3 April 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Kate

Writes that he has escaped from fighting in the south of Richmond. Only two divisions of troops were left behind at the north of the James River; one a colored troop division and the other Painter's division. Includes a postscript note reporting that some severe explosions have been heard and two large fires spotted, one in the direction of Richmond and the other in Petersburg.

GLC02016.078

4 April 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his aunt

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Reports on the fall of Richmond and describes the streets of the city as being full of people cheering and playing music in celebration of the "conquering heroes." Writes that the city was burning and various explosions were happening when he arrived there. Comments that the people of the city are "resigned to their lot and submit to the national authority with good grace." The 3rd division, 24th Army Corps were the first to enter the city. Reports on a siege at Petersburg. Has written to his sisters and asks his aunt to tell…

GLC02016.079

June 10, 1862

Olmstead, Charles H., 1837-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Olmstead, a Confederate officer who surrendered Fort Pulaski and was taken as a prisoner of war at Fort Columbus, writes to Union Secretary of War Stanton. Olmstead is concerned that the Union is violating the prisoner of war terms signed by General Quincy A. Gillmore and himself at the surrender. The surrender terms stated that the Confederate sick and wounded should be sent up to the Confederate lines. Olmstead has found out that instead of these sick and wounded men being allowed to return home, they were kept and arrangements were made for them to be exchanged for Federal prisoners in…

GLC00319.01

11 June 1862

Loomis, Gustavus, 1789-1872

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas

Transmits correspondence from Confederate Colonel Charles H. Olmstead to Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War (see GLC00319.01) concerning the alleged violation of the surrender terms of Fort Pulaski. Autograph endorsement signed by Major General David Hunter, 7 July 1862, from Hilton Head, South Carolina stating it was received 27 June 1862 and referred to Hunter for report on instructions from Stanton. Hunter then endorses the letter on 7 July 1862 from Hilton Head, South Carolina and states that, "The surrender of Fort Pulaski was unconditional. Capt. Gillmore had no authority from me to…

GLC00319.02

December 22, 1775

Parker, Jonas, ?-1775

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for Joseph Graves]

States that Graves is owed one pound sixteen ounces for "entertainement given to let Jonas Parker and his men in bringing prisoners" over his land. Signed by Parker as "Captain of the Gaurd." Verso dated 22 December 1775, but the document must have been written earlier since Parker died in April 1775. Verso also states that document was examined and signed by Abraham Mason, Thomas Durfee, Jon Webster, and Joseph Locke. Verso also bears a second signature from Parker. A later note signed "Everett" tells the story of Parker's death at the battle of Lexington.

GLC01450.237.01

March 11, 1777

Bromfield, Sally, fl. 1777-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Bromfield

Very informal letter to her brother Henry (who she refers to as Harry in the body of the letter). Says she will not apologize for writing so soon after her last letter and that he will write whenever there is a trifle worth mentioning. Says "I cannot boast much of the figure I make in the gay World." Comments on the wounding of the "brave & Gallant General Arnold." Says it is past three in the morning as she writes. Goes through her circle of acquaintances and describes various parties in a flippant way.

GLC01450.803.02

6 March 1863

Boker, George H. (George Henry), 1823-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Bell Birney

Boker, Secretary of Philadelphia's Union League, thanks General Birney for the flag of General Philip Kearny, recently donated to the League (refer to GLC02608.01). Declares "I never before was so thoroughly impressed with my incompetency to perform any duty that was allotted to me. If you could have been present at the Solemn Silence which fell on all lips, as I reverently unrolled that war-worn standard ... you would understand how poorly mere words can convey the feeling which it inspired." Thanks Birney for the "treasure which I know that you esteem above all other symbols save that of…

GLC02608.02

February 11, 1862

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

Troops are passing through on their way to important work in Paducah and "there is a rumor here that 20 or 30 thousand may be sent from the Army of the Potomac into Ky. We are being victorious everywhere, and everyone looks for victories as a matter of course. If we could only have good roads we should soon be in Tenasee." He mentions the accusations of treason against General Charles Pomeroy Stone. He needs money as paymasters can't pay for a few weeks. "The accusations of treason against Gen Stone are astounding, and I hope will prove on investigation to be untrue. But if they are proven he…

GLC04195.02

29 June 1863

Newspaper

Title: The black hawk chronicle. [Vol. 1, no. 4 (June 29, 1863)]

News on the siege of Vicksburg from the Union Mississippi Squadron blockading the city. Article humorously attacks the Arkansas Democrat.

