7 August 1864

Chapman, George Henry, 1832-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John T. Sprague

Recommending Major Caleb Moore of the Eighth New York Cavalry for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Mounted on paper 29 x 20 cm.

GLC03475.02

10 February 1865

Devin, Thomas Casimer, 1822-1878

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to unknown

Recommending Captain John T. Rutherford for promotion. Cut from document, mounted on paper 29.5 x 20 cm.

GLC03475.03

January 23, 1864

Allen, Littleberry W., fl. 1864

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: A Brief sketch of the war with the U.S. and of Battles in which I have been engaged or which I visited before the Dead Were Buried.

Signed by Allen as a Confederate prisoner of war and dated Johnsons Island, Ohio January 23rd, 1864. Allen signs as a captain in the Independent Cavalry of Virginia. He writes in the preface, "It is very hastily and therefore very imperfectly written as it was done amid a Bedlam of confusion: But being profoundly impressed with the mighty Struggle and being confidently hopeful of its grand success, I the more cheerfully write for my children that in after Years they may enter upon and enjoy the labors & sufferings of their Fathers; as I used to do when I was a child, to sit and listen…

GLC03811

1862-1865

Allison, Eben, fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Eben Allison, A company, 15th regiment, Pennsylvania, cavalry] [Decimilized .001-.126]

Allison served in the 15th Pa. Cavalry, "Anderson's Cavalry." Allison's correspondence mentions Murfreesboro (Stones River), Chattanooga, second battle of Dalton (in Georgia against Confederate General Wheeler), Nashville, guerillas, the Presidential election of 1864, and Parson Brownlow. The collection also includes telegraphs, a rare broadside and a cardboard note to his father. Excellent battle and political content.

GLC03523.24

1864-1865

Woolston, Charles, fl. 1864-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Charles Woolston, 3rd regiment, Pennsylvania, cavalry] [Decimalized .01-.21]

Includes death certificate, description of Petersburg and Appomattox. Woolston died of typhoid shortly after Lee's surrender.

GLC03523.26

18 June 1778

Pulaski, Casimir, 1747-1779

Letter signed

Title: to Colonel Hoppé

Written by Brigadier General Pulaski, a Polish count, as commander of his independent cavalry brigade to a Colonel Hoppé as Quartermaster General in Easton, Pennsylvania. Pulaski was soliciting help for the creation of what would become the "Pulaski Legion." Asks Hoppé to "Render all the Services which will Lay in your Power to Mr. Couch Colonel of My Legion, if he should be in the Case to Desire some things of you."

GLC03568

01 April 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward D. Townsend re: reports for duty before being offered command of army

Written as Colonel in the 1st Cavalry. Lee was informally offered command of all US armies but refused in order to defend Virginia. He resigned on the 20th (that document is reproduced in Freeman's biography of Lee).

GLC03717

1863-1865

Widdifield, Charles T., fl. 1863-1865

Diary

Title: [Diaries of Charles T. Widdifield, K company, 12th regiment, Pennsylvania, cavalry]

Autograph manuscripts signed. The 1863 and 1865 diaries (approximately 150 and 122 pages, respectively) contain entries written under printed dates, while the 1864 diary (approximately 71 pages) is in a notebook with days and months written by author. All three are mostly written in pencil and signed by the author. Also included are four loose note sheets that originally were stuck within the diary pages from 1864. Widdifield's unit served in Western Virginia near Martinsburg, Winchester, and Charles Town. His unit did not fight at Gettysburg, having retreated from the Valley in June…

GLC03131.02

1847-1912

Wells, Hiram C., fl. 1825-1900

Manuscript

Title: [Collection of Hiram C. Wells]

The collection includes his 1863 diary, military papers and personal and legal papers (mostly pre and post-war). Gives good view of life in cavalry with skirmishes, scouts, etc. Regiment took part in siege of Knoxville. Wells was later captured, imprisoned at Andersonville, and on the Sultana when it exploded, subjects covered in manuscript written in 1880s (includes typed transcript). The diary is approximately 106 pages and spans over the year 1863.

GLC03131.15

December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph manuscript

Title: [draft account of cavalry operations of Army of Northern Virginia]

Draft account of cavalry operations sent to Robert E. Lee, detailing actions of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division during May through June 1864, from Grant's crossing of the Rapidan River through the death of General J.E.B. Stuart. Details movement of his forces, battles fought, and general events during the time period. Laments the death General Stuart. Also discusses Union African American troops, whom he accuses of committing "outrages."

GLC03917

1862-1863

Hannegan, James D., 1862-1863

Header Record

Title: [Diaries of James D. Hannegan] [decimalized]

Collection includes two diaries of James D. Hannegan, who enlisted in September 1861 in the 5th Ohio Cavalry.

