February 25, 1803

Manuscript document

Title: [Portage bill]

Portage bill for John Hermon during his trip to the West Indies. Date previously inferred, written in pencil on the verso.

GLC02437.08805

10 June 1864

Van Hook, John C., 1831-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

Van Hook has just learned that two hundred Union soldiers have landed at Bath and he is certain that they can be captured and their boats sunk. He asks Wortham to send his battery, two companies of infantry, and his company of cavalry to assist in this operation. Excerpt: "…a party of Yankees no. two hundred have landed at [Bath?] taking off citizens they have taken two good & loyal citizens. Their gunboats two at least is laying in the river & have been for several days they can be sunk without a doubt. I wish you to join me & send your battery & two Companies of…

GLC02233.45

December 1, 1858

Page, Benjamin Price, 1818-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Thanks Marchand for agreeing to deliver her letters to her husband, Thomas J. Page. Worries because "I have seen in the papers most discouraging accounts of the Steamers intended for the Paraguay expedition," but hopes everything goes well. The expedition was a United States Naval operation which sought indemnity for an attack years earlier by Paraguain forces on an American vessel. The showing of superior naval power also allowed the U. S. to secure an advantageous trade treaty with Paraguay. Page captained the U.S.S. Water Witch on a voyage to survey rivers in South America in 1855.…

GLC02680.07

8 June 1862

Dupont, Samuel F., 1803-1865

Letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Copy of a circular letter from the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography ordering captains to "instruct the officers commanding Prize vessels to deliver to the ordnance officer of the nearest Navy Yard, all arms belonging to the service, immediately on their arrival." The circular letter was first sent to DuPont, who now sends a copy to Marchand, and orders him to distribute it "to the vessels in your Division." DuPont signs as Flag Officer Commanding of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. DuPont was a noted American naval officer. He figured prominently in the Mexican-American War and…

GLC02680.12

October 8, 1849

Marchand, John B., 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ap Catesby Jones

Marchand states his desire to be detached from his ship and copies an earlier letter of his to support his case. Since he has served three years and his ship is about to "almost circumnavigate the globe," believes he is entitled to instead return to the United States. Also displeased with his current rank and treatment in relation to other officers. On the last three pages of the letter, copies other letters of his own that support his case. Many of these involve Jones' accusation against Marchand of insubordination and being involved in "gold mania," which Marchand denies. Written on…

GLC02680.02

10 October 1849

Jones, Thomas Ap Catesby, 1790-1858

Letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Denying Marchand's request to be relieved of his post and return home. "I can see nothing in your situation oppressive or even unusual in the naval service...It is a great innovation upon usage, and the obligations of Commissioned officers to their country to suppose, that they, like enlisted persons engage for a limited term and at the expiration thereof have a right to go home, no such right exists while their services are required abroad." Written on board "Flag Ship 'Savannah.'"

GLC02680.03

28 November 1858

Marchand, Elizabeth L., 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Sister says he has not written in over six weeks, inquires how he is doing, and relates family news.

GLC02680.04

30 November 1858

Marchand, Henry C., 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Marchand's brother discusses family events, inquires about retiring admirals, and mentions a black servant who was fired after running away. Also notes "The gas company have laid their pipes through the town and as a general thing almost every person will use it."

GLC02680.05

December 11, 1858

Guernsey, Alfred H., 1824-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Encloses documents relating to the Paraguay Expedition, a naval voyage Marchand is about to take to Argentina to explore various waterways. Encloses "the sheets of 'La Plata,' as far as printed, together with the map." Also encloses an article from "Harper's Magazine, containing an abstract of some of the most important points of the Exploration." Encloses duplicate copies for Captain Thomas Jefferson Page, who was also on the expedition. Guernsey was the editor of Harper's Weekly.

GLC02680.08

February 12, 1864

Fitzhugh, William E., 1832-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thornton A. Jenkins

Fitzhugh reports on the amount of coal aboard his ship, the U.S.S. Sebago. Written on board the U.S.S. Sebago, as part of the blockade on Mobile, Alabama. Docket contains signed note regarding blockade ship assignments; may be in Jenkins' hand with his signature. Fitzhugh was a commodore in the US Navy, noted for his capture of the Confederate Ironclad Missouri in June of 1865.

GLC02680.16

4 July 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Asks forgiveness for not replying to his last letter as he was ill. But says his health is as good and his morals as upright when they were on "the Island" (New York ) together (from a reference in another letter, it appears he escaped in October 1778). Relates what happened to him after they escaped. At 10 p.m. he went to the mouth of a creek which led to the sea. They had prepared a large boat, but not everyone in his party had arrived yet and they took a small canoe instead. There were five in the canoe and they stopped and ballasted it with sand before heading to the ocean. Says they made…

GLC03849.02

circa 1820

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Undated, circa date inferred from other letters in the collection. Note in pencil in different hand says page 13 is the last, but it is missing here. Pages numbered 5-12 so beginning and end of letter are missing. After escaping to New Jersey, probably in October 1778, from a reference in another letter, they went back to pick up their fellow escapees who could not swim and paid their helpers with the canoe they stole. They were forced to keep moving and were helped by farmers who supported the Revolution. Says this took place in Monmouth County where "General How made so many wigs by his ill…

GLC03849.08

9 June 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Heath as American commander in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign, to General Phillips as the highest ranking officer in captivity with the Convention Army. References Phillips's letter of 8 June 1778 where he complains of restrictions put on the movement of his men. Heath previously gave orders saying the prisoners were not allowed to travel to Watertown anymore. The prisoners were housed in Watertown previously because there were too many to keep them all in Cambridge. Heath says that exchanges have culled the…

GLC04789.01

1813

Printed document signed

Title: Material related to Prisoner of war Joseph W. Clark [Decimalized .01-.02]

Two documents, decimalized.

