January 10, 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Writes that the regiment has received two six-mule teams per company, some of which are secesh property. Had a New Year's feast of courtesy of the friends of Illinois. Compares prices of produce in Illinois to produce prices in Rolla, Mo. Writes that the Masons; have attempted to get a lodge started but have failed. Has heard rumors that Sigel has resigned. In a post script note he writes that the colonel has been cleared of all charges against him. Written at Camp Rolla

GLC06728.010

30 June 1783

Wheaton, Joseph, 1755-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letter to officers defending himself against accusations]

Written by Lieutenant Wheaton of the Rhode Island Battalion. Long letter describing his service in the army and denouncing the accusations made in "envy" against him. Says he has been in the army close to eight years and has not seen his family. Says the accusations stem from events in August 1782 when he was left in command of 2 companies and the garrison at Saratoga, New York. Says that a Lt. Pratt sent him "insulting and mutinous answers" to an order for him to sign the morning reports and attend to the duties of commanding officer. Claims he did nothing until General Baron Von Steuben…

GLC02437.02204

7 August 1783

Pratt, William, fl. 1779-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: to Joseph Wheaton

Expresses his objection to improper orders.

GLC02437.02365

22 September 1783

Barker, Ananias, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Testimony]

Testimony concerning a lieutenant Wheaton. States that Wheaton "directed me to sell the same [rum] by retail at a cheaper rate than any person in of about the place, (which I did) ... "

GLC02437.02556

circa September 1783

Pratt, William, fl. 1779-1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimony and observations of Lieutenant Pratt]

Lieutenant William Pratt's testimony for the trial of Lieutenant Wheaton. Accuses Wheaton of shirking his duty and of arresting him without due cause. According to Pratt, despite being the commanding officer, Wheaton had tried to pass command to Pratt, and had Pratt arrested when he refused. Other charges include "Issuing an order totally unmilitary & ordering Lieut [Greenman?] in arrest for disobedience of it; compelling a soldier who was under his command last winter to give him two pair of boots & one pair of shoes, without compensation; pedling [sic] out goods to the soldiers…

GLC02437.02597

circa September 1783

Pratt, William, fl. 1779-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Charges against Lieutenant Wheaton]

Lists the charges brought against Lieutenant Wheaton, including "unofficer & ungentleman-like behaviour in defrauding the Non-commission'd officers and Soldiers of the Battalion (for his own private benefit) ... " Addressed to the President and other Gentleman of the Court.

GLC02437.02599

24 October 1783

Wheaton, Joseph, 1755-1828

Autograph document signed

Title: [Report regarding orders previously given]

Explanation of orders given as he only had a limited number of officers to command.

GLC02437.02706

circa December 1783

Pratt, William, fl. 1779-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Joseph] Wheaton

To Lieutenant Wheaton, possibly Joseph Wheaton. Pratt informs Wheaton "I neither conceive that I have the honor to Command the first Compy nor do I think it my duty to sign any return of it, or to give any General directions respecting it- while an officer of Superior Rank is present." Refers Wheaton to general orders directing colonels commanding brigades to sign all returns. Date previously inferred. Related to GLC02437.02890.

GLC02437.02880

December 17, 1783

Greenman, Jove, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Testimony related to Lieutenant Joseph Wheaton]

Lieutenant Greenman gives testimony regarding Lieutenant [Joseph] Wheaton. Describes a conflict between Wheaton and Lieutenant Pratt. Wheaton ordered Pratt to take command of a company, threatening to arrest him if he refused. Also complains that Wheaton sold supplies, including handkerchiefs, he received from Albany. Related to GLC02437.02880, thus possibly created circa 1783.

GLC02437.02890

circa 1783

Kirby, Ephraim, ?-1804

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Testimony of Ephraim Kirby]

Testifies concerning the accusation against Lieutenant Wheaton for illegally turning over his command to Sergeant Pratt, a subordinate officer. States that Mr. Pratt, in "compliance with the Baron's [Steuben] wishes he would acknowledge that he ought not to have treated the order in the manner he did, and expect that Mr. Wheaton would concede on his part that the order was unmilitary - Mr. Wheaton refused." Watermarked.

GLC02437.10198

16 September 1783

Sherburne, Benjamin, fl. 1777-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Testimony related to Lieutenant Joseph Wheaton]

Testimony of Lieutenant Sherburne of the Rhode Island troops in the trial of Lieutenant Joseph Wheaton. Wheaton, while in command of the garrison at Saratoga, sold sundry items and rum to the soldiers for profit. John Thompson, Justice of the Peace, took his deposition. Note on verso states this is a sealed deposition to be opened in court.

GLC02437.10521

23 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jotham Drury

Written and signed for Henry Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Discusses a problem with Drury's account, in which the Paymaster, Charles Knowles, states that he overpaid Drury. In order to verify the state of the account, Knox asks Drury to provide vouchers for all of his balances and transactions.

