February 2, 1864

Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913

Autograph document signed

Title: to Miller A. Wright

Special Order No. 33H2 for Miller A. Wright. Orders to proceed to various counties to arrest deserters. Possibly cross-signed.

GLC02691.11.052

29 August 1863

McRay, W.H., fl. 1862-1963

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

They surrounded a Rebel camp and got 6 prisioners, 10 horses and some mules. Later they started catching chickens, geese and ducks. Today is the one year anniversary of when he left home. A lot of Rebel deserters are coming in.

GLC03054.06

23 December 1861

Ladd, George, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Carrie

7 men came across the river and gave themselves up to them. Apparently 30 started out but the rest were caught. He hopes the war will end soon and he can come home.

GLC03057.03

22 July 1862

Gardner, Horace B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Nellie

Horace B. Gardner writes to Nellie Boardman, referring to an ambrotype of himself that he includes with the letter. He writes of his previous night's guard duty, and he describes Warren H. Knights's attempted, and two other soldiers' succesful, desertions. Gardner describes a duel between a Union officer and a civilian. He says that his regiment has been put in General Pope's division and must be ready to move at any time. This letter is on plain paper with multicolor Magnus White House Views patriotic envelope. Written at Fort Frederick (also known as Fort Albany).

GLC02665.03

4 July 1865

Rouse, E.S.S., 1828-1913

Broadside

Title: The Soldiers' Welcome!

Broadside of a poem recited at a celebration of the Fourth of July at Mount Vernon. The poem mocks the defeated Confederates. It also mentions Copperheads, and people who fled to Canada to avoid the draft. There is also a section about Jefferson Davis and his attempt to flee wearing women's clothes.

GLC09665

14 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The Confederates had an internal battle on October 28: "One brigad[e] of them was determined to quit them and ground arms and come to our lines and they was silenced by their trusty troops which terminated in three hours fight killing eight hundred men." He saw two men shot to death for desertion yesterday.

GLC02739.086

1781

Autograph manuscript

Title: [10th Massachusetts regiment orderly book]

Details daily orders for the troops and assigns field officers and major of the brigades for each day. Many entries deal with supplying and ordering clothing for the soldiers. Reports the results of many court martials, most trying soldiers for desertion and sentencing them to death or 100 lashes. 20 April 1781 entry reports on the prevention of smallpox among the soldiers. Entry for 4 May 1781 discusses sending ranks to join the light infantry under General Marquis de Lafayette. Entry for 6 May 1781 mentions the problem of venereal diseases in the camp and orders the removal of all…

GLC01450.016.01

1863

Whiting, William, 1813-1873

Pamphlet

Title: Military arrests in time of war

Printed by the Government Printing Office. Written as Solicitor of the War Department. The work serves as a guide for military arrests during war. Discusses various topics such as the Enrollment Act of 1863, arrests on suspicion, martial law, and Habeas Corpus. Includes table of contents and an appendix entitled "instructions of the war department to officers having charge of deserters."

GLC01265.16

8 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 281

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "General Orders, No. 281, Sept. 8th 1847, Proceedings of GCM." Colonel Bennett Riley, presiding, tries 29 privates for desertion in a general court martial and, finding them guilty, sentences them to be executed the next morning.

GLC00911.10

10 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 282

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "[Gener]al Orders, No. 282, [Sept.] 9th 1847, [Proceedings] of GCM, [illegible]." Announcement that the four convicted deserters herein mentioned will be hung tomorrow, as they were in transport when their fellow deserters were executed this morning (see GLC00911.10). Right margin cropped.

GLC00911.11

10 September 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 283

Signed by H. L. Scott. Partial docket reads "[General] Order, No. 283, Sept. 10-1847, [Procee]dings of a GCM, Cases of Desertion" and "Maj. Bonneville, Comd of 6th Infy." Brevet Colonel Garland, presiding, tries 36 privates for desertion in a general court martial and, finding them guilty, sentences them to death.

GLC00911.12

6 November 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 340

Signed by H. L. Scott. Proceedings of court martials on charges of unsoldierlike conduct, drunkenness, sleeping on post, desertion, mutiny, and violation of the 50th Article of War, which carries a sentence of death. Note on back reads "Gen. Order, 340, Nov. 6th 47, Proceedings of a GCM, Rec Nov. 11th 47." Brevet Brigadier General P.F. Smith presiding.

GLC00911.31

1863

Corning, Erastus, 1794-1872

Pamphlet

Title: President Lincoln's views

May 16, 1863 resolutions from a group of New York Democrats led by Erastus Corning, along with Lincoln's response. The committee argues that the arrest of Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio for treason had violated the latter's rights under the Constitution, and that arbitrary arrests will further divide the country and "distract those who should be united in suppressing the rebellion." Lincoln responds that Vallandigham was not simply criticizing the administration; he was encouraging desertion and attempting to thwart the raising of troops. Lincoln concludes by stating that he must continue to…

GLC01265.19

circa November- December 1776

Noyes, John, 1740-1784

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary Noyes

John Noyes writes to his wife in Newbury, Massachusetts. He discusses battles or skirmishes in New York but it is not clear which ones because the letter is incomplete and not dated. He reports on how many wounded or killed on each side. States that deserters from the British army are coming to them every week. Relays that the British have landed near Throg's Neck and have advanced over the river at Dobb's Ferry. They moved again on November 12 and are expected to go to Kings Bridge where there might be a bloody battle since the Americans have a strong fort there with five months of…