GLC02247

20 November 1861

Hatch, J.H., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John T. Pickett

Discusses the secession of the South and the movement of the Union Army into Savannah and Charleston. Reports on the South's success at Leesburg and at Columbus, Kentucky. Includes personal news. Affixed clippings pertain to the arrest of Confederate States Ministers Slidell and Mason aboard a British mail ship, the re-capture of the Steamer Sumter, and the success of the agent for the Confederate States in Mexico. Envelope included does not seem to have originally held this letter.

GLC03587.38

19 March 1862

Roe, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Agent of the Confederate States in Mexico writes to fulfill a request for a blank privateer's commission. Encloses a blank commission form, the act allowing him to do so, a copy of the President's "Instructions to Private Armed Vessels," and the Form of the Bond (not included). Includes a quote from the President on the bestowing of commissions and reminds Cripps of the seriousness of the situation. Adds a list of items he needs to receive with regard to the register of commissions.

GLC03587.39

21 March 1862

Roe, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Agent of the Confederate States in Mexico writes about seeing two Yankee ships from New York. Discusses how the northerners are getting a good laugh from the evacuations of Clarksville and Nashville and the affairs of Roanoke Island. Mentions British support in the war through the supply of ships and troops. Page three is partially missing but does not affect the content. Imprint on upper left corner depicts a galleon beneath "Paris."

GLC03587.40

January 16, 1815

Hodgon, Silvanus, fl. 1813-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathan Hodgdon

Informs his uncle that he is in good health and asks that his love be given to family and friends. Indicates that they are building ships "and expect to take the Lake next summer," referring to Lake George. He asks to be written to and that the mail be sent to a ship called the Mohawk. On the inside page appears a draft of a letter from a woman named Dorcas Clark to her mother, which indicates that she is well and gives love to relatives. Also requests that her mother come down "as soon as the ground is settled." On the other inside page and on the address leaf there is some arithmetic.

GLC01450.705.03

15 November 1819

Sergeant, John, 1779-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Discusses the results of the case of Clark's Executors vs. Wilson. States he will send a copy of the material in the next mail (see GLC03545.23.02 for the copy). Free franked by Sergeant.

GLC03545.23.01

16 November 1819

Sergeant, John, 1779-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Copy of the original opinion of the judge in the case of Clark's Executors vs. Wilson, a case concerning the voyage of a ship and the freight involved. Includes separate address leaf free franked by Sergeant.

GLC03545.23.02

27 October 1845

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Y. Mason

Discusses the removal of James P. Heath from office of weighmaster. States that Heath is very competent and believes that removing him from office would be politically unjust.

GLC03883.04

1735

Zenger, John P., 1697-1746

Newspaper

Title: New-York weekly journal. [Vol. 933, no. 88 (July 14, 1735)]

Published three weeks before Zenger's trial. Argues that resistance is necessary in order to preserve and protect man's natural right to equity and self-preservation. Warns against submission to corrupt powers and those who consider themselves above the law. Announces the murder of Capt. Christopher Brooks at the hands of his crew members and consequently the takeover of the ship by Boatswain Robert Anderson. Includes an update on the War of the Polish Succession. In addition to the editorial, the journal also includes a section on foreign affairs with an update on the War of the Polish…

GLC06108.04

2 August 1855

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty Between the United States of America and the Chippewa Indians

Concerns the cession of Chippewa fishing rights at the Falls of St. Mary's and the remuneration they will receive. Authorized by President Franklin Pierce. Treaty arranged by George W. Manypenny and Henry C. Gilbert, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chippewa leaders. Ratified on 24 April 1856.

GLC08055.09

26 April 1839

Blair, James, 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Blair

Writes to his sister from the United States Ship Peacock. Relates his travels through Rio de Janeiro and the Antarctic Circle. Discusses his study and use of Spanish in port. Inquires about his parents, including Washington, D.C. "Globe" newspaper editor Francis Preston Blair.

GLC03209.27.02

14 October 1814

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Pamphlet

Title: Message from the President of the United States transmitting copies of the instructions given to the ministers of the United States appointed to negotiate a peace with Great Britain

Printed by Roger C. Weightman. Includes letters from Secretary of State James Monroe to United States commissioners appointed to negotiate peace with Great Britain in order to end the War of 1812. Discusses reports received by Monroe from John Quincy Adams, serving as United States diplomatic representative to Russia. Includes extensize discussion of the impressment controversy. Contains a brief introduction by President James Madison.

GLC03436.05