1863

Photograph

Title: Cartes de visite of Port Hudson, La. (3), by McPherson & Oliver

GLC04596

circa 1864

Osborn, Henry M., fl. 1864

Diary

Title: [Diary of Henry M. Osborn of the 14th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry]

Autograph manuscript signed by Henry M. Osborn, a soldier in the 14th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Osborn was killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, on 1 September 1864. Diary includes battle content regarding Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the siege of Atlanta. Partially written in pencil.

GLC04598

22 December 1868

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Manuscript document

Title: [Report on the Battle of Washita]

Written in the hand of Custer's Sergeant Pierre A. Bunker of the 7th Cavalry, prepared for Custer's signature. Custer reports at length and in graphic detail on his military activities and observations at the Battle of Washita against Chief Black Kettle's village of Southern Cheyenne. The battle also involved the Arapahoe, Kiowa, and Apache. Provides "extracts...from Dr Sippincott's report" listing deaths and injuries sustained by the soldiers. Explores the possible consequences of the battle and the effort to cripple Indian resistance. Estimates the "entire loss of the Indians in killed…

GLC04606

3 November 1864

Upton, Emory, 1839-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Edwards

General Upton intends to do all he can for Edwards, who did not receive promotion to the rank of general. Writes, "...it has been your misfortune to have performed your bravest deeds unwitnessed by a superior officer but justice must and will be rendered you your promotion should go back to May 12th, for what you did on that day, of which I was a personal witness; but aside from all that Winchester alone entitles you to promotion. I shall never forget how beautifully you brought your noble Brigade forward..." Promises to inform General Philip Sheridan, commanding Army of the Shenandoah and…

GLC04622

7 December 1864

Defoe, William W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emery Defoe

Defoe, a Civil War soldier, updates his parents on Union progress, stating "as yet we have had few killed the soldiers are all in good Spirits and fear nothing." Continues writing at a later time, requesting that if he is killed in battle, his parents ensure that his son George W. Defoe receives a proper education. Again resumes writing at a later time to relate the events of a recent battle, stating "this has been one of the bloodiest battles that has been fought since the war began. the Rebs have lost in killed and wounded Near (17,000) seventeen thousand." Accompanied by a United States…

GLC04634

16 September 1864

Kappes, Charles, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sim Van Winkel

Kappes, a Union soldier waiting for his discharge in the Annapolis United States General Hospital, relates the events of his capture to friends in New Jersey. Reports that while engaged in battle near Richmond, Virginia, his corps was surrounded by Confederate soldiers and forced to surrender, after which he was taken as a prisoner. Complains of poor conditions prisoners were exposed to while on Belle Island, near Richmond, stating "I was almost starved and then such rations as they do give why the farmers of the north would not be guilty of giving it to his hogs if he did the old Pig would…

GLC04635

30 June 1862

Campbell, Fannie, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas E. Vermilye

Campbell, a nurse, informs Pastor Vermilye of events which took place while she rode aboard the Union hospital steamer, the Kennebec, travelling to White House, Virginia. States that while on the Pamunkey River, the Kennebec met many transports traveling in the opposite direction, escaping fires and battle that raged behind them. The Kennebec then retreated to Yorktown, Virginia, as "mild flowers were blooming on the banks Nature in her rich June dress enthroned like a queen sat bland and smiling as if the bloodred hand of civil war was not lifted in her domain." Reports that General…

GLC04636

21 July 1780

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: [Minutes of field council held during attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse]

Co-signed by six field officers, including Brigadier General William Irvine of the 2nd Brigade of the Pennsylvania Line. The minutes of a council of war held during an attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse. It appears that Knox wrote this on the verso of a letter he received from Captain Zebulon Pike while in the field. Says ammunition was nearly expended and even though artillery had made it within 60 or 70 yards of the blockhouse, it could not be captured and a withdraw was ordered. The attack at Bull's Ferry was a lopsided defeat, as Wayne's force of 2000 troops could not dislodge the 70…

