February 21, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Chase

Lieutenant General Sherman replies to a letter from Chase, wife of Franklin Chase, United States Consul in Tampico, Mexico. States that his "connexion with Mr. Campbell's mission is not generally understood," possibly referring to President Andrew Johnson's 1866 order for Sherman to command troops in the absence of General Ulysses S. Grant, while Grant escorted Minister Plenipotentiary Lewis Campbell to Mexico. Predicts that the government set up by France in Mexico, headed by Archduke Fernando Maximilian, will "return to Europe leaving the Mexicans substantially free to choose their own…

GLC00577

April 24, 1790

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Benjamin Rush sends James Madison a pamphlet and requests that he protect against it being published in a newspaper. He notes that he will send copies of the pamphlet to Thomas Jefferson in the upcoming week. Also sends a sermon by Richard Price. Describes the sermon as "pregnant with noble sentiments" and credits it with inspiring the idea of "your [Madison's] house addressing the national assembly & king of France" concerning the French Revolution. Discusses that he hoped for effects of such an address. Concludes: "The United States kindled the flame of liberty in Europe. It is highly…

GLC00580

July 6, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Cooper

Enclosing the Declaration of Independence, with personal notes to his friend and description of sabotage of a captured American ship. Cooper was town clerk of Boston. Also, discusses military matters.

GLC00595

December 8, 1812

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

"The history of the hobby horse" -page 4 (Adams's humorous name for the story he tells in this letter). Free frank on page 4. The letter also discusses the dream of American glory and early history.

GLC00599

April 24, 1781

Balfour, Nisbet, 1743-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Saunders

Written by Scottish officer Colonel Balfour as commandant of Charlestown, South Carolina to Captain Saunders, a Loyalist, as commandant of Georgetown, South Carolina. Written in numeric code. Cypher included in collateral file. Letter says: "You wil inform Colonel Watson that he is to remain at Georgetown as Greens Army is before Camden, that he wil join Lord Cornwalis on his march if he posibly can get to him and if not he will wait at Georgetown til further orders." Marked "No. 13" at address.

GLC00609

September 30, 1846

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas S. Jesup

Transmitting a summary statement and muster roll of non-commissioned officers and privates from the 4th Regiment.

GLC00611

1815-1860

Pringle, Thomas, 1789-1834

Note

Title: Transmission of two cards for the Institute of France's annual assembly

Attributed to Pringle, the Scottish poet and abolitionist, circa 1820. Pringle relates that Athanase Coquerel sends compliments to [Ch. N. N.] Richard and Elihu Burritt. Transmits two cards (not included) for the annual assembly of one of the Academies of the Institute of France. Written on stationery of the Eglise Reformee de Paris.

GLC00496.276

1813-1814, 1860, 1864

Green, Joseph W., fl. 1812-1815

Header Record

Title: Diary and 2 letters re: War of 1812 [decimalized]

GLC00498

1813-1815

Green, Joseph W., fl. 1812-1815

Diary

Title: [Journal of a privateer and of prisoner of war during the War of 1812]

Diary written while aboard the privateer Alfred and as a prisoner of war in Melville Island Prison, Halifax, and Dartmoor Prison. Records many sightings and occasional capturing of ships. Entry on 22 February 1814 records the capture of Green's privateer by the British and being brought to Melville Island Prison at Halifax. Records writing to family and the arrival of new prisoners. Notable entries include mention of a prisoners' petition to General John Mason on 28 April 1814, the reduction of rations on 1 May 1814, the release of 90 prisoners on 23 July 1814. There are also…

GLC00498.01

July 18, 1860

Green, Joseph W., Jr., 1822-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Gregory

Discusses the contributions made by soldiers from Marblehead, Massachusetts in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Emphasizes the War of 1812, commenting on service aboard the ship Constitution by men from Marblehead. Expresses pride in the contributions made by his hometown and seeks to have them recognized. Author possibly Joseph W. Green, Jr. (as listed in the 1850 census) and probably the son of Joseph W. Green, who kept a diary of his time as a privateer and POW during the War of 1812.

GLC00498.02

January 9, 1894

Sinclair, Arthur, fl. 1880-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McIntosh Kell

Arthur Sinclair promises to send the papers of the deceased Captain Evan P. Jones to Kell. He mentions that he had been corresponding with Jones about the C.S.S. Alabama "when death called him away." He tells Kell that "you would be pleased, and no doubt gratified to learn how much he admired you."

GLC00684.19

October 20, 1899

Galt, Francis L., 1831-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McIntosh Kell

Francis L. Galt writes to congratulate Kell on his daughter's marriage and to request help in finding his own son a job in business. He mentions "the Charleston Reunion last spring" and a circular he has received from one of the men who attended, who intends to compile a history of Confederate naval narratives. He writes that "living here on the frontier of the National Capital we have been regaled with the excitement of the Dewey celebrations lately" and comments on the "decay of republican institutions." He mentions the Transvaal War and his memories of "our stay among the Boers...and our…

GLC00684.20

1900-1929

Unknown

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank Van Valkenburgh

Illegible signature at end of letter. Pencil note at the bottom of the letter says it is Garrit [likely Gerrit] S. Van Valkenburgh, but it is too obscure to be certain. Pokes fun at his brother for such a bad letter to him. Says it is cold and that they are clustered around a rousing fire in the store. A dust storm is obscuring the day. Says mother is well and that their father is with Ed (another brother). Says Carrie Van Singer, probably a relative, gave birth to a son. Reports that there is peace in Europe and plenty in America. Mentions that crops are good. Gives update on family and…

