13 April 1813

Rhea, Jonathan, 1758-1815

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Manumission of a mulatto slave named Benjamin Harkimon (or Harkinson)]

Sends John B. Timberlake, bursar of the frigate United States commanded by Commodore Decatur, an official document freeing thirty-three-year-old Harkimon (or Harkinson), who was aboard the United States, with the stipulation that Harkimon pay $200. Notarized by James Linn, "one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery of the State of New Jersey." Written on the same paper as a letter to Timberlake introducing the document. Contains a red wax seal.

GLC00340

17 June 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel Chew as a naval captain]

Signed by Continental Congressmen Morris, Thomas Burke, Abraham Clark, Philip Livingston, Henry Marchant, Roger Sherman, and Nicholas Van Dyke, who appoint Samuel Chew as a Captain in the Continental Navy. Instructs Chew to depart immediately for New London, Connecticut, to assume command of the ship Resistance. Relates that Nathan Shaw, a naval agent in New London, will assist Chew in fitting and manning the vessel. Discuss payment and provisions for the vessel's voyage. Instructs Chew to immediately sail with intent to intercept British merchant and transport ships, and "to take, Sink,…

GLC00346

January 8, 1901

Dewey, George, 1837-1917

Typed letter signed

Title: to John Cullen Bryant

Replying to a letter from Bryant, received the day before, George Dewey comments, "I have to say that I do not consider the picture you send a good one. What I regard as the best obtainable photograph of myself..shows me in white uniform, with cap." Typed on executive stationery. Header on the upper left side, "Office of the Admiral/1747 Rhode Island Avenue" in blue ink. Watermarked Crane & Co Dalton Mass.

GLC00273.03

February 19, 1807

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stedman

William Ellery writes that he received his last letter and had hoped Stedman would provide some political news but since Stedman is apathetic about politics, Ellery must read the newspapers. He asks who originated the suspension on Habeas Corpus and mentions that General James Wilkinson wants it suspended. He shares a recollection about Wilkinson at Valley Forge and his role in the Conway Cabal. Comments that he expected to have heard more about Aaron Burr's rebellion. Asks his opinion of Napoleon's blockade and states, "It seems to me that it will prevent our filling the Treasury as fast as…

GLC00298

March 16, 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Smith

Benjamin Stoddert discusses a treaty between Britain and Haitian general Toussaint Louverture. He mentions a ship bound for India, letting General [George] Washington know that he will be returning to New York. Also talks about spices. Letter seems to have been written in a hurry. Address leaf has a cut hole where the seal used to be on the center left above the address. Directly opposite is a mark and bit of wax from the seal. Also on the right is a column of numbers where someone did some calculations. Above the address in the upper left hand corner is a round stamp with PHI MR around the…

GLC00308.05

1860

Porter, William Dennison, 1810-1883

Pamphlet

Title: State sovereignty and the doctrine of coercion, by the Hon. Wm. D. Porter, of Charleston, S. C. together with a letter from Hon. J. K. Paulding, former Sec. of Navy.

Includes the instructions, "Read and send to your Neighbor" on title page. Also includes designation: "1860 Association. Tract No. 2." Porter opens with, "The recent speech of Mr. Douglas at Norfolk, in which he threatened the Southern States with military coercion in the event of secession, ought to startle and arouse the people of those States, like the blast of a hostile trumpet at midnight!" Paulding, in a letter dated 6 September 1851, discusses secession.

GLC00267.386

February 21, 1862

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl Van Dorn

Beauregard, Confederate Commander of the Military District of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, writes to Van Dorn, Confederate Commander of the District of the Mississippi, Department #2. He states that "the fate of Missouri necessarily depends on the successful defense of Columbus & of Island no. 10, hence we must, if possible, combine our Operations not only to defend those positions, but also to take the offensive as soon as practicable to recover some of our lost ground ... At all events, we must do something or die in the attempt ... " He informs Dorn that he requested 5,000 men…

GLC00296

August 21, 1781

Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hall

Reports no news from Europe or General Nathanael Greene. Hopes that the Comte de Grasse comes to Chesapeake Bay to support the Americans against Lord Cornwallis, which he did later that month. Also notes that "Vermont is to be admitted into the Union as a fourteenth State -- a fifteenth must soon follow as a balance."

GLC00297.01

1782-1822

Various

Header Record

Title: Letters and documents of naval commanders in Revolution & 1812 [Decimalized .01-.10]

GLC00308

March 5, 1806

Preble, Edward, 1761-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Smith

Edward Preble offers Smith condolence for death of his wife. Smith was then secretary of the Navy. Treble had been a naval commander in the Tripolitan War and, at the time this letter was written, an adviser to Smith.

GLC00308.01

March 22, 1820

Jones, William, 1760-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Walter Dun

Jones, former Secretary of the Navy and Treasury, requests that Walter Dun, Union County Ohio land surveyor, consider hiring Israel L. Clarke. Clarke, son of Philadelphia Naval Officer Samuel Clarke, attempts to gain employment as a deputy land surveyor in Northwest Pennsylvania. States that Clarke has a classical education and studied land surveying under Mr. Richards of Reading, Pennsylvania.

GLC00308.02

January 16, 1782

Simpson, Thomas, fl. 1778-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

Captain Simpson transmits his account (not included), settled with the Navy Board, to Brown, Secretary of the Marine. He requests that Brown obtain his payment (possibly from the United States Congress) during his upcoming visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He requests that Brown advise a lawyer, Clapp, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, whether or not the sum will be paid.

GLC00308.03

May 21, 1822

Barron, James, 1769-1851

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry M. Morfit

James Barron discusses the difficulties of securing a loan, which he was inquiring about in Philadelphia on Morfit's behalf. Barron was a commodore in U.S. Navy.

