January 30, 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Letter

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

Continued 1 February and 2 February. Due to a measles outbreak, three companies are being detained on another ship further up the river. On his ship many are sick with fever. Describes Southern plantation houses, arrival and setting up at their new camp. Rumors about Seward and Stanton's resignation, Burnside being superseded by Freeman. Also mentions rumor of the withdrawal of troops by all Democratic governors from the federal army. [Expresses anxiety which followed the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg.] Gives address as 114 Regt NY Banks Expedition, N. Orleans.

GLC04703.04

29 April 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Letter

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

His regiment and another are assigned to drive cattle, horses, mules and sheep; an assignment he finds disgraceful. Dederer suggests that the commanding officers committed a number of mistakes in battle [possibly the Battle of Port Hudson 6/11/1863], which earned the regiment their humiliating assignment.

GLC04703.08

13 June 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Letter

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

He is in the hospital with jaundice. He had been sick for a week, but put off getting medical attention because he felt an engagement was immanent.

GLC04703.09

14 July 1863

Dederer, N. A., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter B. Rathbone

Writing from the Marine Hospital, Dederer, with the New York Volunteer Regiment notes the success of Grant at Vicksburg. His opinion of pardoning rebel soldiers: "Gen'l Butler is the damned'st Scoundrel in the whole Federal Army, but it needs such a man to deal with these pretended senior men; men who just as soon as our backs are turned render all the possible aid and comfort to these small armies or bands of Guerrillas. I would not allow so many of them to take the oath, as but few of them regard it as all binding, and it only furnishes them with a cloak by which they hide their…

GLC04703.11

27 March 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter

Title: to Louis M. Goldsborough

Mentions the receipt of dispatches from Goldsborough and Rowan, who had been involved in the capture of "rebel batteries upon the Neuse River." Writes about the "brilliant victory" at New Bern and requests that Goldsborough "convey to Commander Rowan and the Officers and men of the Flotilla, the thanks of the Department and of the Government." Welles was secretary of the Navy.

GLC02254.03

2 April 1863

MacDiarmid, John, fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Writes from aboard the U.S.S. Ceres, having just traveled from New Bern "last evening at 11 PM." Discusses his plans "of passing the batteries and proceeding to Washington," and sends ammunition "by the Boats of the Ceres, Lockwood, and Granite." Lt. MacDiarmid was the Acting Master of the U.S.S. Ceres.

GLC02254.09

9 April 1863

McCann, William Penn, 1830-1906

Letter signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Writes to say he is sending "to night three (3) Schooners, with ammunition for the Army and the Gunboats." Mentions that "Davenport thinks it is imprudent to send more boats past the batteries without silencing them." Assures Renshaw that "the force from Newberne [sic] is rapidly advancing to meet you" and briefly mentions that he will be ready for an attack on the Hill's Point Batteries. Letter written aboard the U.S.S. Hunchback. McCann, commander of the Hunchback eventually rose to the rank of Commadore.

GLC02254.10

11 April 1863

McCann, William Penn, 1830-1906

Letter signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Writes to Renshaw about the plan to "attack Hills Point Battery at 5 Oclock tomorrow morning, and cover the 'Escort' as she passes through the obstructions." Notes that the Escort will be carrying ammunition. The attack McCann references is the start of the Battle of Suffolk at Hill's Point (sometimes known as the Battle of Fort Huger), which spanned from 11 April to 4 May 1863. The Union Army captured Fort Huger, creating a safe river route for Union ships and trade.

GLC02254.11

14 April 1863

Hoffman, Southard, fl. 1863

Manuscript

Title: [General Orders]

Announces that Commanding General Foster "is about to leave for a brief time the Gallant Soldiers and Sailors comprising this Garrison; Brigadier General Potter will remain in command." Mentions that Foster will be leaving "for the purpose of putting himself at the head of a relieving force" and congratulates the naval forces and soldiers stationed at Fort Washington for their "excellent courage which has distinguished them during the 16 days of the enemies attack." Written by Assistant Adjutant General Hoffman "by command" of Foster. The Confederate siege of Fort Washington took place…

GLC02254.13

23 July 1861

Green, Wharton J., 1831-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. S. Jones

Green assures Major Jones that the regiment will be completed despite the desertion of the Warren Company: "They left without a tangible pretext and as it happened upon the day after the great battle [possibly First Bull Run], under the imputation of a too nice regard for consequences." Green directs him to "send on all companies applying as fast as possible and erase the word fail from your vocabulary." Green will go to Weldon, North Carolina tomorrow to further arrange matters. Wharton Green enlisted at the start of the Civil War as a private in the Twelfth North Carolina Infantry, but…

GLC02233.08

1861

Landis, Augustus Jr., 1833-1892

Autograph document signed

Title: [Petition asking George Wortham to resign his command]

