1854-1887

Various

Header Record

Title: [Letters of Mitchell Pugh, Byrum Hesh, Thomas Mitchell & Eli Pugh, D company, 50th regiment, Virginia, infantry] [decimalized]

Collection of twenty-nine letters, twenty-two of which are war date, from various individuals: Mitchell Pugh, Byrum B. Hesh (or Bryam D. Hash), Thomas F. Mitchell and Eli Pugh of Co. D, 50th Virginia Regiment; A. Pugh of Co. C, 16th North Carolina Cavalry, and William T. (or L.) Perkins. There are also letters to E. L. King, D. Pennington, and Kate. The majority of the letters are addressed to L. [Liendema?] D. Wood. Common topics both before and after the war include crops, health, and family news. War-date letters mention skirmishes in Princeton, West Virginia (#3 and #4); Pack's…

GLC03135.06

1861-1863

Davison, Nathaniel R., fl. 1861-1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Nathaniel R. Davison, I company, 11th regiment, Mississippi, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .04]

Collection of four war date letters from a soldier in the 11th Mississippi Volunteers to his sister. Davison comments on Fort Donelson in a letter written from Camp Fisher. Also mentions a defeat at Annandale. The two final letters of 15 January 1863 and 1 April 1863 mention his plans to get married.

GLC03135.07

1862-1863

McFaddin, William M., fl. 1862-1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William McFaddin, 42nd regiment, Mississippi, cavalry] [Decimalized .01- .06]

Collection of six letters by a soldier in the 42nd Mississippi Volunteers. A letter from 7 April 1863 describes a skirmish and includes an additional note from 8 April, which appears to be addressed to a slave: "I have been a good master to you... stay close to home with your mistress.... Your Master." His final letter of 12 April 1863 says he will desert if he can't get home.

GLC03135.08

circa 1864

Clifton, A. D., fl. 1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of A.D. Clifton, C company, 6th regiment, Mississippi, cavalry] [decimalized]

Collection contains 7 letters from Clifton to his wife, Sallie, and family. Also contains one poem which may have been written by Clifton.

GLC03135.09

1801-1879

Harris, Edwin E., fl. 1850-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Edwin E. Harris, field and staff, 8th battallion, Missouri, infantry][Decimalized .001-.228]

Letters primarily belonging to Edwin E. Harris dated 1801-1879. Consists of approximately 228 letters sent between Harris and his wife, Margaret Harris and other family members while serving in the 8th Battallion, Missouri Infantry. Contains personal and war correspondence sent to various recipients. War correspondence relates to Harris's service as a surgeon. Personal correspondence was primarily sent to his wife. Harris's writing closes in 1864 when news of his death is sent to his wife. Documents dated after his death are related to the process of receiving benefits. Also included in the…

GLC03135.10

circa 1865-1866

Fendall, James Robert Young, fl. 1838-1867

Header Record

Title: [Post-war letters and copy of oath of allegiance] [decimalized]

Collection of ten letters and copy of an oath of allegiance from Mississippi. Contains material from immediately after the War concerning an attempt by Fendall, who served in Confederate forces, to get a federal clerkship in the customs house in Mississippi. The four letters from James (written from Terry, Mississippi) to his father, Philip Richard Fendall II, offer accounts of the destruction of war, his reasons for desiring a federal appointment, problems of loyalty oaths, and politics in Mississippi involving Governor William Sharkey and Albert Gallatin Brown.

GLC03135.11

1863-1865

Herndon, John G., fl. 1863-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John G. Herndon] [Decimalized .01- .32]

Herndon served in the Quarter Master's Office in Gordonsville, Virginia.

GLC03135.12

1823-1938

Jones, Alfred, 1839-1920

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Alfred Jones, surgeon in the 17th Tennessee Regiment] Decimalized .001-.130]

Includes postwar papers. Some signatures have been removed. The letters contain battle content for Murfreesboro (3 and 12 January 1863) and Chickamauga (1 October 1863). During the war Jones wooed and married Maxine Harris. The collection reveals less about the war than the trials of two newlyweds. The collection consists of 32 prewar letters (1823-61); 43 wartime letters, the majority of which are written by Jones to his wife (1862-65); and 16 postwar letters. Collection also includes 28 other documents (such as news clippings and receipts), 76 envelopes, and 27 pieces of ephemera (such as…

GLC03135.13

1864

Matthews, James, Muscoe, 1822-?