GLC01450.056.09

13 July 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he arrived at Charleston on 11 July and that the attack on the city started on the 10th. Reports Union forces have taken all of Morris Island except Fort Wagner. Describes the situation around Fort Wagner. Says the navy might have to land some of the crews from the ships to take part in the assault on the fort. Says he heard about Lee's defeat at Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg and that she "must have celebrated the fourth of July with somewhat different feelings from those of last year." Wants to know who General Meade is and goes on to say "he seems to be the right man for the…

GLC03836.52

25 November 1864

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Moore

Written aboard USS "Fernandina." References her letter of 5 November, noting that it was the first definite news of the election they received, and the first information from the North. Says he heard from two South Carolina deserters that Lincoln won. Writes, "Wasn't it a glorious result! and Pennsylvania redeemed herself too! ... What will become of 'Little Mac' now I wonder? He must feel considerably 'littler' than he ever did before." Declares that the administration has made blunders, but that they have been vindicated for removing "such wretched trash" as McClellan, Buell, and Fitz-…

GLC03836.79

December 1, 1864

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says the election turned out alright and that Pennsylvania redeemed herself. Says 2 deserters told him of a sloop with 10 bales of cotton that is trying to run the blockade. He has since been searching for her. Has heard Sherman is 20 miles from Savannah. Says the admiral wants to send sailors on shore to help the army but goes on to say "I dont believe that any amount of drilling will ever make soldiers out of sailors, so as to make them useful in military operations." Says 22 of his 80 men are about to leave as their time in the service is up. Written while aboard the USS "Fernandina".

GLC03836.80

17 March 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Describes the Battle of Pea Ridge. Writes that the enemy lost about half its men with three thousand killed and wounded. Also writes that guns, muskets, and rifles are found stacked in the woods from soldiers that won't fight anymore and have gone home. Written at Camp Shearer.

GLC06728.014

5 August 1869

Hancock, George, 1819-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Royal Navy Flag Captain Hancock, commander of the HMS "Duke of Wellington" has written to Walker as commander of the USS "Sabine." Hancock says that it appears 3 bondsmen have deserted from the Royal Marines and have taken refuge on Walker's ship. Says that he is certain Walker would not have admitted the men if he knew that they were deserters, but that they probably presented themselves to the Americans falsely. Sends along a separate sheet describing the men (not included here). Asks if the men are indeed on his ship that they be put on shore where the police can apprehend them. Hopes…

GLC03804.16

12 March 1865

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from a camp near Petersburg, Virginia. Mentions that men are getting furloughs if their wives are sick. Relates that a deserter was hung, "...it did look awful to see a human being launch in erternity so quick..." Advises his wife to use his bounty if she needs it to make life more comfortable.

GLC03523.06.11

19 August 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp in Battle Creek. Reports they are waiting for more men to arrive and help guard the railroad. Informs him that a Lieutenant from the Rebel army deserted and stated the Confederate force in Chattanooga is 80,000. Mentions they are building a fort for protection. Expresses pleasure at the return of Colonel William Gibson. Says there is plenty of food and he is living well.

GLC03523.03.09

25 October 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp outside of Green River. Says they will go to Nashville next. Mentions that many soldiers from the Ohio 49th Infantry have deserted. Comments that there has been no fighting for him since Shiloh. Doesn't know where Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his troops are, but states that "...if they give us a chance at bragg we can whip them." Discusses the arrival of tents, and mentions the general good health of the 49th. Envelope has image and the slogan "Remember Ellsworth," who was a Union Colonel and the first casualty of the Civil War.

GLC03523.03.10

February 23, 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Lyon to a friend. Laments camp accommodations ("you are at Church listening to a good sermon while I am seated on a wash basin and writing on a Camp Kettle") and not being able to spend "the last Sunday in Brookfield that perhaps I shall ever spend in Ct. with you." Talks of writing letters for soldiers in his company who are ill with measles or in the hospital. Jokes with some hints of jealousy that his friend went sleighing with a man named John. Then, describes part of the journey his company will take by railroad and steamboat, stopping at Fort Monroe (in Virginia).…

GLC02165.03

30 November 1862

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

It is raining out so he cannot go for his usual walk. Writes that it is discouraging to be an "invalid" sometimes. He states that his appetite and strength are only a "little better." Writes that he is still having difficulty with his stomach but that it is better then before. Wishes that he could have a few weeks with his friends but does not think that this will be possible. He has a plan to go see his uncle by boarding a train with help of some friends. From there he will be able to see her and then will head back to rejoin his regiment. He has thought of this plan because he cannot get a…

GLC03523.42.18

30 August 1865

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister Ella

Writes that the young women of Staunton are pretty, but hate Yankees. Mentions that the major's sister was treated unkindly by Southern women at Church. Reports that he met Major General Curtis (the hero of Ft. Fisher) and was told that there was no chance of getting out of the service. The men are all anxious to get home. He writes thatmany veterans have deserted. Made a list and came up with a total of fifty-five men that have deserted, four from his own company. Writes that he has sent home $400. Will try to find Capt. Jackson for his aunt. Hopes to be mustered out as captain.…

GLC02016.088