28 May 1792

Howell, Joseph, 1750-1798

Manuscript document

Title: [Account between the United States and General Arthur St. Clair]

Detailed financial account between Major General Arthur St. Clair and the United States government.

GLC02437.05483

6 November 1790

Hardin, John, 1753-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Harrance

Discusses the conduct of his militia and Major [James] Paul, about whom he "cannot say too much in his favour for his Distinguished behavior as a valuable officer." Notes Major Paul from Uniontown, Pennsylvania formed a battalion of volunteers to help General Josiah Harmar fight Indians on the Pennsylvania/Ohio frontier. Written from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

GLC02437.04771

4 January 1791

Tracy, John, fl. 1789-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Tracy lays out his resume to General Henry Jackson as "the oldest inspecting Officer of the Militia" in Massachusetts as reason to appoint him "Inspector for the District of Massachusetts." He includes his "abilities and character" as well as the loss of property "in consequence of the late Revolution." Tracy would like Jackson to write Secretary of War Knox to recommend him to President Washington.

GLC02437.04817

January 12, 1791

Hobby, John, 1749-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Sends Jackson a memorandum outlining his military service under Jackson. Hopes this resume will boost his chance at receiving an appointment in the new militia. On verso Jackson confirms, in his own hand, Hobby's statement on 23 January 1791.

GLC02437.04824

circa 10 November 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to George Washington

Knox's draft, written in the president's voice, for a portion of Washington's December 3, 1793 annual message (State of the Union address) to Congress. Discusses negotiations for peace between the U.S. and hostile Indians in the Ohio Territory. Says if the negotiations falter, "it appears to be incumbent upon the United States to use decisively such degrees of their force as shall be competent, as well to the immediate protection of their exposed citizens, as to the exemplary punishment of those tribes, which, obstinately persevere in their cruel depredations upon our frontiers." Says…

GLC02437.05984

February 21, 1790

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the outcome of a hearing concerning a mutual acquaintance's petition. Writes that Knox's "plan for the militia is not very well received here - altho every one speaks highly of it, as it appears on paper, and confess, that it is a masterly performance, & discovers great genius & knowledge in military arrangements, and that such a militia would be superior to any in the world - some doubt the necessity of such a militia in the country, but they are for keeping up a sufficient number of standing troops to answer all the purposes of government."

GLC02437.04518

5 May 1864

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Grier writes to "My Dear Brother" from home, likely Kingston, Ohio, informing him he gave his old blanket and overcoat to an enlisted man. Mentions the "Independent Companies" were called out and they made "a Respectable appearance about 700 on the day they left..." Reports he's been plowing all day and expects to get the corn in next week. Letter continues the following day. States the oat crop is coming in fine. Discusses the arrival of a new colt and comments "...its neck is rather too short for the size of its body..." Includes a three cent stamp on the envelope.

GLC03523.10.122

22 June 1864

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Addresses letter "My Dear Brother." Expresses relief that he survived "that terrible battle..." (probably the battle of Brice's Cross Roads fought on 10 June 1864 near Tupelo, Mississippi). Comments, "I think that it was rather a pity that Gen Sturgess was not put out of the way. I see he is relieved from Command but that will not bring back the men that he has lost." Says the weather has been dry and hot for five weeks and the crops desperately need rain. Discusses possibly selling the colt if he can get one hundred twenty-five dollars for it. Reports the National Guard from their county…

GLC03523.10.126

15 August 1864

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to Bell Wharton

Letter is not signed, but based on content it is likely written by Joseph Maitland. Expresses great pleasure at receiving her letter. Reports on the food in camp: coffee, sour bread, strong pork, rice and beans once in awhile. "We have an old nigger wench Blacker than the 'Ace of Spades' to cook for us..." Mentions the hundred days men (temporary soldiers), their difficulty adjusting to the climate, and the high amount of sickness among them. Reports that "every evening we hear the muffled Drums & the shrill notes of the Fife telling us that another victim is being borne to his long home…

GLC03523.10.133

10 May 1785

Manuscript letter

Title: to [Congress]

Proposing the establishment of permanent arsenals and magazines throughout the country and a means of controlling them. Given the content, the date (two months after Knox was made Secretary of War), and the docket in Knox's hand, Henry Knox is most likely the author. The letter itself is in a secretarial hand. Followed by a 16 May 1785 order of Congress, in a secretarial hand, that "the Secretary at War devise a plan for the general regulation of the militia of the United States in such manner as to render it most respectful and least expensive to the respective States in order to ground…

GLC02437.10204

1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Statement of the troops furnished by the following States, taken from actual returns of the army for the year 1778.

Includes two charts. The first indicates, "February 26th 1778 Congress resolved to have the following numbers of men furnished by each State." Lists states and corresponding quotas and required troops for 1778. Lists numbers of men furnished, separated by Continental troops and militia. Includes total number of Continental troops and militia. Second chart contains an estimate of militia employed in addition to those cited in the first chart. Part of Knox's May 10, 1790 report to Congress. See also GLC02437.10586, .10466, .10010 and .10475.

GLC02437.10468

June 13, 1805

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

An official letter written in Boston from John Avery, the Secretary of State for Massachusetts. It informs Varnum of his election to Major General of the Third Division of the Militia of the Commonwealth by the two branches of the Legislature.

