4 May 1861

Ingraham, Duncan N., 1802-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Captain Ingraham writes to a general who remains unnamed in this letter. States "I drop you a line to say we are all quiet here... Lincoln seems determined to carry it on..." Predicts that the Union will not attempt to invade the location of the recipient. Reports that he will soon travel to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit his family. Writes "I wish you could trick up a few more deserters, they will demoralize the command of our genialBrown..." Relates that a mutual acquaintance, Warden, is still held as a prisoner of war. Docket states "About Pensacola." Accompanied by paper…

GLC05017

22 July 1862

Duffie, Alfred Napoleon Alexander, 1835-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Mauray

Colonel Duffie of the First Rhode Island Cavalry writes to Colonel Mauray, Assistant Adjutant General, Company H. Discusses the state of his regiment. Writes, "Since soon 15 days I have the honor to command this regiment it is for me a sad duty to say: that regiment has been raised very badly, that is to say men have not been inspected by a doctor Today my regiment is going very low because many men are not fit to be horsemen by some kind of disease... no man has pass the regular inspection prescribed by par. 937." Requests the blacksmiths William Sprague, Rhode Island Governor, had…

GLC05030

25 November 1863

Tyler, Daniel, 1799-1882

Letter signed

Title: to Donn Piatt

General Tyler, commander of the District of Delaware, writes to Piatt, Chief of Staff, Middle Department. Withdraws his suggestion that the 5th Regiment, Maryland Volunteers should concentrate at Fort Donelson, due to the lack of quarters at the fort for additional troops. Relates that Captain Clayton's cavalry company will patrol the state for deserters. Recommends that a company of invalids should be sent to guard the hospital and public stores in Wilmington. Advises sending the 5th Regiment, Maryland Volunteers, "at least as far south as North Carolina." One black and white bust…

GLC05053

5 March 1864

Mitchell, Wallace, fl. 1861-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Mitchell

One letter addressed to Mary Mitchell from Wallace Mitchell dated Camp near Warrentown, Va., March 5, 1864. Pertains to being vaccinated and Confederate soldiers deserting. Describes the wounds of some soldiers in his picket, and the capture of rebel deserters and scouts. Also included are small painted illustrations of flowers and soldiers.

GLC08334.03

23 June 1863

Document

Title: Receipt of furlough

One document signed by O. Mouton allowing George M. Eveleth leave dated June 23, 1863.

GLC03857.67

1900

Eldridge, W. C., fl. 1900

Book

Title: Elementary manual of practice. Civil war claims.

Manual regarding Civil War pension claims published by the Government Printing Office. Compiled by Eldridge and L. R. Ginn for the office of F. H. Morris, Auditor for the War Department. Includes information on Bounty Acts, veteran's status, heirship in bounty, desertion, death after discharge, recruits, volunteers, drafted men, substitutes, and instructions to African American soldiers, among other topics. Contains a sticker and imprint from Dover Public Library, Dover, New Hampshire. Includes handwritten numbers and letters underneath the title on page three.

GLC06264

15 August 1847

Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876

Document

Title: [Rewards to deserters of the U.S. Army]

Offers the rewards of happiness, beautiful land, and friendly people to soldiers who desert from the U.S. Army. Says that the Americans have earned nothing but contempt from Mexicans and Europeans by fighting, unprovoked, in Mexico.

GLC06366.06

24 September 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Meade re: stay of execution for two Union privates

Also requesting the facts of the cases. Signed twice (the second time on a postscript). Lincoln stays the execution for two privates, one whose name Lincoln can't remember in the 1st Regiment NJ Vols., and one of Private Daniel Sullivan in the 13th Mass. Sullivan had been sentenced to be shot for desertion. The other man has not been definitively identified but may be Daniel Drights (or Driggets) (1st NJ, convicted of desertion 17 Sept. 1863).

