February 21, 1781

Painter, L., fl. 1781

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 23 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Several people signed their name, but were scratched off the list later. It appears that the document was created by Lieutenant Painter since his signature is below a note that states "those Inlisted the First of January together with myself Jany 1 1781." Related to GLC02542.30.

GLC02542.28

1 June 1781

Hunt, John, fl. 1782

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 8 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Related to GLC02542.28.

GLC02542.30

1837-1908

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Header Record

Title: Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]

Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C. Preliminary inventory included.

GLC02618

29 November 1861

Berdan, Hiram, fl. 1823-1893

Letter signed

Title: to A. T. Goodman

Berdan, Colonel of the First Regiment United States Sharpshooters, informs Goodman that he is busy organizing companies already raised, and cannot issue any additional commissions. Writes "...I would be glad to have you confer with Mr. Milton P. Pierce of your city & Mr. H. Gilbert Robinson of Sandusky (to whom I have this day written on the subject) for the purpose of raising in your State a Regt. of Sharp Shooters, which as soon as ready, I shall be glad to receive into my command." Written on Headquarters, First Regiment Berdan's U.S. Sharpshooters, camp of instruction stationery.…

GLC02465.04

22 October 1846

Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E.M. Kerne

Informs Lieutenant Kerne, commander of the district of the Sacramento Valley, that Peter Brennan, this letter's bearer, has authorization to enlist men "in the service of the United States at the rate of twenty five dollars per month." Asks Kerne to give Brennan assistance. Fremont was then engaged in military activities against California, then owned by Mexico.

GLC02475.05

26 November 1898

Harper & Brothers, 1833-1962

Newspaper

Title: Harper's weekly: a journal of civilization. [Vol. 42, no. 2188 (November 26, 1898)]

Discusses an opinion printed in a British paper that the United States should "take the Philippines, and all the other Spanish territory of which we can lay our hands." Advocates recruitment of "dark men- negroes, half-castes, Tagals, and ... Mohammedan Malays ... " for military service in tropical areas. Reports on imperialism and the Senate, Zionism, and the daily life of Pope Leo XIII, containing various photographs of Leo XIII at the Vatican. Includes a photograph of George Berry, an African American soldier in Troop D, 10th United States Cavalry. States that Berry "carried the Colors…

GLC08725.13

February 3, 1781

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Written by Von Steuben as the senior Continental officer in Virginia to General Greene as commander in the Southern Department. References Greene's letter of January 24, 1781. Congratulates Greene on his army's recent victory at Cowpens and in the race to the Dan River. Says the traitorous General Benedict Arnold's incursions in Virginia were causing him problems and keeping him from reinforcing Greene's army. Says the troops he wanted to send off on January 15, 1781 will not be ready until February 20, 1781. Mentions changes in his command and says General Robert Lawson will relieve General…

GLC00140

05 September 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Call for troops from Ohio

First call on Ohio. Assigns "six hundred and fifty-three as the first proportional part of the quota of troops to be furnished by the Eighteenth district of the state." Call made in accordance with the 3 March 1863 "An act for Enrolling and Calling out the National Forces and for other purposes."

GLC00158

April 21, 1777

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Discusses various Tory conspiracies, such as counterfeiting currency (to cause inflation) and spreading smallpox. Describes the difficulties of recruiting sufficient men for the army. Notes that many men have marched to Ticonderoga. Postscript dated April 22, 1777 mentions the arrival of a French ship. Bartlett represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress.

GLC00193

26 March 1798

United States. Congress

Broadside

Title: A Motion: establishing embargo, fortifying ports and raising an army

The motion was a result of the Quasi-War with France. Document is slashed on lower right corner. Formerly pencilled "Duplicate."

GLC00265.02

12 May 1846

Giddings, Joshua Reed, 1795-1864

Pamphlet

Title: [Speech of Hon. Joshua R. Giddings...on the bill to raise a company of sappers, miners, and pontoniers]

Giddings attacks Polk's declaration of war against Mexico, the frivolous spending of the public treasury, and the dubious means by which soldiers are enlisted. Giddings believes in the defense of America and the support of its military, but does not think that the founding fathers "anticipated the hostile invasion of other countries by us."

GLC00267.116

June 7, 1813

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James T. Austin

Elbridge Gerry remarks that the governor of Massachusetts, Caleb Strong, "displayed his british colours," referring to Strong not allowing the Federal Government to recruit troops for the War of 1812 in his state. He notes that President Madison recovered from an illness and praises the president and his wife. He mentions that he cannot send a document that Austin wants. In response to Strong, President Madison withdrew all protection from Massachusetts. Gerry was then vice president.

GLC00239

circa June 1863

Donopley, D.W., fl. 1863

Broadside

Title: Men of the Keystone State, rally for its defence!

