18 November 1835

Stanley, Edward H., fl. 1765-1775

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Daniel D. Wynant as Captain in Republic of Texas Regiment

Signed on behalf of the Executive Committee.

GLC03263

27 October 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel G. French re: coordinating Va. Govt. and militia with C.S.A. Govt.

GLC03491

13 September 1779

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Otis

Writen in secretarial hand and signed by Hancock as a Major General of Massachusetts militia to Otis as Brigadier General of the militia of the County of Barnstable, Massachusetts. From an order of the council wants a full return to be made of the name, rank, and place of abode of every officer in the brigade under Otis. Also wants to know what vacant offices are available and to put that information in a separate column. Asks for the information as soon as possible. Postscript asks that he forward the enclosed (not included here). Free frank is Hancock's signature.

GLC03315

30 March 1862

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Halleck writes to Stanton to report on Union troop strength in the western theater. Llists the number of troops under Generals Grant, Pope, Curtis, Strong, Steele, and Schofield, and the numbers in several state militia. Written on stationery of the Department of the Mississippi. At the bottom of the page, Halleck notes "(In cipher)."

GLC03831

January 22, 1809

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to Militia officers to enforce the Embargo Act]

Indicates that a ship near Maryland and Virginia intends to violate the Embargo Act and orders it seized. The order was issued at the instigation of Charles Simms, a collector of customs in Virginia.

GLC03643

1769-1791

Header Record

Title: New Hampshire Revolutionary War documents, mainly dealing with draft, militia

1. King George III. D: Portsmouth, N.H. 4 November 1769. Legal writ to the sheriff of New Hampshire ordering the seizure of Richard Perkins for appearance in court. 1p. + docket + endorsement. 2. State of New Hampshire. D: Hillsborough, [N.H.] 12 January 1781. An Act for the raising and completing this state's quota of the Continental Army. 2p. + docketed on verso. 3. State of New Hampshire. D: Hillsborough, [N.H.] 14 April 1781. An Act in addition to, and alteration of an Act passed the 12th day of January 1781, entitled an act for raising and completing this state's quota…

GLC03657

27 April 1847

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Bowers

Requests that northern New Hampshire send more volunteer soldiers. Suggests using musicians to attract recruits. Lauds the hard work given to recruiting by Bowers, his father, and Frank Fletcher.

GLC03659

27 August 1814

Snyder, Simon, 1759-1819

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders for Pennsylvania's troops to be ready defend the state]

In response to the British capture of Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812, the Pennsylvania governor issued this order because of the threat "and probable conflagration of the metropolis of a sister state," particularly an attack initiated from the shores of the Delaware River.

GLC03708

14 August 1779

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Signed by Jay as President of Congress to Clinton as the Governor of New York. Closing in Jay's hand. Circular letter. Congress is informing the country that the British are reinforcing themselves. Says 7,000 troops are coming from Europe and another 3,000 from the West Indies. Claims America's allies - mainly the French - are concerned that better preparations were not made for a vigorous campaign. Says America needs to exert itself more. Wants Clinton to comply with Congress's wish to have battalions filled and militia ready. Says forces might be called forth to operate offensively.

GLC03709

20 February 1787

Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bowdoin

Connecticut Governor Huntington expresses his approval of the suppression of the insurgents (involved in Shays rebellion). Agrees to cooperate with Massachusetts Governor Bowdoin in apprehending insurgents hiding in Connecticut and not supplying them with arms or provisions. Reassures Bowdoin that the people of Connecticut "detest the lawless and violent courses which insurgents have taken." Indicates "copy" on the upper left hand corner.

GLC03711

1794

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Book

Title: Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United States... [Incomplete]

Boston edition. Title continues, " ... to which are added the United States Militia Act passed in Congress, May 1792, and the Militia Act of Massachusetts, passed June 22, 1793." Steuben's name is spelled Stuben. Printed for David and John West, Boston, Massachusetts. Missing pages 61-62 and some engravings and plates. Original leather binding.

GLC03760.02

1863

Pamphlet

Title: The United States Conscription Act of 1863

Published by J. J. Dyer & Co. Printed by S. O. Thayer. Sold for five cents. Advertisements on inside front and both sides of the back cover. Gives full text of the Conscription Act, which was also known as the National Militia Bill, which was passed 2 March 1863. Divided into 38 sections. Has 2 page index. The Union draft law caused angst since exemption and commutation clauses allowed propertied men to avoid service, thus laying the burden on immigrants and men with few resources. Occupational, only-son, and medical exemptions created many loopholes in the laws. Original stab stich…

GLC03951

1776-1791

Larrabee, Benjamin, 1740-1829

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Revolutionary war journal of Captain Benjamin Larrabee]

Written at various locations; the fist location recorded is Scarborough, Maine. Records details regarding the weather, marching, and reporting to Colonel Reuben Fogg. Includes various lists of soldiers and drafted men. Contains financial records of sums paid and received for various purposes, including the purchase of goods and the payment of wages. Contains a 1791 account record for expenses pertaining to a school house. Dates are not listed chronologically within this journal. Housed with, but not bound within, original leather cover.