GLC04129

January 18, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Ulysses S. Grant writes to Major General Henry W. Halleck in Washington, D.C. concerning Confederate General Pierre G. T. Beauregard's trip west to gather General John B. Hood's army in order to bring them against Union General William T. Sherman. Thinks that if this is true, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama will be reached easily. Does not believe that General George Henry Thomas will get there in time stating that he is "too ponderous in his preparations and equipments to move through a country rapidly enough to live off of it." Explains that he only wants to defend what they already have in…

GLC04357

7 November 1864

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

Letter signed

Title: to Oliver Edwards

Sheridan, commander of the Army of the Shenandoah, discusses troop movement with Colonel Edwards, in charge of troops at Winchester, Virginia. Relates that forces were ordered from New Creek to Moorefield, and from Cumberland to Wardensville (all in Virginia or West Virginia). Reports on other troop movement, including the gathering of a large cavalry force on the East side of Blue Ridge. Writes "Should you be attacked by Cavalry, you must whip it, if you can...as you turn line to Harpers Ferry..."

GLC04378

2 May 1863

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the authorities of Rome, Georgia

Forrest, commander of a cavalry brigade in the Army of Tennessee, writes from Headquarters (of an unspecified post), "twenty miles west of Garrison." Informs the authorities of Rome "There is a Federal Force of Fifteen Hundred cavalry marching on your place I am pursuing them prepare your selves to Repulse them- they have 2 Mountain Howitzers. I will be close on them I have kild 300 of thir men They are Runing for their lives."

GLC04940

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Colonel Williams, full length portrait seated. [maquettte] [salt print] [1861-1865 ca.]

Williams is seated facing left. He is wearing a dark coat and holds his gloves in his right hand. His left arm rests on a table beside him. The image has been touched up [painted] for rephotographing. Inscription on verso: "Col Williams 7th Pa Cav" and "Webster & Bro." Notation on recto: "1 Negative" and "4." From the Meserve Collection.

GLC05111.01.0589

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Unidentified cavalryman seated, full-length [tintype] [cased]

Possibly taken in the field (see dirt and debris on ground). The man wears a buttoned-up overcoat and knee boots. Cased. 1/4 plate.

GLC05111.01.0489

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: T.E. Kelby Co. K 17th Texas Rn Cavalry [ambrotype] with eye-patch [cased]

Title from note on back. Half-length seated pose. The man wears an eye patch over right eye, has civilian dress and carries his gloves in his right pocket. The ambrotype has an unusual mat made of perforated bright green paper. A tag reads "11.2.A (HRS Conners)" Cased. 1/6 plate

GLC05111.01.0490

1864-1865 ca.

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Six Federal cavalry officers, a civilian and a child posed in front of tent, Petersburg. [1864-1865 ca.]

Five officers are seated in front of a tent, the center one has his arm around a small boy at his side. A sixth man in civilian clothes stands behind the chairs. Inscription on verso: "Seige of Petersburg" and "Gardner." Numeric notation on verso: "662."

GLC05111.01.0521

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Large group of Federal cavalry troopers sitting and standing. [1861-1865 ca.] [large imperfection]

Forty-six cavalry troopers are posed in three lines, none of the men carry any weapons. Behind them on the right are sevearl tall trees that are missing all but their top branches. There is a large flaw just above the men on the left side of the image, a large brown patch surrounding a white circle. Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on verso: "XI-II"; "476"; and "476."

GLC05111.01.0564

February 1864

Photograph

Title: Head Quarters Lowell's Cavalry

The image shows a single horse in the foreground with Sibley tents behind, and a cluster of buildings on top of a hill, which includes the headquarters for Colonel C.R. Lowell's cavalry. Inscription on verso: "Hd. Qrs. Lowell's Cavalry Brigade, Vienna Va. Feb. 1864 (The large house in the centre is Col. C.R. Lowell's hd. qrs.)"

GLC05111.01.1019

1864 March 8

Photograph signed

Title: [Mack J. Leaming]

Leaming is depicted in uniform. An inscription describes Leaming as 1st Lieutenant, Adjutant of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. Inscribed to Eva. E. Goulet of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

GLC05080.02

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: [Camp Stoneman, Giesboro Point, MD, near Washington D.C.]

A print of a photograph of a serious of long, thin buildings arranged in a row. The cavalry depots were necessary to house and train the mounts for the Union armies. A few tents and clothes drying on a clothes line can be seen in the foreground in front of the first row of stables. Graphite inscriptions on verso: "defenses of Wash" and "XXX 17."

GLC05111.01.0133

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Unidentified group of cavalrymen, one officer & thirteen others, holding sabres.

A print of a photograph of Union cavalrymen and their officer. None of the troopers wear any discernible insignia. Officer is at center-left sitting on the only chair present. His jacket displays The elbow of a fourteenth man is visible on the left hand side of the photograph. The trooper sitting on the far left wears the regulation trousers with a thin blue stripe running down the outer seam.

GLC05111.01.0150

June 1865

Smith, William Morris, fl. 1865

Photograph

Title: Washington, District of Columbia (vicinity). Officers of 5th U.S. Cavalry

A print of a photograph of five officers of the Fifth Calvary regiment seated in front of an open tent. A civilian man in stove pipe hat sits behind the officers, just inside the tent. Published in Photographic History of the Civil War II: 223 (Second section of book).

GLC05111.01.0175

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: [Group of eight Union cavalry officers]

A print of a photograph of Union cavalry officers. Developed from a broken plate, giving it a distinct severed look. Three stand behind five officers sitting. Insignia on caps indicate cavalry branch but the unit number is indistinguishable. Verso notation: "XXX" "208" "F.H. Meserve Collection"

GLC05111.01.0182