2 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondolet." Says he is sending coal down the river. Orders that army transport cannot have any of it. Says his calculations on the amount to send are based off navy needs alone and none can be loaned to the army.

GLC08528

9 July 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Civil War order to hold a court martial]

Orders a Naval General Court Martial at Vicksburg aboard the steamer Choctaw on 10 July 1863. Indicates that the court will be composed of Captain H. Walke, lieutenant commodores James A. Greer, James W. Shirk, John G. Walker, and Frank M. Ramsey, and Assistant Adjutant Paymaster C.G. Sownders. Written on stationary of the U.S. Mississippi Squadron, Flag Ship Black Hawk.

GLC08529

5 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondolet." Wants to have the tugboats in order so they can be ready for emergencies. Tells him to keep as few of them under steam. Says it will do the men good to pull in their own boats and that the squadron should follow that plan as much as possible.

GLC08533

11 November 1863

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas H. Patterson

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron to Commander Patterson of the USS "James Adger." Congratulates Patterson on the capture of the blockade runners "Cornelia" and "R.E. Lee" (names of the ships from the docket). Advises him that the best place to secure adjudication of the prizes is in Boston, as Philadelphia and New York are known for delays. Says Philadelphia's District Attorney claims property cannot be condemned for a year and a day after capture.

GLC08534

21 March 1862

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: The New-York Times. [Vol. 11, no. 3274 (March 21, 1862)]

Mostly contains news from various theatres of war. Most articles are short updates on skirmishes, but there are several larger ones. News from Washington: an inquiry into censorship of the press, report of the House Judiciary Committee, bridges destroyed by the rebels as they retreated from Manassas, increased railroad facilities between New York and Washington,and debates on the tax bill in House of Representatives. Other articles on fighting in Eastern Kentucky and Island Number Ten. Articles dealing with issues on the Southern coast, including Florida and New Bern, North Carolina. Includes…

GLC08726.17

4 August 1804

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel & Massachusetts federalist. [Vol. 41, no. 46 (August 4, 1804)]

Includes an editorial account of the 11 July 1804 duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton on page 1 which criticizes the practice of dueling and calls Aaron Burr an outlaw. Also includes an article on the capture of the British sloop of war, Lily, by a French privateer ship. Other articles detail local, international, political, court, and ship news, advertisements, and public announcements.

GLC08726.03

18 March 1794

Sterns and Winslow, fl. 1794

Newspaper

Title: American herald of liberty. [Vol. 8, no. 37 (March 18, 1794)]

Discusses continued tensions, especially regarding commerce, between Great Britain and the United States following the 1783 Peace Treaty. Letters to the editor cover issues such as the United States' relations with the Creek Nation, illegal actions carried out by the British at sea, and the war between France and Britain.

GLC08740

14 December 1775

Towne, Benjamin, ?-1793

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania evening post. [Vol. 1, no. 14 (December 14, 1775)]

Includes several letters from mid-October 1775 by Brook Watson in Montreal. As a British officer who owned land in Nova Scotia, Watson pretended to support the American cause in 1774. Intercepted letters to General Thomas Gage proved he was a spy. The letters in this issue were published at the request of Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. The letters contain several embarrassing comments, including his prediction that Gage will have to leave Boston soon and that "the kingdom of Great-Britain cannot much longer be governed by such weak councils and feeble efforts." Watson…

GLC08748.06

6 July 1864

Newspaper

Title: New York times. [Vol. 13, no. 3988 (July 6, 1864)]

Vol. 13 no. 3988. Describes sinking of the CSS Alabama p.1, the suspension of habeas corpus in Kentucky, etc.

GLC08755

16 July 1779

Donaldson, James, 1751-1830

Newspaper

Title: Edinburgh advertiser. [Vol. 32, no. 1622 (July 13- July 16, 1779)]

Discusses local meetings of noblemen regarding the raising of sailors. Includes a proclamation of George III discussing Britain's possible invasion by unspecified British enemies. Includes a letter from British General Henry Clinton discussing the capture "of the ports of Stony Point and Verplanks, the most direct and convenient communication between the province on either side of the Hudson's river." Contains correspondence discussing Revolutionary War activity in Georgia and South Carolina. Includes an assurance that as long as Britain maintains a strong presence on the sea, enemy…

GLC08756

11 November 1864

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Newspaper

Title: The Evening Post. [Vol. 55, no. 91 (November 11, 1864)]

Announces the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln and lists election returns by state. Also describes plots of Confederate agents in Canada to sink the steamer Michigan and release the prisoners on Johnson's island. Reprints excerpts from General Winfield Scott's biography. Describes the capture of the pirate ship Florida by the Wachusett. Also includes an article on how the poor live in England. Other articles detail Civil War news, local and international news.

