25th/63". Harrison was president of the Virginia Volunteer Navy Company. Marked "copy" in upper left hand corner.

GLC01896.057

1863/08/25

Anderson, Joseph Reid, 1813-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Recommendation for E.R. Archer]

Recommendation and certification of Archer's qualifications as a machinist written by J. R. Anderson, owner of the Tredegar works [on Tredegar Iron Works letterhead]. Pencil notation on verso: "letter of J R Anderson & Co Certifying my qualifications as Eng. [illegible] for Vol Navy". Anderson, a Confederate Brigadier General, resigned his position in 1862 to serve in ordinance.

GLC01896.058

1863/09/23

Harrison, Samuel J., fl. 1855-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Steven R. Mallory

Letter of introduction and requesting permission for Edward R. Archer to go before a tribunal examination. "The bearer, Mr. E.R. Archer has been duly appointed by the Board of Directors of this company (Virginia Volunteer Navy Company) 1st Assistant Engineer, and we propose to send him with Captain Stiles, who will go abroad on our business about the 1st Proximo. You will please do us the favor to permit him to go before the proper tribunal for examination." Dockets on verso show that Archer was examined for the position of First Assistant Engineer by Chief Engineer Quinn at the Richmond…

GLC01896.061

1863/09/26

Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873

Letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Certifies Archer's examination and commissioned appointment as First Assistant Engineer in the Virginia Volunteer Navy.

GLC01896.062

1863/09/26

Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880

Letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Letter of transit written for Archer granting him permission to sail from any Confederate port to Europe. Written on offical paper with "Confederate States of America, War Department" letterhead. Seddon was Confederate secretary of war. On the attached integral leaf is an autograph endorsement signed by William Henry Chase Whiting (1824-1865), a Confederate major general who, at the time, was in charge of keeping open the port of Wilmington, North Carolina.

GLC01896.063

1863/11/02

Palacios, Cipriano, fl. 1850-1860

Document signed

Title: [Passport] [in Spanish]

Passport, in Spanish, granted to Edward R. Archer for travel without hindrance from Nassau to Havana aboard "la Goleta Lola." Green Spanish stamp on verso with docket. Palacios was Mexican consul in the Bahamas. Written from the Port of Nassau, in the Bahamas.

GLC01896.064

1863/11/06

Jeffery, Richard W., fl. 1855-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron [Jeffery]

Requests that Aaron always write "...as fully as you did in the last letter," and praises him for deciding not to take Ann out of school to save money. Richard promises that as soon as he is able he will send money to help the family out--enclosing twenty dollars in this letter. He admits that his "extravagance and high prices" have kept him from saving any of his pay. Goes on to speculate that the "Yankees will demolish Sumter if they can but thus far their ability has not been equal to their desire," even though their artillery daily kills and wounds some of the garrison. Richard frets…

GLC01896.065

1865/01/08

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Archer writes to his mother, Frances, from England where he has sailed in the steamer C. S. S. Hawk in order to sell it at auction. His spirits are very low as he discusses the damage done by the failure of the "scheme to establish the V[irginia]. V[olunteer]. N[avy]." and says he desires to defend his role in the matter. Furthermore, he makes repeated references to H. [Samuel Harrison, President of the Board of the Volunteer Virginia Navy] who has apparently vanished. Lamenting that he is almost broke, he borrowed money to pay his expenses in Bermuda, and has "one and sixpence just enough…

GLC01896.071

1865/01/14

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Archer announces that the "Hawk" has been sold at public auction for a little more than ten thousand pounds, leaving a balance of more than five thousand pounds outstanding to cover travel costs. A ship built for a "particular" purpose [blockade running], the Hawk would require a complete refit to be useable by the buyer and that, Archer asserts, depressed the price. Most of the letter continues the theme of his previous letter to his mother in which he refers to his father [GLC 1896.071]. Archer claims that he is totally broke and informs Edward that he is going to use the proceeds of his…

GLC01896.072

1865/05/25

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Newcomb

Written on Archer's return from Cuba through the blockade around Florida. First half of the letter details his belief that the war was lost because of the failure of the public to support the war effort. "...[I]f the people had have stood by them [the Confederate soldiers] and given them all their aid instead of speculating and quarreling among themselves everything would have gone as we could have desired..." However, Archer expresses his belief that the south will rise again--"...but still there exists a smouldering flame which I have no doubt will one day burst forth and fire again the…

GLC01896.076

1865/07/14

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W.W. Dungan

Letter seeking to renew friendship with W. W. Dungan, one of Archer's friends from his service in the U. S. Navy before the war. "Now since the war is ended and the South has returned her allegiance to the United States, are feelings of wrath, envy, hatred or malice...should vanish without a record for the future..." Ends with a plea for a return to an ante-bellum status quo: "An acknowledgement of the receipt of this letter will assure me that we still remain old friends and are willing to forget and forgive." Marked "copy."

GLC01896.078

1864/01/01-1864/12/31

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Diary

Title: [Diary] London

Archer's 1864 diary written mostly while in London and also while travelling throughout Europe. Lists daily activities and other happenings such as disease spreading on board ships, etc. Green patterned book cloth with gold stamped titles. (22 Jan) "Called on Mr. Mason and delivered letter of introduction from Pa"; (15 Feb) "Went to Argyle Rooms - a negro was put out. I was glad...that the English do not put the negro on the same footing as the white man," (22 Feb) "5 Pirates were hanged today at Newgate prison." (23 Feb) "Went to Blakleys Ordnance Works to look at guns and &c."; (26…

GLC01896.158