GLC04898

2 April 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Gordon Meade

Grant, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army, writes from Headquarters of the Armies of the United States to Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Discussing an assault on Petersburg, states that General Horatio Wright can contribute his force, except for a garrison of enclosed works. Relates that General Edward Ortho Cresap Ord is moving to assist Wright. Reports that General Philip Henry Sheridan "intended to start at day break and sweep the White Oak road and all North of it down to Petersburg." Accompanied by two collateral maps; one depicts the Siege of Petersburg 31…

GLC04907.01

2 May 1863

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the authorities of Rome, Georgia

Forrest, commander of a cavalry brigade in the Army of Tennessee, writes from Headquarters (of an unspecified post), "twenty miles west of Garrison." Informs the authorities of Rome "There is a Federal Force of Fifteen Hundred cavalry marching on your place I am pursuing them prepare your selves to Repulse them- they have 2 Mountain Howitzers. I will be close on them I have kild 300 of thir men They are Runing for their lives."

GLC04940

12 July 1755 - 15 September 1755

Moses, Robert, fl. 1755

Diary

Title: [Diary of Robert Moses kept during the French and Indian War]

Moses served in a New Hampshire regiment under the command of Colonel Joseph Blanchard. He describes, sometimes in graphic detail, accounts of fighting Indians and the French in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire during the early stages of the Seven Years' War. Emphasizes the Indians "very barbarous manner." Contains an extensive description of General William Johnson's victory at the Battle of Lake George on 9 September 1755. In the course of the diary he mentions visits to Fort Dummer, Fort Bellows, Charlemont Fort, Fort Massachusetts, Fort Albany, Lake George,…

GLC04944

2 September 1781

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph note signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Note written on the bottom of a signed printed circular letter that discusses the importance of meeting Cornwallis, the arrival of French fleet, and the need for supplies. Virginia Governor Nelson's note mentions the receipt of "Intelligence from the northward that requires very large supplies of Provisions, Forage, Liquors & Waggons to be placed on the Route from Alexandria to Fredericksburg." Comments on the urgency of this matter, which was part of the Yorktown campaign.

GLC04828

22 September 1780

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jethro Sumner

Expects General William Smallwood to move westward in a few days to take command of the militia of North Carolina. Reports that in the meantime, Sumner will have command of the troops. Advises him to avoid a general action against the British as the consequences would be fatal. Instead recommends skirmishing because it will keep the British troops together, prevent plundering, and raise the spirits of the Continental troops. Informs that General Butler will join Sumner soon.

GLC04832

17 June 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by British General Phillips as commanding officer of the Convention Army, which consisted of prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign to Heath as American commander in charge of the Convention Army. Phillips wants to know if Heath will make efforts for the departure of the Convention Army to Europe as the terms of surrender dictated. Quotes part of a letter from General Sir William Howe, who hopes they can depart soon. Wants to know if Heath has any authority on the subject. Hopes they can act as gentlemen toward each other. Pages are separated and pasted on opposite sides of…

GLC04834

1777

Broadside

Title: Freshest Advices from the Northern Army [battle of Freeman's Farm at Saratoga]

Report on the battle of Freeman's Farm at Saratoga which made obvious to Burgoyne that he would have to surrender. References: Bristol B4441; Ford 2055.

GLC04840

9 November 1862

Pope, John, 1822-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Welch

Discusses his relief from command of the Army of Virginia and the political maneuverings that have undermined his reputation and led to his relief. "Whether the impression already made upon the public mind by this cause of designed and persistent malice & misrepresentation, can ever be eradicated by the truth is doubtful, but if such sacrifice of my personal reputation will advance the cause in which we are all enlisted, I shall submit to it cheerfully and silently." Pope, who had been put in charge of all the Armies in the East not under McClellan was relieved of this command after his…

GLC04704

1902

Sherman, Edwin A. (Edwin Allen), 1829-1914

Book signed

Title: The life of the late Rear-Admiral John Drake Sloat, of the United States navy, who took possession of California and raised the American flag at Monterey on July 7th, 1846

Signed by Sherman and inscribed to Bryant D. Campbell. Enlarged monumental edition. Includes supplemental pamphlet.

