January 29, 1862

Smith, Martin Luther, 1819-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Ruggles

Wonders whether or not to grant a request for ammunition. Smith encloses a request for musket cartridges from soldiers at the Parish prison. Notes this force just received 1000 bullets the month before and wonders "is this expenditure of Ammunition necessary in our imperfectly supplied condition." One bust engraving of Smith included as collateral.

GLC02457.17

circa 1781

Manuscript document

Title: No 4 ordnance & stores received during the year 1781

List of ordnance stores received for the year. Lists items by date.

GLC02437.09968

1 March 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Transmits a requisition from New York for ammunition and says to send only what stock is deficient to Fort Schuyler. Written at "Head Quarters." At bottom, a note in the hand of Samuel Shaw reads, "Answered and the papers returned to the man who brought them." Bottom of the letter clipped to remove Washington's signature. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aid-de-camp.

GLC02437.09354

February 1, 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox "furnish me with an Estimate of every thing in the Ordnance and Artillery Department which will be necessary to carry on an Offensive and vigorous Campaign - considering also the Seige of New York as a probable Operation." Written at "Head Quarters." Washington's signature clipped.

GLC02437.09363

8 June 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses request for ammunition from the State of New Jersey, and requests Knox's opinion on how much ammunition can be granted to the state. Docketed in Knox's hand. "On public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.09373

10 June 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to a letter sent by Knox enclosing instructions issued by the Secretary at War (Benjamin Lincoln) regarding the construction of an arsenal and magazines at West Point. Calls the plan "an eligible one." Relates that as soon as he is finished furloughing men at his Cantonment, the remaining troops will be removed to West Point in whole or part. Written from New Windsor Cantonment, New York.

GLC02437.09388

23 September 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses gratitude for Knox's praise of Washington in the context of Congress's resolution "That an equestrian statue of General Washington, be erected at the place where the residence of Congress shall be established," passed on 7 August 1783 (and later completed by sculptor Thomas Crawford in the nineteenth century). Informs Knox that he has continued to lobby in support of the Officers' Petition for a large land grant in the Ohio Valley in lieu of back pay, but that the petition is being held up by continued negotiations between Congress and the state of Virginia (in whose territory the…

GLC02437.09401

9 May 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Manuscript document signed

Title: Provision return for thirteen men employed in the Ordnance Department

Also signed by Captain Thomas Batten. Covers 9-12 May. Contains a note on page two written by Sergeant R. Blakley, confirming receipt of rations. Contains extensive water damage.

GLC02437.09714

29 May 1783

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for Captain Thomas Patten's Company of Artificers belonging to the Ordnance Department]

Also signed by John Lillie of the A. W. Camp. Signed by Captain Patten on both pages. Covers 29-31 May for 323 rations for 69 people. Contains a note on page two written by Dudley Mercer, who confirms receipt of rations.

GLC02437.09749

5 January 1780

Marion, Francis, 1732-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Informs that he is sending two men as prisoners of war, Thomas Page and Joseph Dawson. States that the men say they deserted from the British but Marion suspects they may be spies. " ... I suspect from their Characters they are sent as Spies, and thought best to have them conducted to you." Advises that they have run out of rum and do not have wagons to go for more. Also states that they are in need of cartridges. Written as Lieutenant Colonel to Major General Benjamin Lincoln. With small clipping from a past sale describing the letter.

GLC02491

18 March 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Platt

Discusses the preliminary drawings of an artillery building at West Point which will include an ordnance store and a crane projecting from the building's pediment. Knox requests another building to serve as a laboratory.

GLC02531

12 August 1862

Foster, John Gray, 1823-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Major General Foster writes to Morgan, Governor of New York. Recommends Lieutenant Daniel Webster Flagler of the Ordnance Corps for command of one of the regiments being raised by New York State. Writes "I have seen him Constantly, & in many different positions since the sailing of the 'Burnside Expedition' & in justice & all sincerity must say- that he is fully qualified for any position you may be willing to give him..."

GLC02464.04

1 April 1892

Howard, Oliver Otis, 1830-1909

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Howard writes, "In the battle of fair Oaks Va. the first day of June 1862 (second day of the battle) I was twice wounded in my right arm. The first wound was by a Mississippi rifle ball through the wrist. The second by a minnie-ball entering at the Elbow joint. The two wounds necessitated amputation about six hours after the second blow." Contains a Headquarters, Department of the East stamp at the top.