Recruitment broadside in Pennsylvania published during Lee's invasion of the North in 1863, seemingly before the Battle of Gettysburg. Created by Captain D.W. Donopley of Company L of the First Regiment of the Washington Guard under Colonel William F. Small. Printed by King & Baird of 607 Sansom Street in Philadelphia. References Pennsylvania's role as the site of the creation of the Declaration of Independence and claims it is imperative that recruits join because it was the place where "'Liberty' was first proclaimed 'throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof,' must not…

GLC00492

August 4, 1824

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.J. Nourse

The letter is regarding movement of soldiers and plans to cease recruiting. Taylor was a Colonel in the 1st Regimental Infantry. Nourse was a major in the Army.

GLC00496.089

February 4, 1862

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Manuscript document signed

Title: Circular order

Circular from Major General Commanding Joseph E. Johnston concerning recruiting. Advises brigade commanders to promptly forward recruits to their companies as it is urgent that the Confederate army increase its numbers. Signed by Major and Assistant Adjutant General Jasper S. Whiting by command of Major General Gustavus W. Smith. Initialled by Paul J. Semmes, "P.J.S." in margin on page one. At the time, the Confederate Army was suffering from severe shortage of recruits.

GLC00572.36

May 16, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Russell

The letter is regarding raising 14 regiments and reinforcing Ft. Monroe. Marked "Private."

GLC00635

December 5, 1863

Davis, Robert S., 1832-?

Printed document

Title: [General orders No. 46 concerning the recruitment of non-white troops]

States "The recruitment of colored troops has become the settled purpose of the Government. It is therefore the duty of every officer and soldier to aid in carrying out that purpose, by every proper means, irrespective of personal predilection." Instructs recruitment to proceed "so that as few of the negros as possible shall become chargeable either upon the bounty of Government or the charities of the benevolent, and at the same time to do justice to those who shall enlist ... " Discusses the possibility of equal pay for white and non-white troops. Issued by Davis as Major and Assistant…

GLC00698

January 23, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Pres. of the Convention of New Hampshire

Washington pleads for the troops allotted to the state of New Hampshire and argues that "nothing but their [i.e., British] ignorance of our number protects us." The second leaf is not conjugate.

GLC00639.28

September 14, 1862

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Letter signed

Title: to T. B. Roy

Will obey orders he has just received regarding surveillance. Is scouting enemy pickets and estimates enemy troop strength. Describes Union recruitment meeting and wonders what to do about disloyal citizens. Roy was Hardee's Assistant Adjutant General. Docket contains Hardee's autograph endorsement signed. Docket states the letter was forwarded to Braxton Bragg, and contains the signature of George G. Garner, Bragg's Assistant Adjutant General.

GLC00650

February 25, 1862

Lovell, Mansfield, 1822-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Overton Moore

Requesting ten thousand men "volunteer and militia...ready for defense at short notice" to protect New Orleans. New Orleans fell two months later. Letter written on printed stationery of "Head Quarters Dept. No. 1."

GLC01061

30 June 1781

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Broadside

Title: Resolutions [raising 2700 militia for General Washington]

Signed on p. 1 by Avery as Secretary. Docketed "Ipswich" on left margin of p.1

GLC00906

6 May 1775

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for Brigadier General Joseph Spencer]

Signed by Ellsworth as a member of the Connecticut Pay-table Committee. Co-signed with fellow members William Pitkin, Thomas Seymour, and Ezekiel Williams. To John Laurence, the Treasurer of Connecticut. Receipt is to pay Brigadier General Joseph Spencer 150 pounds, as he is paymaster of the First Company of the Second Regiment that is to be raised in Connecticut. Countersigned by Spencer on verso that he received the money. Marked that it was audited 13 May 1776.

GLC00875

10 March 1762

Hardy, Josiah, 1822-1900

Document signed

Title: An act to Compleat the New Jersey Regiment to Six Hundred and Sixty Six effective volunteers, Officers included.

Document aims to raise additional men for the French & Indian War, with inducements including pardons. Details provisions for recruiting minors, slaves, and Indians. Additionally, allows Quakers to affirm, rather than swear, an oath. Signed by Hardy as British colonial governor, countersigned by R. H. Morris and Samuel Nevill. Pages numbered at top by author, eighteenth page docketed March 8, 1762 on verso by R. Smith, Clerk.

GLC00903

December 24, 1776

Ward, Henry, 1732-1797

Document signed

Title: [Rhode Island laws]

Signed by Ward as Rhode Island Secretary of State. Printed set of laws passed by the legislature and Nicholas Cooke, Governor of Rhode Island. Second page lists members of the legislature. Each page lists resolutions and laws and each paragraph has a quick summary in a column next to it. Most of the laws and resolutions deal with military issues of the Revolution. Some examples of laws include: appointment of a council of war, regulation of prices of goods, and the raising of three regiments. Most provide for military details, the commissions of officers, and money payments. Document is bound…

GLC00996

April 1862

Wood, Sterling Alexander Martin, 1823-1891

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Special requisition for bounty money]

Special requisition for bounty money for the one hundred and twenty six recruits. Lists names of soldiers of the 32nd Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. Created by Colonel M. P. Laury and approved by Confederate Brigadier General Sterling A. M. Wood.

GLC00807