October 27, 1861

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Toole Clark

Letter written as Confederate Secretary of War to North Carolina Governor Clark about establishing a prisoner of war camp at Salisbury, North Carolina. Benjamin writes, "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 25th inst, which greatly relieves this Department from serious embarrassment in relation to prisoners. - I enclose you a letter for Col Wm Johnstone of Charlotte, containing my instructions to him." Requests that as soon as Colonel Johnston secures the purchase of the property, the Maxwell Chambers Factory, Clark round up volunteers to serve as guards. Informs him…

GLC01708

July 10, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs his wife that he arrived in Washington, D. C. the previous day. Referring to his introduction to Colonel Windham, an Englishman, he states "I hate foreigners particularly the dutch- Windham offered me a very nice place but I asked to be sent to the field." Received orders to report to General [George] Mead[e]. States that only three officers (Solen, Carpenter, and Balk) of the 6th United States Cavalry were not killed, wounded, or captured. Describes injuries sustained by Balder, McQuisten, Claflin, Cram, Paulding, and Chaffee, stating that only 108 men are left in the regiment.…

GLC01505.02

October 2, 1904

Mosby, John Singleton, 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gaston

Colonel Mosby, the former Confederate leader, describes a cordial meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt, the loss of his hat, boots, overcoat and cape in 1864, when captured by the 13th New York Cavalry, and the return of his hat. He discusses his desire for a photo of himself taken in December 1865. Letter written on Department of Justice stationary.

GLC01653

December 26, 1864

Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances Lucretia Thomas

Letter addressed to Mrs. Thomas (possibly Frances Thomas, formerly Kellogg), wife of Union General George H. Thomas. Tower, chief engineer of the defenses of Nashville, describes the December 15-16 Battle of Nashville. Thomas, commanding Union forces at Nashville against Confederate General John Bell Hood. Referring to Thomas, he writes "to inform you how beautifully matters have transpired here since you left & how glorious the Gen has demolished the Rebel Army of Hood who had the presumption to fancy it in his power to besiege Nashville..." Mentions Generals John McAllister Schofield (…

GLC01654

December 29, 1862

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Ambrose E. Burnside

Lee writes a letter to Burnside discussing the fate of Capt. E. P. Lawton. Captain Lawton, apparently a Confederate being held in Alexandria and probably mortally wounded, had asked to be visited by his wife. Lee's letter acknowledges receipt of Burnside's offer of conveyance for Mrs. Lawton.

GLC01663

14 May 1813

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Broadside

Title: Cartel for the exchange of prisoners of war, between Great Britain and the United States of America

Broadside reprinting terms of prisoner exchange agreed to by the American and British governments. Includes notations on the right and left margins of the document. Signed by Secretary of State James Monroe and Tho. Barclay.

GLC01621

June 6, 1865

McCaleb, Edwin H., fl. 1844-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To T.P. Chandler, Esq.

McCaleb thanks Chandler and his family for their kindness while a prisoner of war in the North. He writes that "All good citizens deeply deplore the assassination of Pres. Lincoln... Mr. L -- was a great man and more than that was a good man and countryy [sic] could ill afford to lose his services at this important crisis...." He expresses his concern with Andrew Johnson's use of military courts to try citizens and feels he is "overstepping his oath of office." He protests that turning an ignorant Black person into a self reliant citizen will stump the growth of the South. Finally, he defines…

GLC01594

3 April 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Manuscript document

Title: [Telegram to Julia Dent Grant]

Telegram in clerical hand to his wife Julia Grant regarding military matters. Expects to be in Richmond next week and says Sheridan has "picked up 1200 more prisoners today." Sent by Grant from Southerland Station, Virginia, and written on "United States Military Telegraph" stationary, at "Head Quarters."

GLC01545.02

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Relates some of his experiences at the commissioner meeting in Elizabeth Town to negotiate a prisoner exchange. Suspects that many of the propositions the patriots made were discussed in New York by a council before any decisions were made by the British. Believes they "never shall obtain justice or equal treatment from the Enemy" unless they are "in a position to demand it." Refers to a report (GL02437.01377), and a "private letter," (GL02437.01395). Also discusses his and Washington's belief that several unnamed persons are providing intelligence to the British. Comments on whether they…

GLC02437.01393

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Copy in Samuel Shaw's hand and signed by him for both Knox and Morris. Knox and Morris assumed the public would be interested in the POW report they recently submitted to Congress, so they wrote this letter for Washington with information they excluded from that report to avoid its publication. Says they "had no opportunity of bringing forward distinctly the affairs of Mr. Laurens. By pushing it abruptly into notice we might have obstructed but would not have forwarded your views for his release. Had our general propositions been acceded to, his exchange would have followed necessarily. Had…

GLC02437.01395

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sir Guy Carleton

First two pages are from an unsigned letter written by Major General Knox to General Carleton, the commander of the British Army. The third page is a signed note to Washington on 31 July 1782. References Carleton's previous letter which contained a request for a passport to be forwarded to Chief Justice Smyth so he could bring the trial transcript and his explanatory comments to the Americans. This is probably a reference to the court martial proceedings against Lippincott, who the Americans claimed was responsible for the killing of Captain Joshua Huddy. Hopes that Carleton will punish the…

GLC02437.01513

3 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Has received his recent letter directed to himself and General [Andrew] McDougall. Declares that for his own part, he is perfectly ready to do what General Washington would like him to do, including meeting the "Gentlemen from the enemy" on the 16th or 18th of September. Mentions that they will need to prepare accommodations and provisions for the meeting. Says that General McDougall "seems to decline the commission for reasons which Major [likely Hodjiah] Baylies will give" to General Washington.