GLC06107.22.02

10 May 1861

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Letter signed

Title: to Virgil Hickox

Douglas, serving as a Democratic United States Senator from Illinois, responds to a letter from Hickox, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee (refer to GLC05621.01). States " ... war is being waged against the United States with the avowed purpose of producing a permanent disruption of the Union and a total destruction of its government ... All hope of compromise with the Cotton States was abandoned when they assumed the position that the separation of the Union was complete and final ..." Discusses the first Civil War battle at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, 12-13 April 1861. Cites…

GLC05621.02

24 July 1778

Macomb, John, fl. 1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Macomb, a Royalist in Burgoyne's army during the Saratoga campaign, to Burgoyne in London. Writes that he wants to affirm his character with Burgoyne after General Haldiman believes he deserted the army with 1500 pounds after the defeat at Saratoga. Says Brigadier General Fraser, who died at Saratoga, said he would have a 50 pound-a-year salary, which he has not received. Says he only left the army before the Convention because he dreaded what the "Rebels" would do to him for helping his son-in-law raise a battalion for Burgoyne. Hopes Burgoyne will recommend establishing his…

GLC04764.75

September 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph document

Title: to Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool

Memorial written by Major General Phillips, as commander fo the captured British Convention Army (he took control when John Burgoyne returned to Britain in April 1778) to Jenkinson as Secretary of War in Lord North's ministry in London. States that by a resolution of Congress in August 1778, it appears the Convention Army will not be returning to Britain in the next coming months. Worries about the promotion of the officers in the Convention Army, who are deprived of field service. Hopes the captured troops can count on the protection of the King. Says the troops under him have continued to…

GLC04764.76

29 May 1779

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Autograph document

Title: to Captain Ross

Written by Kingston as a staff officer to General John Burgoyne. Kingston wrote this somewhere in Britain, where he returned with Burgoyne in April 1778. Requests action on his "particular exchange" as a prisoner of war. Mentions that he could be exchanged for Lieutenant Colonel Bellinger or Colonel Hale. Kingston was only formally a prisoner. He returned to Britain and promised not to fight until exchanged.

GLC04764.77

29 June 1776

Hunt, J., fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Hunt is writing to an unknown recipient. Sends it to "My Dearest Friend." The index prepared for this collection suggests it could be to General John Burgoyne. It could also have been sent to Robert Kingston. It is impossible to tell. Year inferred from the "Sat. Even: June 29th." The only year in the 1770s to have a June 29th on a Saturday is 1776. Says he saw his sister and had hoped to see him. Tells him that his mother became ill and died. Hopes circumstances have permitted him to leave before this arrives. Says he will help out in whatever way he can.

GLC04764.78

1763-1783

Autograph document

Title: [Fragment of check]

Fragment of a check from what appears to be activity related to the Saratoga Campaign. Mentions "Please to Pay to" and then cuts off. Also mentions "Genl. Burgoyne" as well as somebody or something in Colonel Aldens Regiment. Partial tear down the middle, which appears to have been repaired previously.

GLC04764.79

1763-1783

Powell, Henry, 1733-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Fragment of a letter written by Brigadier General Henry Watson Powell to General Burgoyne. Watson served under Burgoyne as commander of the 2nd Brigade during the Saratoga Campaign. This fragment is simply the closing of the letter. Says: "Carpenters, Masons;, Smiths, Oxen, Corvee Canadians[,]Carts & Horses with Harness compleat[.] Therefore The Ballance & Carts being destroyed will be of no great consequence." Signed by Powell.

GLC04764.80

December 12, 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph note

Title: [Note on a missionary]

Index says the note is in General Burgoyne's hand. Initialed "JB" at the top. Says: "To be attended to: Joshua Wingate Weeks of Marblehead Missionary from the Society for propagat[ing] the gospel -" Weeks was a Royalist Anglican minister kicked out of Marblehead, Massachusetts for continuing to preach in the Anglican Church there. Date of creation inferred from the date of Weeks's ejection from Marblehead.

