April 28, 1864

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

General Beauregard, commander of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, gives his opinion to General Bragg (at this point in the war in Richmond, Virginia, and functioning as Confederate chief of staff) concerning the proper proportion of light artillery. He concurs with the recommendation of Confederate chief of ordnance Colonel Josiah Gorgas. Comments on the proportions in detail.

GLC00913

September 18, 1862

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Colburn

Penciled letter written during the Battle of Antietam on stationary marked "Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac." He states "We have just captured one three inch gun and its Caisson on the road from the Hagerstown Pike to Sharpstown. Col. Hunt had better send out for it. We cannot take it with us." Note written just after Custer, without orders, led a company of men against a weak point in the Confederate line, routed them, and took a number of their cannons. While this action would prove irrelevant to the larger battle, it helped to establish Custer's reputation for bold action, a trait he…

GLC00932

February-May 1864

Allen, George Walter, 1842-1912

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Diary aboard the U.S.S. Nantucket]

Allen was an officer on the USS "Nantucket" during and before the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The diary appears to have been written within days of the actions. Includes manuscript pencil and ink "Sketch of Charleston Harbor and fortifications," and with his drawings of Fort Sumter after its bombardment and the ironclad USS Nantucket. An interesting table at the end lists the damage made by every mortar shot at Fort Sumter from his ship.

GLC01006

21 March 1863

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 11, no. 16 (March 21, 1863)]

With French text. Prints a proclamation by Governor Moore calling for a General Assembly in Shreveport, the temporary capital of Louisiana. Articles describe female soldiers and war industries. Includes several ads, among which is one offering full amnesty for AWOL soldiers, another for gunboat artillery recruits, and one for a slave sale. Printed on blue/green floral wallpaper. After Baton Rouge fell in early 1863, Governor Moore moved the state capital to Opelousas. When that city was captured by Union troops, the capital was moved to Shreveport.

GLC00843

31 October 1780

Traille, Peter, fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account of supplies used by the Royal Artillery in Charleston, South Carolina in October 1780]

Lists ordnance, building supplies, and smithery, wagon-making, repair, and laboratory supplies, the service for which they were needed and the quantities expended.

GLC01450.155

December 1781

Wray, George, fl. 1772-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of artillery stores released to James Boyd]

Signed by Wray as Commissary to the Royal Artillery. Boyd is described as "Matross in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Indicates that the supplies lists were for "the New Work on Hadress Point."

GLC01450.156

1 June 1756

Bowen, Thomas, fl. 1756-1757

Printed document signed

Title: [Order to raise a company and inspect arms in in Rehoboth, Massachusetts]

Partially printed document ordering Captain Nathaniel Bliss to raise a company of soldiers and review the towns stock of munitions. He is also to make sure his men are equipped and the town Select Men informed if munitions are needed. An autograph signed note by Bliss on the verso attests to his compliance.

GLC01450.177

September 4, 1775

Little, Moses, 1724-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moses Little

Letter written during the Siege of Boston. Says he has nothing new to communicate. Says they have taken "the Plow'd Hill," and that there has been cannon fire and shelling. Says men in his regiment are seemingly more healthy than others, and he mentions deaths in the army, presumably in other units. Believes there are no enemy soldiers formed across from him. British have advanced up Rosebury Neck. Mentions news of friends and family.

GLC01450.181

20 February 1776

Delwan, Samuel, fl. 1776

Autograph document signed

Title: [Bond to pay Peter Boson for boarding cannon guards during the Ameircan Revolution]

Payment from the Provisional Congress to Boson for boarding six guards in Captain Selwan's company for give days while they guarded the canon at "near Kings Brig." The six guards are listed.

GLC01450.183.01

15 August 1778

Greene, William, 1731-1809

Document signed

Title: to William Compton

Written by Greene as Governor of Rhode Island to Compton as Town Sargent of Providence. Greene is informing Compton that he needs assistance in the movement of cannon requested by Major General John Sullivan on Rhode Island. Hopes he can arrange for "True friends to this Country" to assist in the effort of getting them aboard ships to send to Sullivan. Letter is badly faded at some points and some text loss has occurred. On verso, Compton has countersigned this request, stating he has warned the inhabitants of Providence. Asks for 18 shillings in fees. Greene then signs an order below…

GLC01450.192

17 October 1781

Manuscript

Title: [Summary of troops and equipment surrendered to General Horatio Gates by General John Burgoyne]

An unknown person compiled statistics relative to Burgoyne's surrender to Gates after the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. The scrap of paper is dated in October 1781. Breaks down nationality of the captured soldiers, number of sick and wounded, types and number of artillery and small arms captured, etc. Also written on the sheet is a receipt for Daniel Epir to receive payment from Samuel Emory. On verso, in what appears to be an unrelated to the summary of captured troops, is a partial list of payments due to soldiers. They could be troops under Gates's command.

GLC01450.197.01

15 May 1777

Drury, Jotham, 1741-1831

Document signed

Title: to

Verifies that Reuben Jager and William Crow enlisted in Drury's artillery company in colonel Crane's regiment. States that both men are "foreners from Irland." Both men were reported as foreigners in other official documents. Jager's name spelled Ruben Gager in this document.