Book

Title: The Statutes at Large of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America

Compilation of laws created "By Authority of Congress" and edited by Matthews. Title page states Matthews was an attorney and a law clerk in the Confederate Department of Justice. Published in Richmond by the Confederate Congress and printed by R.M. Smith the printer to Congress. Pages 1-9 contain Constitution of Provisional Government. Pages 11-23 contain official Constitution of Confederate States of America. Pages 27-286 contain Public Acts of the Provisional Congress. Text of Indian treaties at pages 290-411. Index paginated as i-xlviii at the back of the book. Purple stamp from Adjudant…

GLC03163

February 2, 1861

Pamphlet

Title: A Declaration of the causes which impel the state of Texas to secede...

GLC03171

6 June 1862

Newspaper

Title: The New-York times. [Vol. 11, no. 3340 (June 6, 1862)]

Main article titled, "The Approaches of Charleston: Map Showing the Position of Stone Inlet, through which the Union Forces are Moving; the Location of the New Fortifications In the Harbor, and the Places of the Blockading Squadron at the Latest Advices." Features map by H.L. Penfield & Co. Reports throughout describe the attempted attack on Charleston, the French intervention in Mexico as well as various other military news. Other articles detail local, international, political, court, and ship news, advertisements, and public announcements.

GLC03176

10 August 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Hayes writes as Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers to Scammon, his superior, as commander of the 1st Brigade. Describes a successful expedition to destroy the "Mercer salt well." Remarks, "The Mercer Salt Well was of much more importance than I supposed. It was in full blast when they reached there at 2 O'clock AM. A fine steam engine (new) was pumping, the fires burning but not a soul in sight. Everything was burned and destroyed." The men were subsequently attacked by Bushwhackers, but escaped unhurt. Autograph endorsement signed by Scammon. Written at Camp Green…

GLC03202

11 August 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Hayes writes as Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers to Scammon, his superior, as commander of the 1st Brigade. Mentions the completion of service of a three month Ohio regiment and that more men will have to be recruited. Comments that he is glad a cannon is being sent in case the Confederates make another attempt to cross the River. Justifies his command assignments for completed Mercer Salt well expedition. Encloses (not present) correspondence re an ambulance taken by Capt. Harrison. Continues the letter on 12 August informing that they had enemy alarms the…

GLC03203

12 August 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Hayes writes as Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers to Scammon, his superior, as commander of the 1st Brigade. Reports that the Confederates force that attacked at Pack's Ferry returned to the narrows. Thanks him for sending a rifled gun. Comments, "I think it will be sufficient for the purpose - Of course if a large force comes more may be needed, but I think this will make us safe in case of attack until you can forward or bring reinforcements... I now apprehend nothing but Bushwhackers." Docketed by Scammon. Written at Camp Green Meadows- located between New…

GLC03204

2 April 1863

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Colonel Hayes reports to General Scammon about a deserter from Confederate General Albert G. Jenkins's force. "A deserter from Jenkins force was just brought from the Forks of Coal [River] by a patrol of Capt Gilmore's men. He is young and not very intelligent but is I think truthful." Informs Scammon of what the deserter has told them about the location and movements of the Confederate forces. "Gen. Jenkins force under Col Dunn or Col French was to pass north from Central Depot and make for Parkersburg or some other point on the B&O R.R....At the same time Gen Jones was to come into…

GLC03205

1865

Bingham, John Armor, 1815-1900

Book

Title: Trial of the conspirators for the assassination of president Lincoln, &c. Argument of John A. Bingham, Special Judge Advocate, in reply to the arguments of the several counsel for Mary E. Surratt, David E. Herold, Lewis Payne, Geroge Atzerodt, Michael O'Laughlin, Samuel A. Mudd, Edward Spangler, and Samuel Arnold, charged with conspiracy and the murder of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States

Published by the Government Printing Office. Accuses the conspirators of aiding the rebellion and undermining the Constitution and the laws of the nation. Also makes accusations regarding the involvement and instigation of Jefferson Davis (president of the Confederate States) and other rebel leaders. Asserts that everyone involved with the conspiracy is guilty by way of "common design." Bingham argues that there should be no distinction between those were simply involved in the plotting of the conspiracy and those who carried out the vicious attacks.

