18 August 1861

Hopkins, David, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear brother and sister

Hopkins, a sailor on board a Union ship, replies to a letter from his brother and sister [N. N. and Lacey Hopkins?], of Ashtabula County, Ohio. Discusses problems with the mail. Notes that he feels better than he has in years, despite a persistent cough. Offers his views on the war, declaring that "there are many wrongs to be righted besides the one done to the negro race." Attests that sailors are in worse condition than the enslaved people of the south. Doesn't believe slavery is the underlying cause of the war. Mentions a statement made by Henry A. Wise (Governor of Virginia 1856-…

GLC03043

February 15, 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked private. Washington as President to Knox as Secretary of War. John Jay, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Rufus King, a Senator from New York, wrote a newspaper article they uncharacteristically signed with their own names decrying the actions of Edmond Charles Genet, the French Minister to America. Genet was trying to outfit privateers to support the French revolutionary government, and Washington refused to support this breach of neutrality. Genet threatened to go over Washington's head to the American public, which had given Genet a warm welcome. Jay and King published…

GLC02862

18 December 1861

Sherman, Thomas W. (Thomas West), 1813-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Edward Davis Townsend]

Addressed to "the Adjutant General of the United States." Encloses letters and report [not included] of Provost Marshal Major Beard of the New York Volunteers. Beard delivered the letters to Sherman's headquarters while Sherman was absent on a reconnaissance. Refers to a seized vessel.

GLC02851

30 April 1863

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Document signed

Title: [Amendment to an act approving letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods]

Signed as President of the Confederate States and countersigned by Speaker of the House Thomas S. Bocock and President of the Senate (and Vice President) Alexander H. Stephens. This document amended the original act that approved letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods on the high seas, which was passed 21 May 1861 (Bill #170 of the second session of the Confederate Provisional Congress). The amendment allows the Board of Naval Officers created under the original act to have the power in cases of any armed vessel sunk or destroyed "to take and receive such depositions, affidavits,…

GLC02778

9 July 1864 - 10 July 1864

Morris, Charles Manigault, 1820-1895

Manuscript

Title: [Excerpt from ship's log for the CSS "Florida"]

Written aboard the USS Florida at sea. Exerpt or clerical copy of log of the CSS "Florida" from 9 July-10 July. Gives the speed, course, direction of wind, force of wind, weather, barometer, and thermometer readings for every hour of each day. Also provides longitude and latitude for location. 9 July: came across the Canadian ship "Eugenia," and let her go. Burned the schooner "Margaret Y. Davis." Also captured the American ship "Greenland," which had a cargo of coal, as a prize. 10 July: tells of the capture of the barque "General Berry" of Baltimore that had 1,000 bales of government hay…

GLC03440

22 December 1779

Lane, Joseph, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Major Lane, having offered to carry General Benjamin Lincoln's dispatches to Congress, says he is ready to depart. Says it is his intention to return to Charlestown as soon as possible. Says he has no business in the north and will return quickly. Appears there was an issue with Lane's servants. Says the ship "Betsy" was captured by American privateers and brought to Philadelphia. Since his servant papers were on that ship he hopes to clear up this situation. Says he was thankful that Lincoln brought it up privately. Written one week before the fall of Savannah, Georgia.

GLC03369

circa August-September 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document signed

Title: [Deposition of Judy Taylor against Joseph Coombs]

Written in clerical hand and signed by Porter as Acting Rear Admiral commanding the Mississippi Squadron. Deposition where Judy Taylor accuses Joseph Coombs of being a Confederate supporter. Says she was hired as a chambermaid to Coombs, who was the captain of the "Louisville," from July 1861-September 1862. She was then hired again in December 1862 and was under his employ until the ship was captured by U.S. forces. She was hired for $20/month. Claims she was last paid in April 1862. Taylor also said that Coombs always hoisted the rebel flag when coming to a landing. She also reported…

GLC03508

26 July 1864

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Virginia Farragut

Written aboard the USS Hartford. Written by Rear Admiral Farragut to his wife Virginia in Hastings on the Hudson, New York. Signed by Farragut as well as initialled after a postscript. Says he wanted to let her know he was well. Remarks that he gave General Sickles a passage home in the USS "Governor Hahn." Writes: "He is the little fellow who made such a flourishing speech for me, on my arrival, at New Orleans when I came down the River after passing Port Hudson..." Says "Eaton takes my sword Home to you, if the pirates do not get it." Claims there is nothing of interest, but reports that…

GLC03309

1778

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An Act for the relief of captors of prizes [duties on privateers]

GLC03562.25

28 December 1800

Gallais, Francois Michel, 1757-1826

Endorsement signed

Title: [Captain Gallais' observations on American merchant ships engaged in combat with French ships]

Written in French by a Captain Gallais of the corsair La Laure to First Consul of French Republic Napoleon Bonaparte. Translation in collateral file. Gallais is offering his opinion on how the French government should handle American merchant ships that previously engaged in battle with French ships under the new treaty, the Convention of Mortefontaine, which was signed in October 1800. Says treaty is only applicable retroactively to ships with irregularities in their papers, not to ships engaged in combat. Says boarding of American ships and request to hoist the flag is still permitted, and…

GLC03570

18 September 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James he was in New York and other locations before moving north to Nova Scotia. Reports that on the way, his men took five prizes and reclaimed two brigs containing low-valued cargo. States that a French fleet is "Blocked up at Present at Rhode Island" by Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot. Refers to the British defeat of American forces at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1780 and the capture of valuable Virginia ships by New York privateers. Discusses a riot in Boston, Massachusetts following General George Washington's call for 3,…