Written by Landis, an officer under Wortham's command, and signed by over fifty members of the company. Docket, in Wortham's hand, states the petition was "Got up by Lieut Landis (who wished promotion) during my absence and disavowed by all but sixteen of the signers. Those who disavowed it resented how Landis used threats &c to procure signatures." Those who later disavowed the petition have the word "denied" penciled next to their names. Excerpt: "We the undersigned believe that the danger of an engagement in battle is imminent and feeling that the lives of this company should be…

GLC02233.11

22 March 1862

Goldsborough, Louis Malesherbes, 1805-1877

Letter

Title: to Stephen C. Rowan

Congratulates Rowan on his victory at New Bern and confides, "I expected nothing less. I trust that Beaufort and Fort Macon will soon share a similar fate with Newberne [sic] -- that is be in your possession." Rowan was a captain in the United States Navy when he assisted in the capture of New Bern, North Carolina, on 14 March 1862. The battle was led by Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside.

GLC02254.02

January 11,1863

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph note signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Lee annotates a clerical transcription of various dispatches and newspaper clippings concerning activities of the United States Navy in Texas during the Battle of Galveston. On recto, is a transcription of an article from the "Richmond Va Examiner" titled "Brilliant Naval Exploit: The "Harriet Lane" Captured, Another Steamer blown up with all on board." The article details the capture of the U.S.S. Harriet Lane at "two o'clock on New Year's morning" in Galveston Bay. The article also includes a short paragraph about the fate of another vessel: "The Westervelt [sic] under Commander Renshaw…

GLC02254.08

14 April 1863

McCann, William Penn, 1830-1906

Letter signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Mentions a change of plans in the attack on Hill's Point Battery. Reports location, activities and condition of several Union ships, including the Collier, Phoenix, Hunchback, Southfield, Valley City, Whitehead and Granite. Complains that "there is not a boat here in which we can mount a Howitzer to clear the channel of the rebel picket boats."

GLC02254.12

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes affectionately, asking about Lucy's journey from Worcester. Discusses his own journey to New York City on his way to Fort Ticonderoga, where George Washington had ordered him to travel to in order to bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there in the Spring of 1775. He met his brother on the road, a meeting he describes and dubs "truly farcical." Comments on business opportunities. Reports the easy victory by which American forces captured Montreal on 13 November 1775. mentioning the British retreat, the construction of an American battery, and the interception of…

GLC02437.00211

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

A highly detailed letter in which Knox reports on his efforts to obtain ordnance in New York City for the Continental Army in Cambridge. Discusses similar, unsuccessful activities in regard to the activities of a man named Colonel Read, and his problems with the committee sitting during the recess of the Second Continental Congress, possibly the Second Provincial Congress, which met in New York in late 1775 or the Committee of Safety. Reports Colonel Alexander McDougall's promise to exert his influence on the committee and have them send munitions to Cambridge immediately. Seeks permission…

GLC02437.00212

30 May 1864

Clark, George W., fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Recounts battles of cavalry fought with the rebels in Dallas, Georgia.

GLC06167.11

30 June 1864

Clark, George W., fl. 1863-1865

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to his father

Gives news of General Sherman's attacks on the enemy in Georgia, refers to the accuracy of the Rebel artillery fire, and requests that his father attempt to gain for him a commission as an officer.

GLC06167.12

12 May 1776

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes Knox to update him on activities reinforcing the siege of Quebec. Discusses orders to congregate at the town of Surrel, about 135 miles outside of Quebec. Mentions that since the Americans had been driven from the Plains of Abraham, it was unknown where they would make their attack. Comments on the location of various generals and assures Knox that all "are in Good Health & Spirits." Informs Knox that only one man failed on the march and was sent back to Charlestown, Massachusetts. Stevens was a captain in Knox's artillery regiment. He earlier reported on his mission to assist…

GLC02437.00291

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of Fort Sumter's heavily damaged parade ground in front of the sally-port.

View of Fort Sumter's heavily damaged parade ground in front of the sally-port.

GLC04509.12

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: "Fort Sumter nach der Beschießung."

Osborn stamp on verso. Pencil inscription on verso: "Fort Sumter nach der Beschießung." View of Fort Sumter from across the water.

GLC04509.19

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: "Südseite von Fort Sumter vor der Beschießung."

Osborn stamp on verso. Pencil inscription on verso: "Südseite von Fort Sumter vor der Beschießung." View of the damage to the south side of Fort Sumter by Confederate guns firing from Cumming's Point.

GLC04509.20

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the powder magazine at Fort Sumter.

Osborn stamp on verso. View of the powder magazine at Fort Sumter.

GLC04509.23

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the parapet at Fort Sumter.

View of the parapet at Fort Sumter. The guns on the parapet are trained on the Iron Clad Battery.

GLC04509.24

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the southeast side of the parade at Fort Sumter

Osborn stamp on verso. View of the southeast side of the parade at Fort Sumter, including the shot furnace and the soldiers' east barracks.

GLC04509.28