GLC04764.81

circa 1778

Geddes, David, fl. 1777-1778

Autograph document signed

Title: [Accounts during Saratoga Campaign according to David Geddes]

Created by Geddes as acting paymaster under British General John Burgoyne. This was written after the British defeat at Saratoga in October 1777. Document is divided into two sides, one side which marks expenditures by officers under Burgoyne and another that reconciles the expenses. Account goes from 15 June 1777 to 12 December 1777. Balance for expenditures by officers is slightly over 507 pounds. Combined with Burgoyne's own expenses of 330 pounds, the total balance is slightly over 837 pounds, "Errors Excepted."

GLC04764.82

circa October 1777

Broadside

Title: Burgoyne's Lamentation, At his surrender to the American army, under General Gates.

Nine stanza poem printed in Boston. Each stanza has eight lines and follows an "aabbccdd" pattern of rhyme. This broadside is the seventh edition. Date is estimated as around the end of the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777, but it could be later than that given this is the seventh edition. Told from the point of view of British General John Burgoyne while he is surrounded by American forces. Burgoyne sends his lamentations to the Greek goddess Diana in the poem. First stanza mentions that earlier American generals made Burgoyne overconfident of an easy victory. Poem goes into Burgoyne's…

GLC04764.83

1778

Spenser, Boyle, fl. 1756-1778

Document signed

Title: to His Excelency, Sir Guy Carleton

Written by Boyle as a Lieutenant in the 24th Regiment of Foot seeking a promotion to Carleton as commander of British forces in Canada. Boyle's regiment was part of the advanced corps of General John Burgoyne's army during the Saratoga Campaign, but it appears he did not fight at Saratoga because he says he applied to join Burgoyne's detachment but that the "request could not be complied with." Date of creation inferred from content of the document. Boyle says he joined the British Army in 1756 and that he has served for 22 years. Joined the army as an ensign in the 37th Regiment of Foot and…

GLC04764.84

17 July 1777

Stuart, Archibald, fl. 1759-1777

Autograph document signed

Title: to His Excelency, Sir Guy Carleton

This document is a memorial written by Lieutenant Archibald Stuart of the 62nd Regiment of Foot asking for official acceptance and a promotion to Carleton as commander of British forces in Canada. Says he was appointed a first lieutenant in 1759 in the 88th Regiment of Foot and was wounded in the leg during the Battle of Campen in 1760. He was subsequently taken prisoner by the French for six months. In 1763 he was put on half pay but upon an application to reenter service he was made a lieutenant in an invalid company, but that "Inactive life [was] not suitable to his Inclination." He was…

GLC04764.85

10 November 1777

Carter, Jonathan, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: [Petition against Articles of Convention]

Petition signed by 13 British officers and subalterns in the Royal Regiment of Artillery captured at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. Probably sent to General John Burgoyne. Claims the Americans have not followed through on the stipulations of the Articles of Convention, the document that delineated the terms of General John Burgoyne's surrender to the Americans. Claims they have not been quartered properly and that their conditions "Compell Us to Decline Our Assent to the Parole, 'till the Articles We think Incompatible with Our Situations in Life to Submitt to, are Alterd."

GLC04764.86

10 November 1777

Petrie, George, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: [Petition against Articles of Convention]

Petition from 17 officers of the 21st Regiment of Foot, known as North British Fusileers, to General John Burgoyne, protesting their conditions under the Articles of Convention, which delineated Burgoyne's terms of surrender after the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. Name of creator was selected from the first legible signature at the bottom of the document. Says it is impossible for them to submit to the regulations laid before them because it is disgraceful. Says they cannot subscribe their names to their paroles because there would be no opportunity for redress afterward. Claims they…

GLC04764.87

circa 10 November 1777

Autograph document

Title: [Petition against Articles of Convention]

Petition of the Captains and subalterns of the 9th Regiment of Foot to General John Burgoyne. They are "object[ing] to give their parole," for their treatment under the Articles of Convention, which delineated the terms of Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October 1777. Date estimated from other petitions in this decimalized collection, which are dated 10 November 1777. First complaint is on inadequate lodging and the other on the nightly curfew. No signatures are appended.

GLC04764.88

circa 10 November 1777

Autograph document

Title: [Petition against Articles of Convention]

Petition of the captains and subalterns of the 62nd Regiment of Foot, protesting the Articles of Convention to General John Burgoyne. Dated from other petitions in this collection which have a date of 10 November 1777. Says they cannot give their parole because of curfew restrictions and subpar housing. Claims "They feel themselves injured, that their Words of Honor are only to be trusted in Day light." Also claim their circumstances are "bordering upon close confinement." No signatures are appended.

GLC04764.89