GLC04712

circa 1847

Burnett, Ward Benjamin, 1811-1884

Manuscript signed

Title: For Brigadier Genl. Shields. Official Report of the part performed by the 1st Reg. U.S.V. of N.Y. in the investment and capture of the City of Mexico

Personal account of the battle and fall of Mexico City. Very detailed descriptions of military maneuvers and commands. Mentions a list of killed and wounded (not included). This includes a tie that was likely used in binding

GLC04715

1863

Photograph

Title: Stereoscopic views of Chattanooga after its capture

Stereocards of Chattanooga, including the town (Main Street), Lookout Mountain (with some posed pictures), etc.

GLC04749

27 October 1777

Harrison, Robert H., 1745-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Clarke

Written by Harrison as secretary to George Washington to Clarke, whose larger identity is unknown. Says the five extra dollars will be charged. Claims there are no hand bills or he would have sent him one. Reports that the articles of capitulation got to Washington yesterday. Says Burgoyne and his army of 5,600 are prisoners and that Colonel James Wilkinson is on his way to Congress with General Horatio Gates's official report. Wilkinson caused a mini-scandal by not showing up in York, Pennsylvania, where Congress was meeting, until 31 October 1777 and did not present a written report until 3…

GLC04786

5 November 1777

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Laurens as president of the Continental Congress; signed once and initialed twice by Laurens. Retained copy encloses extracts of Congress and a postscript reporting the passing of those resolutions. The extracts concern recovery and protection of the Hudson (North) River. Draft of letter to Richard Caswell on verso regarding the appropriation of funds for a memorial for Brigadier General Nash, who died at Germantown.

GLC04803

27 November 1775

Sayer, Robert, 1725-1794

Map

Title: A Plan of the Battle on Bunkers Hill fought on the 17th of June 1775.

This document is a printed map of the Battle of Bunker Hill, designating the positions of American and British forces. Printed by R. Sayer and J. Bennet. Underneath the map is a written description of the Battle taken from a letter written by General Burgoyne to his nephew Lord Stanley.

GLC04760.01

11 September 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friedrich Riedesel [in French]

Written by British General Burgoyne as he is marching southward through New York to General Baron Riedesel commander of the German troops with Burgoyne. Letter is in French with partial translation in seller's description in collateral file. Updates Riedesel on various troops' movements and the arrival of transports to cross the Hudson River before the Battle of Saratoga. Advises there might be a strong detachment at Skeneborough. Also included in the file is a color print titled "Genl. Burgoyne Addressing the Indians." Dimensions are 15.7 x 24.1 cm. Depicts a red coated Burgoyne with arm…

GLC04761

22 March 1778

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by General Burgoyne as a prisoner of war after his defeat at Saratoga in October 1777 to Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war previously commanded by Burgoyne. Says he is obliged by Heath's handling of his last dispatch and regrets the loss of any of Heath's men because of it. Asks for duplicates of Captain Dalrymple's parole to secure the transports and money he is arranging, presumably for Burgoyne's return to Britain, which took place on 5 April 1778. Postscript says Mr. Clarke has not heard from Heath's commissary yet. Letter…

GLC04762

30 August 1778

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Kingston

Written by General Burgoyne in England as a parolee after Battle of Saratoga to Kingston as Burgoyne's Adjutant General. Mentions that he received information that the government might use intelligence from Boston as grounds to return him to America as a prisoner of war. Says if it comes to that, he will not obey the order. Asks Kingston to keep that information confidential. Says box that might contain a summons from the American Congress sent by the Manchester coach has not arrived and expresses his impatience since he is moving to Scarborough the next day. Tells Kingston to remain in…

GLC04763