16 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Discusses feeling very ill and being treated with quinine pills which seemed to make his fever worse. Also writes of having to fire his servant, Charles, because of drunkenness and various brushes with trouble.

GLC03603.095

15 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of receiving a compliment from the Colonel and the Major regarding the condition of his Company during an inspection of the camp. Company B was not used to receiving compliments and Coit writes that the men "were exceedingly pleased" and that their pride has been awakened. Writes that he has heard word that any liquor sent to the Company will be seized and disposed of. Written "Near Newbern," in North Carolina.

GLC03603.107

20 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about his servant, formerly an enslaved man, selling his old horse, The Governor, for $100, of another officer having "the piles" which is apparently common among the men and that he is the one who is to seize the liquor sent to soldiers in his company. Regarding the servant, Coit uses graphic racist language to describe Black people performing spiritual songs and dance. Shares the process of how the songs are created as he understands it.

GLC03603.108

May 25, 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of some men from his company bringing him pints of blackberries that they had picked. Also writes about the task of confiscating liquor from the boxes which were sent to the men. His thoughts on this responsibility illustrate his ideas about leadership and discipline. Also describes a boat trip that he took with a few other officers on the Trent River. Written "Near Newbern," North Carolina.

GLC03603.109

4 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is to report to the jail for Court Martial duty. Is resistant to go because he does not know anyone he will be serving with. Writes that though he is supposed to be relieved of his duty to his Company during this time, he does not trust Lieutenant Shepard. Tells of Shepard inviting other officers to drink with him and having such a rowdy time that Coit had to throw them off the company ground. Soon afterward, Shepard and his servant were both very ill. Because of this incident, Harland forbids the sutler from selling alcohol in the future. Also, the incident lead to the forced…

GLC03603.112

4 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been ill and has had a hard time marching. Has been treating his head and stomach pain with brandy. Believes his illness is being caused by drinking water that has traces of lime from limestone in it. The doctor tells him to mix cider vinegar with the water to counteract the effects. Also writes of having seen his Uncle William.

GLC03603.147

January 27, 1864

Richart, William R., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from Camp Convalescent near Fort Bernard. Says while in Philadelphia, he got in the habit of drinking, and the "temptations" made him want to get away from the hospital. Describes his trip from the hospital to the Convalescent Camp in detail, including the meal he ate upon arrival at the camp. He concludes by thanking "the Ladies of Ward B."

GLC06559.081

21 June 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

States that the rebels had a "big time" last night and he heard that General Robert E. Lee got drunk. There is a lot of sickness in camp because they are near the swamp. Written from camp of the 3rd Massachusetts Battery, near New Bridge, Virginia.

GLC01898.22

10 September 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly. Miller writes, "...we have to guard the village and the tavern doors to prevent the soldiers from getting liquor and they put such men there as does not drink and cannot be bribed for the soldiers will do almost anything for Wiskey... we do nothing But appear on dress parade in the evening this is By order of gen Mcllen [sic]... there was about ten thousand Soldiers in the field all Pennsylvanians Gen McCall commanding the Sectary of War Simon Camaron [sic] was there to see us drill, i have just come off drill this morning E. Minnigh is here, we will be reviewed by…

GLC02155.006

10 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "... the men have become dissatisfied they have not enough to eat they say in camp and a good many of the officers drink as bad as the men..."

GLC02155.002

14 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "...i do not touch any kind of strong drink play no cards have nothing to do with any women in fact have not spent one cent... i have to day Been in the army seven weeks and have never Received one Black mark..."

GLC02155.004

December 18, 1862

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Andrews

This letter describes the battle of Fredericksburg and the horror Bartlett witnessed. His "toung cannot express to you" what occurred. Also makes mention of how the soldiers behaved during the entry into the abandoned city, noting that Andrews may see "the soldiers reclining on Velvit longes drinking wine from Gold and Silver caps while squids of Officers are loaking to se the Boys injury themself."

GLC02158.03

February 1, 1876

Cooper, Anthony A., fl. 1876-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ashley O'Rorke

The Earl of Shaftesbury Anthony Cooper writes to his godson, Ashley O'Rorke, applauding his decision to become a teetotaling missionary, but suggests he go to Central Africa rather than India.