GLC06039

18 April 1863

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 11, no. 20 (April 18, 1863)]

Report of the army of Attakapas and the battleship Keokuk. Ads for deserters. Inscribed at top "Henry S. Millard." Articles translated into French on right side. Wallpaper has lilac colored grape and oak floral pattern (pattern # 1538F)

GLC05988.06

2 July 1862

Sperry, J.A., fl. 1862

Newspaper

Title: Daily Register. [July 2, 1862]

Handwritten note at top: Why McClellan failed to reach Richmond; Vicksburg Intelligence; Killed & Wounded at Chickahominy. Ads for fugitive soldiers. Printed on heavy brown necessity paper with faded ink.

GLC05959.48

27 October 1864

Bondurant & Elliot

Newspaper

Title: Daily Richmond whig [no volume and number (October 27, 1864)]

Contains an image of the Virginia state seal. Not a complete copy, missing pages 1 and 2. Copy of General Jubal Early's address to his troops and an editoral lauding its contents. From Northern newspapers, reports on Ulysses Grant's campaign against Richmond. News item predicts that Wilmington, North Carolina will soon be attacked. 3 column report from the Whig's own correspondant on "The Seven Months' Campaign against Richmond Considered as a Whole." Update on affairs in Missouri. News of a free black, age 14, killed when he fell attempting to "steal a ride on the Camp Lee train." Short…

GLC05959.79

February 13, 1865

Jackson, William Hicks, 1835-1903

Document

Title: Circular address to the absentees from the Tenn. calvary of Forrest's command

From the headquarters of Brigadier General Jackson's calvary division. Jackson says he was recently put in charge of the Tennessee calvary "in this Department" and asks for their return to the colors. Says he feels identified with the troops and that his interest in their welfare moved him to make the request in order to secure "good behavior everywhere, and above all respect to citizens and their property." Will be welcomed back if they come voluntarily. Says anyone brought in as a prisoner will not join him. Asks the citizens of West Tennessee for their assistance in the matter. Says now…

GLC05987.04

1862

Holden, William Woods, 1818-1892

Header Record

Title: Weekly standard.

The paper gives regular reports of the latest war news. Advertisements include runaway slave notices and slaves for sale; retail, real estate, and other items for sale; conscription substitutes wanted; lost items; and market reports. Telegraphic news is also included. Obituaries are printed, as are notices of deserters. Many issues contain minutes of the North Carolina Legislature or Acts and Resolutions of the North Carolina General Assembly. Most issues contain fugitive slave and negro for sale ads. (1862/9/17, 1862/12/17, 1862/12/24, and 1862/12/31)

GLC05959.22

January 7, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: To Edward Hand

Written and signed for Knox by his aide Samuel Shaw to Brigadier General Hand. Says the prisoners of war at West Point are being marched this day to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment. Their names are enclosed. Says Lieutenant Hoit [could be the same Hoit at GLC02437.01755] is to be watched because "He has in several instances been tampering with the soldiers." Says David Jones is a deserter who should be released, which coincides with General Washington's wishes. Reports that Colonel Humphreys will remember the man as the person who was "wandering about without a pass." Says he can have an…

GLC02437.01807

3 July 1786

Harmar, Josiah, 1753-1813

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Fort Pitt, the location of present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Discusses his arrival at the fort the month before, and describes which officers and companies are there, or are on their way. Includes returns of personnel and stores, and complains that the stores have not been well-maintained. Also indicates the high rate of desertion from the fort. Provides intelligence he has received from a Moravian Indian called "John Bull" (who is called "Sheebo" by other Indians), which consists of the movements of local Indian groups (including Moravian, Chippewa and Ottowa Indians)…

GLC02437.03280

1861-1877

Neafie, Theodore F., fl. 1861-1877

Header Record

Title: Letters 1st Cal. Regt. re: camp life; southerners; McClellan; slavery [decimalized]

Collection of 60 ALS by Foot Soldier, in first Ca. Regiment. "It is turned into a war to put money in political pockets and to free the niggers;" Lincoln: "His mind is not able to comprehend the simple game of checkers let alone the war like game of chess." Charleston; Maryland, Winchester; Richmond, Deserter Executed; with 8 collateral letters and gold nuggets (0.2 ounces) accompanying #7.