GLC03345

9 January 1876

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Conness

Commander in Chief of the Army Sherman writes to Conness about the quarrel he had with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton over the terms of Confederate General Joseph Johnston's surrender in 1865. Sherman suggests that he may have acted wrongly. " ... I do not profess to be infallible, or more than mortal. I have made some fearful mistakes in life which in a retrospect would be corrected, among them in regard to Mr. Stanton." Admits that he felt Stanton was trying to destroy him, " ... because he supposed I was not acting in full harmony on the then policy with the Negros - And failing…

GLC03341.01

16 August 1862

Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Discusses Battle of Baton Rouge and Bragg's planned invasion of Kentucky. Expects Bragg's invasion to be a success, "I feel that you will reach the Ohio River, if you don't do more." Would join Bragg, but cannot leave his own command, which has been reduced from 8,000 to 2,500 men. States "I did the best I could at Baton Rouge, and with inferior forces whipped them soundly. Under the circumstances it was impossible to accomplish more than we did." Written just after the Battle of Baton Rouge, where the Confederates were actually defeated by a force of equally small size in their attempt…

GLC03348

29 October 1863

Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Asks for help advertising for information regarding Lieutenant John H. Maury, captured below Vicksburg 27 January 1863. Maury was in England, possibly outfitting the raider CSS Savannah. John Herndon Maury, son of Matthew F. Maury, disappeared 27 January 1863 on a late-night scouting expedition on the Warrenton Road. Only the evidence cited in this letter was found; Grant and other Union officers said they could not find him among the captured. After the war an eyewitness reported that the younger Maury had been murdered that night by bushwackers.

GLC03350

January 22, 1864

Winder, John H., 1800-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith

Writes to the governor of Virginia about the release of a prisoner of war, F.A. Winston, who was charged with "disloyalty" and sent from Lynchburg with two Yankee deserters. Discusses the regulations concerning those charged with disloyalty. On dark blue paper. Winder was a brigadier general in the Confederate army. In May 1862, President Jefferson Davis placed him in command of Richmond. He was also given the task of organizing care for all Union Army prisoners east of the Mississippi.

GLC03356

February 22, 1863

Tracy, Edward Dorr, 1833-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Matt] Steele

General Tracy writes to Steele, his brother-in-law. Notes that Mr. Atwood will transmit this letter. Sends a "written sketch" of his deceased friend, Dr. Fearn, with instructions for Steele to pass it on to an editor if he deems it worthy of publication. Promises to write to his sisters, and requests a servant.

GLC03357

08 July 1863

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Apparently a telegram. Major General Banks, commander of the Department of the Gulf, sends word to Major General Grant, commander of the Department of the Tennessee, to announce the capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana. This letter marks the advent of unfettered Union control of the Mississippi River. The Vicksburg garrison had surrendered to Grant on July 4, four days prior to this note.

GLC03374

August 17, 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bragg

Draft of a letter defending General Braxton Bragg (he had been criticized for his leadership in the campaign in Kentucky earlier that year). Written in response to an article his correspondent send about Bragg. Davis wrote the draft on the address leaf of another letter (not present) docketed received on 24 August from John Bragg (Braxton's brother), who is likely his correspondent. Signed with initials. Contains several pencil revisions.

GLC03384.01

13 August 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Hayes writes as Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers to Scammon, his superior, as commander of the 1st Brigade. States that he cannot get enough information about mill privileges and navigation on the New River. "At Richmond there is a fall of 8 to 12 feet - at other points there are falls which have always been Supposed to prevent all navigation, but 'impossible' is a hard word. I wouldn't speak it on my meagre information. I can say very difficult and dangerous."

GLC03385

30 May 1864

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Rev. T. V. Moore re: crisis in southern affairs

Thanks Moore for a gift of wine and for his prayers. Lee offers sympathy for the capture of his sons. Of the wine, Lee writes "It was what the Surgeon thought I required...." Lee has signed twice, once in initials after the postscript.

GLC03398