GLC03676.02

July 22, 1781

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, writes from the Elizabeth River to his brother James. Reports that he was sent to the James Islands "to cover the Boats of Earle Cornwallis's Army who were ordered away from the Pursuit of the Marquis Fayette." Praises Cornwallis. Discusses details of continued battles and skirmishes occurring between December 1780 and July 1781, as the Marquis de Lafayette pursued Cornwallis to Yorktown. Mentions the activities of Colonel Robert Abercrombie and the Edinburgh Regiment. States that he had previous orders to attack Philadelphia, but had received orders…

GLC03676.04

April 11, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to John Barry

Signed by members Hancock, Robert Morris, John Alsop, Richard Henry Lee, Joseph Hewes, George Read, William Whipple, and Stephen Hopkins as members of the Congressional Marine Committee (all but Alsop went on to sign the Declaration of Independence). The Committee praises Barry's capture of the prize sloop Edward. Mentions sending the prize to Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Reports on the presence of Captain Boys and four or five marines at Cape May, New Jersey. States "As the Men of Warr in Virginia, Delaware and New York will undoubtedly hear of you they will probably lay some plans to…

GLC03715

28 November 1865

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John M. Kell

Kell was first officer of the Alabama from 1862 to 1864. Writes to Kell to answer his question about taking the pardon, to thank him for naming his first-born son after him, and to tell him of the disposition of prize money from the ship. Semmes states that he had not been offered a pardon, did not mean to ask for one, and would refuse one if it were offered to him.

GLC04021

18 November 1775

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Assessment of value of the Prosper, a British ship]

Laurens, Roger Smith, and Edward Blake obey orders of the South Carolina Provincial Congress in assessing the value the Prosper, which had been seized for service by the colonies. The men state that the ship is worth 2,000 pounds and recommend that government pay the sum and procure a ship register from Captain Smith, former commander of the Prosper.

GLC03942

16 August 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to John Hancock

Knox, Secretary of War, discusses President George Washington's orders regarding captured naval prizes. Requests that Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts, restore any naval prizes brought into the harbors and ports of Massachusetts to the master or owner at the time of capture. Orders that if it is impossible to discern the identity of the vessel's former master, it should be delivered to the person "to which the prize belonged at the time of its capture."

GLC04109

28 November 1863

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Faxon

Written by Rear Admiral Farragut to Faxon as the chief clerk of the Navy Department on stationery of Astor House. Says he saw Mr. Davis, a government paymaster, and told him to go to Washington to settle the matter of the prize money that was turned over to the paymaster of the "Pensacola."

GLC04083

2 December 1835

Smith, Henry W., 1836-1869

Document signed

Title: [Letters of marque and reprisal authorizing Silas Dinsmore to seize Mexican ships]

Privateering document, printed and signed by Henry Smith as Governor of Texas, countersigned by Charles B. Stewart as Secretary. Document with decorative border printed by Baker & Bordens, San Felipe de Austin. Features paper seal. Docket on verso. References: Dienst, The Navy of the Republic of Texas, 14-18, Streeter 99-100; Texas Handbook I: 504.

GLC04255

27 June 1803

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Lee

Letter regarding French privateers. Not the more famous Henry Lee.

GLC04353.07

6 May 1861

Confederate States of America. Congress

Broadside

Title: An Act recognizing the existence of War between the United States and the Confederate States; and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods.

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, approved this act 6 May 1861. States "Whereas the earnest efforts made by this Government to establish friendly relations between the Government of the United States and the Confederate States, and to settle all questions of disagreement between the two Governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavailing by reason of the refusal of the Government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the Commissioners appointed by this Government for the purposes aforesaid... and whereas, by the acts and means…

GLC04284

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

28 May 1776

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ludwell Lee

Written by Richard Henry Lee as Continental Congressman from Virginia to his brother Thomas Lee. Says he is busy because he has a committee meeting with Generals Washington, Gates, and Mifflin on "the operations of their Campaign." Says he cannot write to many of his friends at this time and asks to be remembered to Colonel Mason. Mentions that Colonel Nelson has not arrived yet. Says he will leave for home in a day or two, rest up, and then attend the Convention at Williamsburg. Says "the sensible and spirited resolve of my Countrymen on the 15th has gladdened the heart of every friend to…

GLC04809

19 March 1794

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Written by Chancellor Livingston to New York Governor Clinton. Encloses petition at the request of Dr. Robinson (not included). Mentions seeing Clinton's family. Mentions political controversy involving himself and William P. Van Ness. It involves the unpopular removal of someone from office (the name cannot be deciphered - Benthingsen?) Wants Clinton to clarify the situation for him. Says Egbert Benson is going to come forward with the story for the newspapers and wants to be able to meet it. Wants to know if Clinton recollects him ever recommending the person. If he or other members of the…

GLC04772.04

11 May 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Written by Laurens as President of the Continental Congress to Rodney as President of Delaware. Says he sent a packet on 9 May 1778 by General William Smallwood. Says it contains 20 copies of an address by Congress on the regulation of armed vessels. Hopes Rodney will distribute them as he sees fit.

GLC04804.01

circa 1781-1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Printed document signed

Title: [Congressional certificate authorizing vessels to engage in military activity]

Signed below seal by John Hanson. Countersigned by Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Contains blank spaces designated for the name of commander and vessel, the vessel's weight and type, and the number of men on board. Created to authorize vessels (possibly privateers) to "set forth ... in a warlike manner ... to attack, subdue, seize, and take all ships and other vessels, goods, wares and merchandizes, belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain ..." Features paper seal.

GLC04870