GLC05508.074.01

1980

Isherwood, Christopher, 1904-1986

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mr. Moore

Isherwood writes to Mr. Moore about his belief that prayer is necessary to help ourselves and each other. It will help us to know God better and end alcoholism, blood-lust, and war. Written on stationary of the Vedanta Society of Los Angeles and dated March 12, without a year.

GLC05508.147.02

July 22, 1806

Jarvis, William, fl. 1806-1807

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson's letter to Jarvis consists of one page with docket. Jarvis' draft response, dated 22 July 1806, occupies pages 3-4. Water damage has caused severe staining along the right margin, which obscures some text. wines for Monticello & relations with European powers

GLC03873.02

14 December 1859

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Kelly

Discusses cold temperatures, the dancing that goes on at the balls at camp, and the numerous stores and saloons. Condemns the 15 October 1859 seizure of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry by John Brown, and hopes it does not distract politicians from Utah. Written at Camp Floyd.

GLC04194.26

18 September 1889

Andrews, George L., 1828-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H.K. Green

Provides additional information on the letter from Robert E. Lee addressed to his son Boo (George Washington Custis Lee) at West Point (GLC07081.01). Andrews reports that neither Colonel John M. Wilson, the Superintendent of West Point, who was on General George McClellan's staff, nor McClellan himself know about the disciplinary proceedings against William Lee for having alcohol in his quarters. Suggests that answers may be obtainable from a Mr. Nickolls or the records of the War Department. Andrews was possibly the George L. Andrews who taught French at West Point from 1871 to 1892. Green…

GLC07081.03

6 April 1891

Andrews, George L., 1828-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Coster

Reports continued research and suggests other to contact regarding the letter from Robert E. Lee addressed to his son Boo (George Washington Custis Lee) at West Point (GLC07081.01). Andrews was possibly the George L. Andrews who taught French at West Point from 1871 to 1892. Coster is possibly the Lincoln collector of that name.

GLC07081.04

13 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Orders the selection of a group of officers and ax men to build two block houses. William Thash will continue building the other two with his men. Construction will commence the following day. Whiskey is offered as an incentive to work. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.02

3 August 1851

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George W. C. Lee

Addressed to "Boo" (his son's nickname), then a student at West Point. Comments on the construction of Fort Carroll in Baltimore, which Lee was supervising. Discusses the charge against his son of keeping alcohol in his room, for which George received a mild sentence because of conflicting testimony. Lee doubted George's guilt and was glad that the possible blight on his son's career had been removed. He is glad to hear news of George's resumed participation in activities at West Point and offers words of encouragement. Hopes to see his son soon, and will send him some cool weather…

GLC07081.01

29 March 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Tells his sister that he is sorry their father is sick, but is very pleased to hear that Ben, possibly their brother, is feeling better. Asks her what her thoughts are about the draft in Philadelphia. Reports that the Ninth Army Corps has been passing through Baltimore on their way west. Informs her that it is very quiet around town as they have shut any establishment that sells liquor for 48 hours. Written on stationery with "US Army General Hospital, Newton University, Baltimore" letterhead.

GLC03523.08.68

February 4, 1862

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father and Sister

First half of letter written to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Reports that The Burnside [General Ambrose Burnside] Expedition is "somewhere down South now." Communicates to her his opinion that "you better hunt of husband than a situation as a School Teacher." Refers to a previous camp of his as "Camp Starvation." The second half of the letter is written to his father, thanking him for looking into "Spiritous Liquers" for him. He professes that "not one cent of mine" has been used to buy any. Confesses that he has had some to drink a few times, noting that once it was because there was water…

GLC03523.08.31

22 August 1783

Anspach, Peter, fl. 1775-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision request for Indians]

Orders rations to be issued for the use of five Indians going from Newburgh to Albany. The rations included 60 pounds of bread and 60 pounds of beef and also one gallon of rum as directed by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Walker, an aide-de-camp to General Washington. A Thomas [Hind] signed the second page, stating that contractors delivered the rations.

GLC02437.02406

27 August 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for goods]

Request for one gallon of rum for George Washington's barge crew. Noted as written at head quarters (Newburgh, New York). Docket signed by Seth Capron.

GLC02437.02423

7 August 1783

Thead, Henry, fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for goods]

Note of receipt of goods such as beef, gills and rum. On verso is another receipt for beef and rum for five men.

GLC02437.02366