GLC00308.04

August 14, 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, discusses possibly his will with an unidentified recipient. States "Gordon is so great a Liar, that I conclude merely because he says otherwise, that the [will?] is in good condition." Docket on verso states "Ben Stoddert Philadelphia 14 August 1799." Also docketed below text.

GLC00308.06

17 September 1794

Dale, Richard, 1756-1826

Document signed

Title: [Reciepts related to bonds]

Account entry 816, possibly clipped from a larger account book. Commodore Dale discusses the balance of his bond by the brig Pomona. Mentions a purchase of sugar 22 November 1793 aboard the ship Columbia. Verso contains partial receipt 820 for bonds by the brig Sally dated 25 May 1793, and refers to a coffee purchase completed 11 June 1793 on the brig Nymph. Both receipts state that Sharp Delany, customs collector in Philadelphia, oversaw the transactions cited.

GLC00308.07

14 May 1800

Decatur, Stephen, 1752-1808

Document signed

Title: [Bank note issued to James Stewart for thirty six dollars]

Drawn against the Bank of the United States. With puncture cancellation. Signed "Stephen Decatur Jnr."

GLC00308.08

June 29, 1839

Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840

Letter signed

Title: to Charles Stewart

Serving as President of the Board of Navy Commissioners, Chauncey informs Commander Stewart of the Philadelphia Navy Yard that an Act of Congress appropriated $300,000 from a Gradual Improvement fund for the expense of building and equipping sea steamers. Instructs Stewart to head each requisition from this account with the subject "sea steamers," making it obvious that money will be expended for that purpose. He hopes that the Navy will be able to precisely account for "the indebtedness of sea steamers to gradual improvement."

GLC00308.10

1744

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An act for the better encouragement of seamen in his Majesty's service

Passed on 1 December 1743. Printed by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett. Paginated 691-706 + unpaginated title page.

GLC00399

January 28, 1775

Sartine, Antoine de, comte d'Alby, 1729-1801

Manuscript document signed

Title: Marche pour la forniture des ancres, fers, cloux et outils necessaires au service du Roi dans les colonies de l'Amerique [in French]

A nine year contract for providing goods to the American colonies. Lists the prices of over three hundred items, including implements for various artisans and farmers. Also contains two articles relating to labor. Signed well before any formal French agreement (or the Hortalez & Cie arrangement) with Congress. Also signed by Chaussade. Original cover disbound, but included.

GLC00404

May 11, 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Whipple as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire to Langdon as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire (he was to leave that body in June 1776). Whipple was also a colonel of militia and later signed the Declaration of Independence. References Langdon's letter from April 29, 1776. Says there was "a little Brush" with the men of war "Roebuch" and "Liverpool." Says the ships came up as far as Wilmington, Delaware and stole cattle from the Jersey shore. Reports that 18 gallies made two attacks on the ships. The first one was undertaken at too far a distance to be effective…

GLC00429

April 22, 1863

Hannery, John F., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to a friend

Discusses the Vicksburg campaign, the assault on Fort Pemberton, and burials. Also mentions the fleet running past Vicksburg.

GLC00434.05

1864

Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870

Book

Title: Operations against Charleston

The report "Operations against Charleston," is only the first of several reports sent to the U.S. Senate in this bound volume. The others include: Operations in the Gulf Department, Trade Regulations, Battle of Cedar Mountain with testimony by General Nathaniel P. Banks, Treatment of Prisoners, Treatment of Prisoners, Treatment of Rebel Prisoners, Exchange of Prisoners, and Administration of the Department of Arkansas. Has green wrapper cover, which seems to be original.

GLC00267.301

January 27, 1866

Meigs, Montgomery C. (Montgomery Cunningham), 1816-1892

Book

Title: Roll of Honor. Names of soliders, victims of the rebellion, buried in the National Cemetery at Alexandria, Virginia

Marked "General Order No. 10" by the Quartermaster General's Office. Submitted by the Quartermaster Brevet Major General Meigs. Says it "is published, by authority of the Secretary of War, for the information of their comrades and friends." Preface, written by Assistant Quartermaster James M. Moore, gives total number of internments: 3,367 white solders, 2 sailors from the United States Navy, 1 white citizen, 2 white females, and 229 colored soldiers, for a total of 3,601. Describes cemetery: "Well-kept gravel walks traverse the grounds, the graves have been sodded, and white tablets,…

GLC00267.318

1866

Pollard, Edward A., 1831-1872

Book

Title: The lost cause; a new southern history of the war of the confederates

Written by Pollard, the former editor of the "Richmond Examiner," which supported the Confederacy but was hostile to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. First edition copy published by E.B. Treat & Co. in New York. Sticker at bottom of title page shows this copy to have been printed by Kelly & Piet, Printers & Importers at 174 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore. Title page says "Sold Only By Subscription." Numerous portrait illustrations throughout. Covers the entire war from Fort Sumter to Appomattox, with a Southern bias. Book is an example of how Southerners coped with…

GLC00267.307

1872

United States.

Book

Title: The case of the United States, laid before the Tribunal of arbitration convened at Geneva under the provisions of the treaty between the United States of America and Her Majesty the queen of Great Britain, concluded at Washington, May 8, 1871.

The United States' case in arbitration against Great Britain regarding the "Alabama Claims." The United States sought compensation from Great Britain because the British supplied commerce raiding ships, including the "Alabama," to the Confederacy. The case went to arbitration, where the United States was awarded a large sum. Details the ways in which the British, by helping the Confederates, ignored the laws that apply to neutral countries during war. States desired compensation. Published by the Government Printing Office. Senate Executive Document number thirty-one from the second…

GLC00267.221