GLC07164

29 May 1781

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County

Virginia Governor Jefferson tells the "County Lieutenant of Berkeley" that men having been deserting from the French army and navy in America and instructs him to give orders to apprehend any possible foreign deserters at the ferry crossings in Berkeley. He is to send any suspects to the headquarters of the Marquis de Lafayette. Being addressed from Charlottesville is unusual.

GLC07335

15 December 1911

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles L. King, convicted of Army desertion on 23 April 1908 and sentenced to two and one half years at Fort Leavenworth]

Sentence published in General Orders, No. 65, Department of the East, 30 April 1908. Secretary of War recommended pardon, which was granted by William H. Taft. Partially handwritten. With James Finch (signed), pardon attorney, warrant for pardon. Countersigned by George W. Wickersham, Attorney General.

GLC07318

30 July 1782

Smallwood, William, 1732-1792

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Indicates that he is sending recruitment-related reports (not included) and discusses difficulties recruiting soldiers. Lists the reasons that soldiers will not join: worries about pay and depreciation, efforts to defend Chesapeake Bay, lazy officers, and poor conditions including lack of food, clothes and shelter for the recruits. Comments that "The treatment, naked and wretched situation of those in service, the abject distress and total neglect of disabled and disbanded soldiers... rendered desertion very prevalent." Complains of delays in fulfilling his requests for provisions and…

GLC06506

7 July 1778

Sullivan, John, 1740-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

General Sullivan discusses the Battle of Monmouth based on information he received from Major Talbot. Referring to the 28 June 1778 battle between Generals George Washington and Henry Clinton, states "about ten in the forenoon General Washington with the Front of his Army Amounting to nearly one half his numbers came up with the Rear of the British Army Consisting of nearly one half their force which was Commanded by General Clinton ... a severe Action immediately Commenced which Lasted well near four in the Afternoon where victory Declared in Favor of the American Army." States that the…

GLC06521

27 August 1780- 24 October 1780

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of orders from the camp of General George Weedon]

Mentions Colonel Febigen and Captains Lovely and Richardson. Discusses a survey of commissaries' stores, in which barrels of salt fish were deemed unfit for consumption. Refers to court martials, the trial of prisoners, and the prevention of embezzlement from a store of arms (6 September). Provides a list of several persons charged with desertion, and describes the proceedings of their court martial (8 September). Discusses the command of local drafts (27 September, 1 October).

GLC06499

19 February 1782

Smallwood, William, 1732-1792

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Letters to recruiting officers and reports on recruitment]

Written by Major General Smallwood while on a mission to raise troops and assemble supplies in Maryland. General Nathanael Greene had sent Smallwood on this mission to end a conflict of command between Smallwood and Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This is a booklet of recruitment information that appears to have been bound inside a cover, which is now removed. Includes two letters to recruiters, one dated 19 February 1782, and the other 7 April 1782. Gives guidelines on who not to recruit: British deserters, men under five feet four inches tall, men who do not have well proportioned limbs, and…

GLC06507

29 August 1778

Jackson, Hall, 1739-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Hall, an army physician to Colonel Langdon as a commander of militia. Says day before yesterday the British fleet arrived with reinforcements for Newport. A retreat was ordered to their first encampment at midnight last night and was carried out in good order. Reports on a general action outside Newport after the retreat. Says "Our Army fought like Trojans! ... tomorrow morning will give the bloody dogs their Quietus." Claims American losses were less than 100 killed and 200 wounded. Mentions that his brother Woodbury Langdon survived unscathed. Says his friend Samuel…

GLC06523

7 November 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Docketed by Langdon on verso. Reporting on the difficulties supplying the army and navy, military plans, and the mood in Congress. Mentions a shipment of guns with defects. Comments on officer promotions. Mentions the Marine Committee's answer to a letter from the Committee of Providence. Mentions the petition of an officer to be "Releavd," which he describes as a "Petition for a Public Body to break their own Genl: Rules." He doubts it will pass but states that he will render assistance. Discusses clothing the troops, who he finds "in good spirit" though "almost naked." Doubts the…

GLC06692

16 October 1863

Broadside

Title: Deserters!

Lists names, ages, occupations, home counties of 9th Congressional District, Pennsylvania for draftees who failed to report for duty. Offering $300 reward for arrest of "all delinquent men".

GLC07015