GLC03845.05

February 14, 1861

Gibbons, S.B., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louisa (sister)

Va. militia Col. re: seeing Alabama Governor and troops, and mentioning Davis' Inauguration

GLC08144

1806

Pamphlet

Title: The Constitutional articles of the independent company of cadets, as revised and ratified, May, 1806.

Printed by Greenough & Stebbins.

GLC01450.448.07

31 March 1864

William Lloyd and Co. (Richmond, Va.), fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper

Title: Daily Richmond examiner. [Vol. 18, no. 28 (March 31, 1864)]

Draft of Militia Forces in Virginia, The Capture of Richmond, Confederate Raiders Alabama and Florida and the British Parliament.

GLC05959.72.073

15 August 1864

Ford, Charles, fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from Camp Chemung known as Elmira. He is glad that both Ogden and her family are healthy after the "rebel raid in Pa." His regiment has been stationed in Vermont, guarding Rebel prisoners, for the last few months. Says plans to send the regiment to Washington fell through because the State militia detailed to take over guard duty consisted mainly of young boys incapable of controlling the prisoners. Explains that there are 8,000 prisoners or more being housed in his regiment's old barracks. Informs Ogden that the regiment will probably stay in Vermont because the time is almost over…

GLC06559.033

February 1803

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Header Record

Title: Collection of 2 documents pertaining to the United States militia system. See decimalized entries.

The French purchase of the Louisiana Territory from the Spanish outraged many Americans who feared having too strong a neighbor. In response to growing concerns from the western states, Jefferson, with Congressional approval, called for the state governors to raise a militia of 80,000 men.

GLC04626

12 April 1777

Spooner, Walter, fl. 1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dear Friends

Tells six prisoners in jail in Taunton that he could find no one to interpose for them or to pay their fines. Asked William Tallman to send him a petition with their names, but it has not arrived. Has sent a letter to the sheriff asking him to discharge them on their giving twenty pound bonds. Regarding his belief that the court will not prosecute them if they fail to pay the bond, he adds: "you need not mention my judgement, for if you should it may give some uneasiness to others." Address on verso reads: "To the six persons now in goal at Taunton for not going into the Army."

GLC02924.046

January 18, 1777

Bryant, James, fl. 1777-1778

Document signed

Title: [Copy of a warrant for the arrest of soldiers who failed to appear at the muster of 6 January 1777]

Also contains Bryant's clerical signatures of the selectmen, the militia officers, and the Committee of Safety. Gideon Brownell, Silvenas Sixon, David Sowle, Jonathan Gifford, Elijah Gifford, Christopher Slocum, and Timothy Comel of the Town of Dartmouth were appointed soldiers and were ordered to appear for muster. Constable Gamaliel Bryant is ordered to arrest these men and to put them in jail until such time as a fine of 12 pounds is paid. Certified as a true copy.

GLC02924.047

08 July 1776

Dennis, John, fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Tucker

Chairman of the New Brunswick (NJ) Committee of Safety writes to naval hero Samuel Tucker of scarcity and hardship: "The call by the militia, for ammunition so great, that I have under the necessity of sending power to Amboy... Leed has also been a scarce article, for what of which, our people have taken from the windows of the Houses..."

GLC08348

22 May 1861

Taylor, Tazewell, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to B. W. Belscher

Taylor, a captain in the Sussex Light Dragoons, relays an order from General Walter Gwynn regarding administrative actions in preparation for the next day's secession vote by the Virginia Convention.

GLC08237

circa 1776-1830

Header Record

Title: Collection of items related to Colonel Thomas Marshall [Decimalized .01- .03]

GLC01450.005

circa 1863

Butler, George Bernard, 1809-1886

Pamphlet

Title: The Conscription Act: a Series of Articles Communicated to the Journal of Commerce

Pamphlet No. 40 in a series published by the Loyal Publication Society of New York. Printed by W. C. Bryant & Co. The essays, numbered 1, 2, and 3, were published on November 18th, 21st, and 24th respectively. Written in response to the decision made by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania declaring the Conscription Act unconstitutional. Butler argues against the decision. He states that contrary to popular belief, the framers of the Constitution were well aware of the historical use of conscription. Butler supports this claim by providing a brief history of the use of conscription in…

GLC01265.03

circa December 1794

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document

Title: Measures in the War Department which it may be expedient to adopt

Hamilton outlines suggestions for improving the military. The first point describes organizing the militia into five classes divided up by age and marital status, beginning with unmarried men age 18-25, excepting certain apprentices and students. Each of the classes will be formed into infantry, artillery and cavalry. Provides details on the order in which each class will be called, and states "In case of domestic insurrection no man able to serve shall be excused on any condition. In case of foreign war any man may be excused paying 50/100 Dollars." Only militia in frontier counties will…

GLC02437.09952

12 June 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes from camp near Portsmouth, Virginia. Reports that everyone is enjoying good health. Writes that the company has not officially heard from the new chief. States that there are many New York militia regiments who will probably be taking the place of the volunteers. Also reports that a number of regiments from his division have left for Richmond to reinforce McClellan. Writes that the soldiers were anticipating "a little fun" with the rebels but the rebels never showed up. Speaks of the continuous good news of the successes of the Union arms, which gives the soldiers hope that they…

GLC02016.018