GLC01450.204.01

5 January 1778

Ivers, Thomas, ?-1800

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for firearms]

States that he recieved fifteen pounds eleven schillings from Colonel Cogswell "for the use and damage of 58 Fire arms & Bayonetts." Written from the "War Office."

GLC01450.205.01

circa 1775-1783

Williams, Joseph, 1753-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Waterman

Williams requests that Captain Waterman purchase and send to him the goods listed, including canons, grape shot, and round shot. Would prefer if items came from the factory of John Brown. Letter signed twice by Williams.

GLC01450.208

March 26, 1782

Miller, Nathan, 1743-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Says he is sending "two pairs of small guns with carriages" which should be returned if they are not used.

GLC01450.220.01

February 23, 1782

Traille, Peter, fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for powder for the British Royal Artillery]

The powder was received from and the receipt sent to George Wray, Commissary to the Royal Artillery. The powder was for making blank cartridges for recruits.

GLC01450.221

April 14, 1767

Gage, Thomas, 1718-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bradstreet

Mentions soon needing a boat for the transportation of artillerymen. Discusses matters pertaining to Colonel Bradstreet's accounts and recruitment. Also mentions plan to "pull down the store houses in the Street; and to take a Deed of ground whereon Mr. Shelby's Storehouse is built."

GLC01450.258

October 11, 1777

Bloomfield, Joseph, 1753-1823

Letter signed

Title: to Elias Dayton

Letter written by Major Bloomfield to Colonel Dayton. Begins by saying this is the first time he has been able to write since he was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. Says he lost so much blood that he could not ride to Chester and had to cross the Delaware River at Marcus Hook to avoid being captured. Reports that his wound was not dressed until 52 hours after he received it and that it bled for 23 of those hours. Says wound became inflamed, which caused a violent fever that lasted two weeks. Says on October 2, 1777 he was forced to flee Dr. Otto's, where he was…

GLC01450.455

September 21, 1776

Williamson, Matthias, 1716-1807

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Livingston

Has been informed that captain Neil's company is lacking in artillerymen. Requests that the governor provide for more men, and enlist them for the duration of the war. Elizabeth was called Elizabethtown at the time.

GLC01450.521

1780

Little, William, fl. 1780-1786

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Little's account of refreshments delivered]

Records refreshments delivered to Lamb's (possibly Colonel John Lamb's) regiment of artillery, Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin's regiment of artificers, Livingston (possibly James Livingston's) regiment of infantry, a corps of sappers and miners, and General George Washington's guard. Lists the names of soldiers in different companies, and the amount of victuals delivered to each. Provisions listed include sugar, coffee, and other items.

GLC01450.806

January 16, 1759

Keppel, Augustus, Viscount, 1725-1786

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Knowles to lieutenant on a bomb vessel]

Countersigned by George Rogers. Appoints Knowles Lieutenant on the bomb vessel, the Furnace. Keppel was the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels.

GLC01450.548

April 27, 1792

Orr, Hugh, 1717-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amasa Davis

Letter written by Orr as an inventor and owner of a foundry to Davis as Quartermaster General of Boston. Says he is in possession of a cannon bore which belongs to the state and wants to return it. Claims it would be proper to give it to Davis. It weighs half a ton. Tries to downplay the cost of carting the bore, saying it is a fair price for the season.

GLC01450.708

June 18, 1813

Roby, Henry, fl. 1810-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abiel Wood

The top half of the first page records three diary-like entries for June 16-18, 1813. They discuss the weather, farming, and local naval activities in the War of 1812, including reports of "a heavy cannonading." The bottom half takes the form of a letter dated June 18, 1813. It discusses hauling a load of rocks, tending to the potatoes, and the town's reaction to the cannonading heard two days before. The townspeople called a meeting and discussed building and arming a battery. Notes that when "the true result of the firing is heard their fears will subside[.]" Also claims that "one half the…

GLC01450.711

circa 1788-1813

Goodwin, N., fl. 1811

Printed document signed

Title: [Document regarding Massachusetts militia]

Signed by Benjamin Warren, per orders of Brigadier General Nathaniel (Goodwin), who served as a General in the War of 1812. Contains the printed name of William Donnison, who served as Adjutant General and Inspector General of Massachusetts 1788-1813. Contains the handwritten name of [Benj?] Warren. States that the Governor ordered the Quarter Master General to supply artillery companies promptly. Discusses the importance of a well regulated militia. States "The Commander in Chief, has a full persuasion in his mind, that all the Officers will exert themselves during the present Season…

GLC01450.714

October 18, 1812

Hall, J W., fl. 1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Hall writes about finding work for $15 per month and staying with two professors of religion, possibly at Middlebury College. Asks to be sent clothes and several other things and seeks news, mostly regarding farming related activities. Comments on the dragoons and artillery passing through during the War of 1812. Notes that he "saw the Artillery and spoke with many of them they Looke some fatigued but all hearty & ruged." Continues the letter on October 20, 1812 and reports that staying with Mr. Hubbard was a presbyterian priest who had been "in Ogdensburg when the Cannonading took place…

GLC01450.719.01