GLC02437.01564

7 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Mentions that he has received General Washington's letter of 5 September, regarding repairs of arms. Declares that each brigade's own armorers have been performing the repairs to the best of their ability, and that that is the only option, since "there is not one hired armorer in the Army of the United States. Your Excellncy must have been misinformed with respect to any armorers at this post, as there are none here." Explains that brigades have traveling forges consisting of borax and salt, and that they can be sent to Verplanks Point. Has sent someone to Philadelphia to purchase borax on…

GLC02437.01589

22 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Says he arrived at camp to find that 22 American women and children, formerly prisoners who had travelled from Canada, were seeking assistance. They travelled down from Vermont to Albany, New York. From Albany, Lord Stirling sent them southward with the idea that they could reach Philadelphia. Says "These unhappy people, were inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their husbands and fathers have been murdered by the Savages and themselves taken into captivity to Canada." Reports that after "horrors unutterable," they…

GLC02437.01624

5 October 1782

Clinton, George, 1739-1812

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by New York Governor Clinton to Major General Knox. Says he lately received a letter from Colonel Tilghman of General Washington's staff informing him of the capture of three Tories, all natives of Milford, Connecticut: Joseph Northrop, Daniel Rogers, and Benjamin Merchant. Says they were captured in Long Island Sound, sent to headquarters by Colonel Thomas, and then conveyed to the provost at West Point. Tells Knox that he has been recommending sending such captives to the nearest military post so the Americans can get the benefit of prisoner exchange. Says that previously, for want…

GLC02437.01642

October 29, 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Warrant for release of Abraham Bell]

The first part of this note, on the first page, is written on behalf of Knox in the secretarial hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. The note describes the circumstances of Abraham Bell, formerly of New York State, who has been captured as a prisoner of war by a militia group (Knox mentions that Bell has "been indicative of his intention of leaving the enemy," suggesting he was a loyalist). After being captured, Bell was taken ill and sent to the hospital. While largely recovered, Bell fears he would get worse if sent back to prison, so has applied to Knox to be given to the custody…

GLC02437.01661

1 January 1783

Hait, Joseph, fl. 1775-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision return for sixteen prisoners of war confin'd in provost at West Point for eight days]

Return signed by Lieutenant Joseph Hait and by R. Douglass Captain Guard, and countersigned "By order of the Comdt", S. [Samuel] Shaw, Aide-de-Camp. Note on verso signed illegibly.

GLC02437.01781

5 January 1783

Ten Eyck, Henry, fl. 1777-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for one army prisoner confin'd under provost at West Point].

Return signed by Asa Andrews and H. [likely Henry] Ten Eyck, and countersigned "By order of the Comdt", S. [Samuel] Shaw, Aide-de-Camp. Note on verso signed by Alner Lord.

GLC02437.01797

9 January 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Return for Army Rations issued to Prisoners]

Lists number of prisoners by regiment, days as a prisoner and amount of rations issued. Signed by Asa Andrews; countersigned by Samuel Shaw; endorsed by Jacob Gillet on verso.

GLC02437.01816

January 10 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Army Rations issued to Prisoners & Detachment]

Lists men by company and amount of rations issued. Countersigned by E. Ellis and Samuel Shaw and endorsed by Andrew Hibbard.

GLC02437.01824

January 22, 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for two army prisoners]

Lists men by regiment and company with rations issued. Countersigned by Samuel Shaw with a note from Asa Baker. Place writ from note.

GLC02437.01850

January 24, 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Victualing return for five army prisoners]

Lists men by regiment and rations issued. Countersigned by Samuel Shaw and Ezra Selden. Endorsement on verso signed by Asa Andrews.

GLC02437.01856

February 1, 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Victualing return for army prisoners]

Lists men by regiment and company with rations issued. Countersigned by E. Reed and Samuel Shaw with endorsement by Edward Blake. Date and place writ from note.

GLC02437.01882

February 5, 1783

Andrews, Asa, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Victualing return for army prisoners]

Lists men by company with rations issued. Countersigned by Henry Ten Eyck and Samuel Shaw with endorsement signed by Andrew Hilbard. Date and place writ from note.

GLC02437.01894

February 1, 1783

Cheesman, Joseph, fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Army rations issued to prisoners employed int he engineers department...]

Lists men by regiment, company and occupation along with rations issued. Countersigned by Samuel Shaw with endorsement signed by Jacob Wight. Date and place writ from note.

GLC02437.01898