January 15, 1866

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Letter draft written in prison by the former commander the CSS "Alabama" to the President defending himself against all charges. Discusses the surrender agreement at Greensboro, the definition of treason, the United States Constitution, and his unlawful imprisonment. "The commerce of half a world was at my mercy, and the passions of men North and South, were tossed into a whirl wind by the current events of the most bloody and terrific war the human race had ever seen." Extensive corrections throughout. President Johnson in May 1866 directed that Semmes, while unpardoned, could not hold…

GLC05590

2 January 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Informs Greene of the size of a British expeditionary force of 1600 men under the command of traitor Benedict Arnold. Also mentions conflicting reports of the battle at Blackstock Plantation in South Carolina between Continental General Thomas Sumter and British Colonel Banastre Tarleton, 20 November 1780. He states, "The printers on both sides make it a victory." Wishes him a happy New Year. Postscript in Washington's hand comments that he heard word that Mrs. Greene and the children were well.

GLC07675

20 October 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Broadside

Title: [Proclamation to officers and soldiers of the Continental Army]

Full title as follows, "A Proclamation to the Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army who have the real Interest of their Country at Heart, and who are determined to be no longer the Tools and Dupes of Congress, or of France." An appeal to American soldiers to join the British Army and advance the cause of "Union with Britain, and true American Liberty." "Friends, fellow soldiers, and citizens, arouse, and judge for yourselves - reflect on what you have lost - consider to what you are reduced, and by your courage repel the ruin the still threatens you." With various monetary…

GLC07701

May 7, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William to his brother Major General Henry Knox. Says he will not ship anything with the capital he has accumulated until the peace is complete. Says his business accounts were messy, but are now settled. Says he wrote to Lucy that he had no news of the Fluckers. Says the recent changes in the British Ministry probably been "influenced by the honest representations of Lord Cornwallis relative to the impracticability of reducing America, which rendered that Gentleman not so welcome an informant to the late Ministry as his Brother Passenger General Arnold, who from encouraging…

GLC02437.01412

31 May 1800

Columbian Centinel (Boston, Mass.), 1740-1840

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel. [Vol. 33 no. 26 (May 31, 1800)]

Four acts, pardon of 3 men accused of treason

GLC08829

October 17, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Discusses the war in Charlotte and Salisbury, North Carolina, and Benedict Arnold's treasonous act. Mentions Colonel Sumter, Colonel Tarleton, and General Gates.

GLC00099.050

February 5, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: military news from the South, prisoner exchanges

The letter mentions: military news, Benedict Arnold, Lord Cornwallis, General Leslie, Braddock Taylor, Harry Pendleton, Camden, N.J., and prisoner exchanges.

GLC00099.059

March 19, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses Virginia and the war, conduct of forces, movements of the British, diplomatic questions, Madison's health, Arnold, and Lafayette's arrival at Yorktown. Mentions: Lord Cornwallis, Colonel Harrison, Colonel Williams, General Gregory (traitor), Portsmouth, VA, Hampton Neck, VA, York Town, VA, Count D'Estaing, the possible Saratoga ship, Annapolis, MD, York, VA, the Marquis de Lafayette, Benedict Arnold, and military rumors.

GLC00099.061

29 October 1782

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph manuscript

Title: In the Court of Appeals... The Case of the Prisoners [Caton v. Commonwealth]

Important manuscript, entirely in the hand of Edmund Pendleton, entitled "In the Court of Appeals, October 29, 1782 The Case of the Prisoners." Composed of 3 leaves (A1, A2, B1) completely covered with writing (r+v), and a fourth leaf (B2), with recto blank and verso with Madison's title: "In the court of Appeals | October 29. 1782 | Case of the Prisoners" (Pencil note there with arrow: "James Madison's hand".) Pendleton's lengthy summation of the case later entitled Caton v. Commonwealth. This case, brought by prisoners convicted of treason attempting to overturn the death sentence…

GLC00099.101

November 8, 1782

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: sending Caton Ms., evacuation of Charleston

The letter discusses the evacuation of Charleston and British troop movements, legislature, transmission of Caton v. Commonwealth transcript, Court of appeals, constitution, and powers of legislature.

GLC00099.102

December 9, 1782

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the pardon of the convicted prisoners in Caton v. Commonwealth treason case, war news from Europe, and Rhode Island's refusal to agree that privateer prizes and war booty should be held for the benefit of the United Colonies.

GLC00099.104

February 24, 1865 - February 27, 1865

Ord, Edward Ortho Cresap, 1818-1883

Header Record

Title: Collection record for compatibility. [decimalized]

GLC00042

February 24, 1865

Ord, Edward Ortho Cresap, 1818-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Longstreet

Requests a meeting to discuss the disposition of noncombatant traitors held captive by both forces.

GLC00042.01

May 2, 1864

Pearce, Eben, fl. 1861-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

He writes from the Provost Marshal's Office in Memphis, Tennessee. He discusses his plans for after the war, and also describes how one oath-taker was hanged for treason.