GLC03983.01

1777

Larrabee, Benjamin, 1740-1829

Manuscript document

Title: A pay roll of Capt Benjamin Larrabees company belonging to Colo. Ruben Fogg reg of militia

Larrabee's company belonged to Colonel Reuben Fogg's regiment of militia. Includes a list of soldiers and the amount of their wages. Includes soldiers' signatures (or marks) on verso. Possibly created in early 1777, as this is a record of pay for 1776. Categories listed include: men's names, rank, time of march, time of disrcharge, time of services, place of abode, wager dowe, and total wage.

GLC03983.02.01

March 1842

King, Samuel Ward, 1786-1851

Broadside

Title: [A proclamation by Samuel Ward King]

Contains a brief introduction by King as Governor, Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Includes a reprinted letter by President John Tyler stating that he cannot get involved (by raising a militia) with rising tensions in Rhode Island unless there is an actual insurrection. Also includes a reprinted letter from John Whipple discussing the People's Constitution (Dorr's constitution) and the "legal constitution" of Rhode Island.

GLC04161

1834

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Pamphlet signed

Title: [An address to the people of Rhode Island...]

Title continues: "from the Convention assembled at Providence, on the 22d day of February, and again on the 12th day of March, 1834, to promote the establishment of a State Constitution." First and only edition, printed by Cranston & Hammond, with manuscript corrections in Dorr's hand. Inscribed to by Dorr to Reverend C. W. Upham.

GLC04162

12 May 1761

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment and oath of fidelity of John Forbush, with receipt for bounty money].

Also signed by Forbush, who is a resident of Westborough in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, aged eighteen. He enlists until 1 July 1762.

GLC04240

19 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holden Parsons

Written by Adams as a delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts to Parsons, who became a Brigadier General on 9 August 1776 and was to take part in the fighting at the Battle of Long Island on 27 August 1776. References Parsons's letters of 13 and 15 August 1776 and says his recommendations for appointments in the army will be considered by the Board of War, which Adams sat on. Also references Parsons observations of officers Patterson, Shepherd, and Brooks, but says he is unfamiliar with all of them. Says the issues of promotion make him "so vexed sometimes as almost to resolve to…

GLC04424

12 June 1863

Dick, Franklin Archibald, 1823-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Drake

Written as provost marshal of St. Louis. Replies to Drake's request for information concerning the Missouri congressional laws about emancipating slaves in compliance with the Emancipation Proclamation. Details General Orders no. 35, which instructed the provost marshals "to take testimony as to the acts of disloyal slave owners," and ascertain the facts. Explains that there is great opposition to the enforcement of the law. "...for the spirit of resistance to it amongst the Enrolled Militia, has left those officers nearly powerless in the absence of U.S. troops, and they being the first…

GLC04274

January 19, 1777

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Written by Major General Greene with his men in winter quarters at Morristown to Biddle as Deputy Quartermaster General of the militia of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Claims nothing has changed recently. Says it appears General Howe is collecting his forces in New Jersey. Says he seems to be operating on the defensive, but with reinforcements he might move to the offensive. Mentions that recruiting is slow and that the army is suffering as a result. Says he heard that 1000 militia under Lord Sterling have gone home dissatisfied. Wants a complete report on the incident. Says he heard firing in…

GLC04305

1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Pamphlet

Title: A Plan for the General Arrangement of the Militia [1st ed of 1786 report]

In original gray paper wrappers. Very rare first edition printed for the members of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Evans 20076, Sabin 38161.

GLC04554

February 1803

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to state governors

Circular letter urging state governments to maintain strong militias in accordance with the militia system adopted by Congress through an act in 1792 (GLC01959). He comments that having the nation armed is especially important because rights "most essential to our welfare have been violated, and an infraction of treaty committed," referring to French maritime infractions. The letter is accompanied by a pamphlet concerning the militia system (GLC04626.02).

GLC04626.01

13 December 1776

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull

Informs Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, that "We join with you most fervently in your prayer that America may not be lost, or fall a Victim to the rage of a merciless tyranny. On the contrary we trust there is virtue & spirit enough in the United States to produce exertions sufficient with the blessing of Heaven to prevent it." Discusses details regarding enlisting soldiers for the Continental Army, including wages, length of service, the raising of militia, and cooperation between New England states related to raising troops. Mentions Generals George Washington, Lincoln (possibly…

GLC04947

20 October 1708

Oliver, Thomas, fl. 1708

Manuscript document signed

Title: [A Memorial of the State of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England to Queene Anne during Queen Anne's War]

A petition from the Massachusetts colonists requesting help in quelling the hostile Indians allied with the French during Queen Anne's War. Gives insight into the conflict's costs upon New England. Discusses the Indians' barbarity and the French setting prices for scalps. Describes their need of aid and the ineffectiveness of regular troops against the Indians. Asks Queen Anne to enlist the help of Mohawks and other friendly Indian nations. Comments on trade, French holdings, and the supply of masts for ships. Signed by Oliver as clerk of the House of Representatives.

GLC04891

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