GLC02464.06

16 June 1863

Roberts, Benjamin Stone, 1810-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Titcomb Sprague

Brigadier General Roberts writes to Sprague, Adjutant General for the State of New York. Remarks that he recently passed through Ilion, New York, where he experimented with improved shot for rifle guns. Asks Sprague to "send a commission of artillery officers to that place to witness further trials & to report to you their opinion of my shot." Notes that other artillery officers, including General William F. Barry, Chief of Artillery, report in the favour of the improved shot, and that the Army is too occupied to order an ordnance board to assess the shot. Notes, "The Remingtons will…

GLC02464.15

21 November 1862

Hershman, J.T., fl. 1862

Newspaper

Title: Camden confederate. [Vol. 2, no. 4 (November 21, 1862)]

Schedule of the South Carolina Railroad. Proclamation of Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens, including 10 resolutions ordering all "white residents" to be put under arms in a militia immediately and the draft of all men ages 18 to 45. Asked to be printed twice in the newspapers. Letter to the editor is glad that the patrol system has been kept up without compulsion. Description of the reception and burial of General J. B. Villepigue, his staff, and 10 privates in Camden. Also two short articles: one on the death of Lieutenant Edward P. Niles and another on the body of Lieutenant H. M.…

GLC08494

1 September 1861

Dawes, Rufus Robinson, 1838-1899

Printed document signed

Title: [Invoice of ordnance and ordnance stores, 6th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry]

Signed by Dawes as Captain of Company "K" in the 6th Wisconsin Volunteers. Printed form filled out by hand listing ordnance stores Dawes turned over to Colonel Lysander Cutler. Written at Camp Kalorama.

GLC08638

January 13, 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Col. Alexander McDougall

Washington writes that he is told that a vessel has just arrived with gun powder, which he asks McDougall to obtain. (Name is McDougall, per Fitzpatrick.)

GLC00154.03

August 15, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George H. Penfield

Abraham Lincoln directs Penfield to supply ordnance and cavalry arms by contract to P. B. Fowke's regiment. Penfield had an existing contract to supply the government with ordnance.

GLC00183

October 21, 1862

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes

Gives instructions to his wife to secure their property from the Union occupation of General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War. Directs her to go immediately across the Mississippi river to their plantation. Doubts that the Federals have visited the plantation yet but believes it possible that Dye (possibly the overseer) has run off. "...or, if he has remained at the plantation, that some of the negroes have run off to the Yankees." Advises that if she cannot get to the plantation, to secure any property and move the negroes. If she cannot stay on the plantation, he tells her to rent a…

GLC00175

April 18, 1775

Clymer, George, 1739-1813

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Committee of Correspondence of the County of Berks

Also signed by Joseph Reed, John Cadwalader, Thomas Mifflin, Jonathan B. Smith, John Benezet, James Mease, John Nixon, and Samuel Meredith. Circular to the committees of Pennsylvania encouraging the formation of military associations in each county; this letter was sent to Berks County. This is an answer to the letter of Berks County from April 15, 1775. Says now that "Ministerial violence" - meaning attacks by British troops under Parliament's orders - has occurred they need to act and not deliberate. Says their "despotic" intentions are "beyond doubt." Says word came that the Houses of…

GLC00496.022

December 27, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Tredegar Iron Works]

Semmes's autograph retained copy, marked as a copy. Contract with Joseph R. Anderson, owner of Tredegar Iron Works, in preparation for war. Semmes was acting as agent for the State of Georgia. Orders six 18 pounder cannons, 1500 rounds of solid shot, 200 spherical case shot, and 100 canister shot. Stresses the need to provide this order without delay. Details the price Georgia will pay. Tredegar provided the Confederacy with almost a thousand cannons during the war and was the Confederacy's most valuable manufacturer. "... This contract made and entered into... by and between General…

GLC00503

December 1860 - March 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Paul J. Semmes archive regarding buying arms and military equipment [decimalized .01-.14]

14 copies of documents and letters, most in the hand of Paul J. Semmes about his efforts as agent to buy arms for the state of Georgia before the war. Contracts with Parrot for guns and DuPont for gunpowder.

GLC00508

December 11, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with Charles Hugh of Pittsburgh for six eight inch Columbiads, 300 solid shot, and 1500 shells. Advises that the guns will be inspected by a member of the U.S. ordnance corps. Informs that the guns weight 900 pounds each, the shot 65 pounds, and the shells, 50 pounds. Discusses the costs. States that these guns will be cast using the "Rodman patent." Remarks, "Such guns cannot be obtained at any other foundry in the U.S." Marked copy on docket. Addressed from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.02

December 21, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract for 300 Colt New Model Army pistols to be delivered in two weeks. Mentions that the same factory, the Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut is now filling orders for the U.S. Government at the same price of $22.50. Comments on the pistol, "...this is a very superior arm - a little longer & larger than Colts Navy and lighter than Colt Dragoon pistol and better than either." Informs of other contracts made for "...cavalry & artillery sabres, cavalry & Infantry equipments, rifle cannon &…

GLC00508.03

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]

Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The…

GLC00508.04