GLC00066.048

February 19, 1807

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stedman

William Ellery writes that he received his last letter and had hoped Stedman would provide some political news but since Stedman is apathetic about politics, Ellery must read the newspapers. He asks who originated the suspension on Habeas Corpus and mentions that General James Wilkinson wants it suspended. He shares a recollection about Wilkinson at Valley Forge and his role in the Conway Cabal. Comments that he expected to have heard more about Aaron Burr's rebellion. Asks his opinion of Napoleon's blockade and states, "It seems to me that it will prevent our filling the Treasury as fast as…

GLC00298

January 19 1781

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: Printed letter signed re: invasion & defense of Virginia

Circular notice signed as Governor of Virginia concerning Benedict Arnold's invasion of Va. and defense measures. Addressed to Berkeley County. Mentions musters for militia and required supplies. Lined on verso.

GLC00448

1863

Howard, Frank Key, 1826-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Fourteen months in American Bastiles.

Published by Kelly, Hedian & Piet, Baltimore. Howard writes of his experience in prison. In the preface, Howard criticizes President Abraham Lincoln's policies during the Civil War, "The unlawful and oppressive acts of Mr. Lincoln ... " Francis Key Howard, the grandson of Francis Scott Key and a pro-Confederate Baltimore editor, was imprisoned for treason for fourteen months at Fort McHenry in September 1861. In all, 30 legislators from Maryland were seized for suspected disloyalty to the U.S. government. Most if not all were never given any criminal charge, and all were denied trial.

GLC00267.356

29 May 1795

Paterson, William, 1745-1806

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Bench notes on the Whiskey Rebellion trial, United State v. John Barnet]

Supreme Court Justice Paterson's notes prepared while sitting as a judge of U.S. Circuit Court. Paterson's notes contain a detailed record of the rebellion and a discussion of the legal definition of treason, which this case helped to shape. Barnett was among several rebels tried for treason for participating in the Whiskey Rebellion. He was acquitted.

GLC01114

25 September 1779- June 1781

Manuscript

Title: [Orderly and account book for Stratford, Connecticut]

Includes orders for the regiment, patrols, inspections, curfews, seizures of Tories, safe conduct passes and a confession. Also contains accounts for provisions and expenses for 1779-1780. Includes an order issued by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull stating "I am informed that there are many inimical Persons carrying on Evil Traitorous, and Dangerous, Practices against the United States and this Especially enticing Persons to go to the Enemy to enter into their services, assisting them, to go to Long Island, and by transporting Provision to New York and L. Island, for the support of…

GLC01835

December 10, 1832

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Broadside

Title: Proclamation by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States.

Proclamation attacks the South Carolina Convention that passed the nullification ordinance. Denounces nullification as treason and rebellion, and warns the people of South Carolina to obey the laws. Jackson declares that "the power to annul a law of the United States, assume [sic] by one State, INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTENCE OF THE UNION ... INCONSISTENT WITH EVERY PRINCIPLE ON WHICH IT WAS FOUNDED AND DESTRUCTIVE ... " Warns that South Carolina cannot stand alone and that seceding from the Union would be a detriment to the state.

GLC01863

21 March 1880

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Brinton McClellan

Mentions an article re the Battle of Antietam advertised in the 'North American Review.' Hunt discusses his conspiracy theory involving Stanton, McClellan and the Emancipation Proclamation. "…if you had lost Antietam you would have been shot [a hury?] - if a court could be packed for the purpose, and after a defeat such a court could have been got - After a victory, they were able to remove you and pack a court almost sufficient to shoot [a hurry?] Porter, and the spirit that prescripted it, is as then proceeding, in the Senate …as malignant an virulent as ever. You ran a terrible risk in…

GLC02382.068

February 5, 1857

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to T. S. Whitney

Wishes to know if he will be put on trial in Kansas, since the time set for his treason trial is approaching, and he must return if a trial takes place. Conviction of another free state man, despite little evidence. Hears there is a warrant for him, and worries if he returns he may be unfairly convicted on new charges, so he may not come regardless. Promises that if there is a trial and he does not attend, he will send money to help Whitney.

GLC02228

February 1, 1864

Gilmore, Joseph Albree, 1811-1867

Broadside

Title: [New Hampshire proclamation to meet the draft quota]

Proclamation promulgated by New Hampshire Governor Gilmore and New Hampshire Secretary of State Allen Tenny. Encourages the enlistment of New Hampshire citizens, who "will rise in their might and like an avalanche... sweep the last traces of armed treason into the Gulf of Mexico." Says the state needs 200,000 more troops to fill its quota by 10 March 1864. Gilmore was attempting to fulfill the terms of Lincoln's draft call of 1 February 1864 acting under the Congressional Conscription Act of 3 March 1863. Pasted to a cardboard backing.

GLC02125

May 26, 1863

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Villere

Beauregard, in charge of the defense of the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, replies to previous correspondence from his brother-in-law Villere. He writes "I am happy to hear of the confidence in me expressed every where, but I am always fearful not to justify it, for, besides my limited capacity, there are so many other causes of failure... I feel less confident in myself now than I did two years ago! For I Know that if I succeed I only increase the irritation of certain Persons against me- & if I fail, of their satisfaction & ire!" He offers his opinion on how the North should…

GLC02129

August 18, 1807

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar A. Rodney

Letter written as President to his Attorney General. Recipient from address leaf. Free franked. Written in Monticello. Discusses transmitting documents for trial of Aaron Burr.

GLC01483