GLC02437.02179

3 March 1784

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Doughty encloses the last return (possibly GLC02437.10578) of the corps of artillery (Doughty took command of the artillery at West Point after the suspension of Sebastian Bauman which resulted from a disagreement with William Hull, commandant of West Point). Declares, "It is no small misfortune to our little Corps, that on its first formation it should be embarrassed with trifling squabbles about duty, & perhaps had our Commandant diverted himself of his knowledge of foreign services, & attended to the practice of his own, much trouble might have been prevented..." Criticizes…

GLC02437.02970

February 21, 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Williams

Discusses provisions, medicine, and wood on hand at Springfield, where Williams is stationed. Refers to an enclosed order to Mrs. Pynchon (refer to GLC02437.02962) in which Knox requests that she turn over medicine and stores in her possession to the Continental troops. Knox's signature has been removed.

GLC02437.02963

14 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Williams

Had wanted to see Williams in order to talk about "the business" (likely referring to Shays' Rebellion). Writes he is relying on Williams to protect the military stores "in every event, for which you shall be amply compensated." Asks him to continue with the methods he mentioned when they spoke.

GLC02437.03312

January 24, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Ephraim Fenno

Discusses ammunition that has been stolen out of the magazine at Verplanck's Point and asks for an investigation. Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. See GLC02437.01852 for Washington's request for an investigation.

GLC02437.01853

11 August 1781

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that General [Arthur] St. Clair arrested Lieutenant Colonel Forrest, possibly Thomas Forrest, on a complaint made by Eustis "for discharging a man belonging to the Regt. for three half Johannes." Apparently Forrest has failed to resign his post, and Eustis wants to know who will take charge in his stead. Says Forrest "continues speckulating."

GLC02437.01127

15 April 1790

Edwards, Richard, fl. 1790

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for help in obtaining an appointment in the army. Says during the year of 1787 he had the honor of serving under Colonel [Henry] Jackson and heard that troops were once again being raised.

GLC02437.04584

January 30, 1783

Fenno, Ephraim, fl. 1776-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Lieutenant Fenno reports the results of his investigation, ordered by Knox, into stolen items at two garrisons. Relates that stores at Verplanck, New York, were deficient. Asserts that it is impossible to indicate who took the powder, which was stolen long before it was missed. Adds that boards and a lock and key are needed for the magazine [at Verplanck]. "Public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.10088

circa 19 September 1880-1883

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W. Kalenski

Signed "HJH." Date range inferred from Hunt's location. Mentions [Kalenski's?] application for the Ordnance Department. Finds fault with the conclusions, not the facts, of an article on the Peninsula campaign. Defends McClellan's strategy in that campaign, and suggests there was a plot in Washington against the general: "What a misfortune for the cabal in Washn. that McC did not lose the battle of Antietam! They could have shot him then for his audacity in assuming the command of an army usurping the powers of the president and fighting in disobedience of his instructions. But alas! he won…

GLC05561

5 July 1777

Clift, Samuel, fl. 1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Gallup

Reports "The enemy have all mov'd on Staten Island." Also "John Murry was executed here last Tuesday for deserting and Inlisting several times," and others are sentenced to die for the same crime. Hopes to be "making our fortunes, this year, as our living is so very cheap," and lists prices of certain items. Men in high spirits and good health, "I hear very little complaints among the soldiers." Signs himself "Upon the Highest Hill in America."

GLC05729

December 31, 1861

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard

General Johnston writes to General Beauregard, commander of the Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia. He writes "Is the W. arts near enough to Weir's house to be concerned in pulling to pieces the out houses? I heard thro' Major Boyle that soldiers carrying off...doors &c evidently for their own new quarters." Possibly referring to General Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, he states "Genl Trimble's brigade is nearest- & most probably furnished the culprits- I have desired him to get a guard at the house, & to have a search made for the missing materials." Mentions that "a place…

GLC05752

8 April 1779

Lee, Charles, 1731-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Has heard a report that the recipient has received a letter from Doctor Griffith stating that Lee, following his court martial, was persuaded "by some members of Congress to embarrass General Washington." Wishes to know if any such letter really came from Griffith, and assures the recipient that no such events actually happened. Wonders if General Thomas Conway is somehow involved in these affairs. Though the Conway Cabal was over, Conway continued his personal attacks on Washington long afterward.

GLC05264.03

1862-1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of James K. Magie, C company, 78th regiment, Illinois, infantry [Decimalized .01-.51]

Private in the Army of the Cumberland. The letters are written to his wife, Mary, who lived in Macomb, Illinois. (There are 46 manuscript items plus 5 printed items which include 3 newspaper clippings.) Magie also held the position of Brigade Postmaster while stationed in Franklin, Tennessee. This position allowed him to make frequent trips into Nashville, where he bought newspapers for 5 cents each and sold them in camp for 10 cents. He frequently discusses his profits and cautions his wife not to let anyone else know how much money he is able to send her. At home Magie was a co-owner…

GLC05241

1 May 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of George W. Peters, who deserted the navy on 27 March 1897 by Theodore Roosevelt]

Deserted the vessel the "Puritan" who re-enlisted twice--28 March 1898 and 5 September 1901 aboard the Richmond--as George W. Rogers, and served normally until discharged. Pardoned based on service to country and recommendation of the Acting Secretary of the navy. Partially handwritten. Accompanied by discharge pouch (housed separately). Countersigned by Charles J. Bonaparte.

GLC05653.01