GLC00686.30

1858-1909

Powell, George May, 1835-1905

Header Record

Title: Papers of George May Powell [decimalized]

The George May Powell collection contains personal and family correspondence. Also included are business papers relating to his Thirteenth Amendment anti-slavery photograph, his inventions, and his publications; a diary, letters, and essays regarding his post-war travel, and religious and pacifist correspondence and essays. The collection is divided into the following series: 1) correspondence with Emma C. Small, 1860-1868; 2) George May Powell Company business records (13th Amendment photo); 3) Post-war expedition to Egypt and Palestine diary, records, and maps; 4) American Christian…

GLC00687

October 3, 1933

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to Bruce Barton

Comments on retirement: "A smoking President receives enough pipes to last a life time. Likewise fishing tackle. It is the only endowment he gets, except a troubled soul." Also mentions that "The country is going sour on the New Deal." Expresses his fear that the country will veer further left politically, and after the "middle class (80% of America) realizes it ruin" will veer back to the far right, "into some American interpretation of Hitler or Mussolini." Marked "personal" with one manuscript addition at the end.

GLC00691

April 18, 1790

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

The letter discusses corruption and Adam's unhappiness as Vice President. He is very affectionate towards Rush. Also discusses beliefs on government and other reflections.

GLC00704

April 14, 1857

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Sailing orders from the Navy Department, placing McBlair in charge of the sloop of war "Dale," and commanding him to sail to the African coast to combat illegal slave trading. McBlair is ordered to join the "United States African Squadron" and to stop ships transporting illegal cargo or falsely flying the American flag. Letter written from the "Navy Department." Pages bound with a green ribbon. Isaac Toucey was the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. He also served as a Congressman and Senator from Connecticut, United States Attorney General, and Governor of Connecticut.

GLC00722.01

May 2, 1858

Hawley, Charles E., fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter, with McBlair's autograph endorsement signed on the verso. The letter, written on board the U.S.S. "Marion" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde, states that Hawley is ill with dyspepsia, does not believe he can recover on board, and wishes that "a medical survey may be held in my case." McBlair's note on the next page, written on May 3, 1858, on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at Porto Praya, orders the medical examination to be held. Note on bottom of page states that Hawley passed; it is signed by Assistant Surgeons W. Sherman, R. J. Mason and H.W.M. Washington.

GLC00722.37

January 13, 1622

Brandt, Sebastian, fl. 1600-1625

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Hovener

Brandt requests having the London Company send him supplies, and requests that his nephew (the son of Phillip Brandt) be sent to Virginia from Derbyshire. He mentions Admiral of the Jamestown District, John Pountis. Letter written in Elizabethan secretarial hand. Docket, in another hand, reads: "Sebastian Brands letter to Mr. Hojener 13 January }1622/1 That ther is Mynes of Gould and Silver and Copper in Virginia." It is unclear if the date is old style or new style.

GLC00708

1784

Continental Congress, 1774-1789

Pamphlet

Title: The Articles of Confederation; the Declaration of Rights; The Constitution of this Commonwealth, and the Articles of the Definitive Treaty Between Great-Britian and the United States of America.

First Virginia printing. Swem 7430. Stab stitched. Not fully opened

GLC00716

27 July 1781

Galvez, Bernardo de, 1746-1786

Manuscript document signed

Title: to unknown [in spanish]

Written by Galvez as the Governor of Louisiana who lead several expeditions against the British along the Gulf Coast in support of the American Revolution. Document lauding Gilberto Guillemard, his second in command and chief military engineer, who recently died under Galvez's command. Praises his second in command for assistance in defeating the British at Mobile, Pensacola, and along the Mississippi River. Written in an attractive italic clerical hand. Red wax seal is extent.

GLC00717

1781

Galvez, Bernardo de, 1746-1786

Pamphlet

Title: Diario de las operaciones de la expedicion contra la Plaza de Panzacola... (in Spanish)

A-F4. Unopened and unsewn. Re: expedition on Pensacola. Galvez led Spanish forces against the British at Pensacola (which had been given with Florida to Britain in 1763) which he captured for Spain. The Floridas were returned to Spain in the peace of 1783 and only became part of the U.S. with the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819. Sabin 26475, Palau 96980, Medina (Havana imprint) 68, Streeter sale 1191, Howes P59.

GLC00718

1855-1859

Header Record

Title: William McBlair collection [Decimalized .01-.72]

Collection of more than 70 documents regarding William McBlair, a United States Naval captain involved in American efforts to suppress the slave trade on the African coast in the 1850s. McBlair commanded the "Dale" in the U.S. Navy's African Squadron. He later joined the Confederate Navy and commanded the CSS "Patrick Henry," as well as the ironclad CSS "Atlanta." McBlair died in 1863 on board of a hospital ship. This collection includes McBlair's appointments, orders and personal and professional correspondence while on assignment patrolling the West Coast of Africa, particularly the…

GLC00722

January 19, 1858

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

The letter is ordering McBlair to return with his ship to his "cruising ground" and continue his "suppression of the slave trade." Says McBlair should first take on recruits and supplies, then proceed to the coast to suppress the trade. States he is enclosing two separate orders from the Navy Department. Letter written on board the United States Flagship "Cumberland" in Porto Praya in Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. Thomas A. Conover was a Captain, later Commodore in the United States Navy, and the Commander of the African Squadron. A veteran of the War of 1812, Conover had previously…

GLC00722.02

25 June 1857

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript document

Title: General orders for the government of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa

General orders regarding Navy protocols and conduct of officers. Clerical copy, tied with red ribbon. Conover's name appears to be clerically signed. Written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland. " Forwarded to William McBlair by Conover.

GLC00722.03