GLC08765

20 October 1864

Forbes, Paul Siemen, 1808-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to My Dear Admiral

Forbes, a Union naval officer, writes about General Ulysses S. Grant's strategy on his advance towards Richmond. " ... Grant's plan is by extending his lines westward to cut off Lee from escaping in that direction and joining his forces to those of Hood, Taylor, etc. Grant moves slowly, but surely pushes 5 or 6 miles and then fortifies so that if Lee remains in Richmond much longer, the avenue of retreat will be cut off from Lynchburg." Informs that it is believed that Confederate General Robert E. Lee will remain in Richmond until 8 November but that Grant's advance might be too rapid for…

GLC08656

23 May 1863

Fred, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Written by a Union sailor aboard the USS "Morse". References his father's letter. Says that last Saturday "the mail boat was coming up and the rebels fired into her with field pieces and struck twice, and we got under way and went down and by the time we got there they had gone under[.] the captain was so mad he order us to shell all the houses on the bank of the river and we did to I tell you we fired all that afternoon ... then we went ashore and set all the buildings afire. I tell you we had some fun we burnt one house full of splendid furniture." Says he burned down 3 barns full of ham,…

GLC08658

7 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondelet." Tells him to send the "General Bragg" to Memphis for any repairs. Says there is too little water in the river around Cairo for the "Bragg."

GLC08575

16 May 1863

Turner, Thomas, 1808-?

Document signed

Title: Divisional order

Signed by Commodore Turner. This copy of the order could have been sent to Captain Thomas H. Patterson of the USS "James Adger," as the docket says "Jas Adger." Demands great vigilance of the blockaders. Has received information on a large fleet of steamers at Nassau ready to run the blockade. Reports that 1 steamer and 5 sailing vessels escaped Charleston Harbor last night, and only 2 were captured. Says two nights earlier a steamer ran into the north channel of the harbor without a shot being fired at it. Claims that most ships that attempt to run the blockade do so at high tide, but that…

GLC08576

1885

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Book

Title: Naval History of the Civil War

GLC08409

14 March 1862

Newspaper

Title: New York semi-weekly tribune. [Vol. 17, no. 1753 (March 14, 1862)]

Battle of Monitor and Merrimac, news of Texas and Arkansas.

GLC08429.07

16 August 1864

Newspaper

Title: New York semi-weekly tribune. [Vol. 19, no. 2006 (August 16, 1864)]

Farragut's victory at Mobile.

GLC08429.24

17 September 1864

Harper & Brothers, 1833-1962

Newspaper

Title: Harper's weekly. [Vol. VIII, no. 403 (September 19, 1864)]

Cover illustration entitled, "Harry Davis Capturing the Battle-Flag of the Thirtieth Louisiana Regiment, at the Battle of Ezra Church." Includes articles on General William T. Sherman, the presidential election of 1864, General George McClellan, and Admiral David G. Farragut. Contains a map showing the field of operations under Ulysses S. Grant, Sherman, and Farragut. Includes sketches of McClellan, Farragut, and other subjects throughout. Also prints literary items such as poems and excerpts of stories.

GLC08430.05

circa 1911

Goff, Albert H., fl. 1842-?

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Description of the Battle of Mobile Bay]

Goff served as a 3rd Assistant Engineer aboard the USS "Chickasaw" during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Looking back at age 69, Goff provides an account of the battle. Relates that the "Chickasaw," an ironclad monitor, was ordered to take a position between Fort Morgan and the wooden vessels to protect them the fort's batteries. Says that "Then the fight was on & How vicously [sic] that water batter fired at us! I could feel their 10 ince shot and shell strike our turrets and side armor. I could hear the whir of the balls as they passed over our decks. Realizing there were torpedoes…

GLC08431

March 31, 1945

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to James V. Forrestal

Franklin D. Roosevelt writes in reference to the Research Board for National Security, a group that provides for civilian participation in scientific research on problems of national defense. He informs that he is transmitting a program to Congress for the Office of Scientific Research and Development for 1946 that considers continuing the Office's activities on a two-front war basis for the year. He advises that no funds be given to the Research Board for the fiscal year 1946. He states that the director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development is responsible for the organization…

GLC00162.17

July 31, 1953

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Autograph note signed

Title: to Lewis L. Strauss

Eisenhower replies to a letter from Strauss written on the same page. Strauss informs that despite headlines about the atomic powered submarines, there was no security breach. States that the news came from a report made to Congress by Strauss' predecessor on 30 June 1953. Eisenhower replies, "The only question is: was the report, in this particular, wise and necessary?" Letter written on White House stationary.

GLC00162.21

January 21, 1799

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Wayles Eppes

Written as Vice-President to his son-in-law. Jefferson discusses the Logan incident, in which George Logan, a Philadelphia Quaker, attempted to negotiate differences between the United States and the French Directory on his own initiative (the Logan Act of 1799 made it illegal). Jefferson thinks the Federalists forged documents "to ensnare Logan" in order to pass the act (he later in this letter writes that Logan's "enthusiastic enterprise" prevented war). Jefferson turns to revenue and expenses, which he lists, in order to show that additional army and navy will consume any budget surplus.…

GLC00148

July 26, 1937

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis L. Strauss

Condolence letter sent after the death of Strauss's father. Strauss had served as Hoover's administrative assistant when Hoover was the U.S. Food Administrator in 1917. Written on Hoover's personal stationery.

GLC00162.15

January 10, 1832

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Susan Decatur

Responding to Decatur's letter, Adams will find it "highly gratifying" if he is able to aid Decatur in advancing her claim currently before Congress. Decatur was attempting to secure a pension for service rendered by her husband, Commodore Stephen Decatur, who died in a duel in 1820.

GLC00105