February 22, 1862

Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Polk, Confederate Major General Commanding, writes to Union General Grant requesting that families of officers captured at Fort Donelson, including General Simon Buckner be allowed to visit. Mentions that the Confederate forces allowed the families of Union officers to visit after the Battle of Belmont.

GLC03690

1863

Manuscript document

Title: [An Act of the Confederate legislature regarding the Confederate Navy]

Proposes a bill to be entitled, "An Act for the establishment & Equalization of the grades of Officers of the Navy, and for other purposes." Includes a three page section titled Explanatory Notes.

GLC03691

29 October 1863

Maury, William Lewis, 1813-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Matthew Fontaine Maury

Both pages have had portions of the name of the writer and recipient cut-out. Pertains to docking, capture of one ship & burning of another [names cut]. Year is inferred.

GLC03692

3 May 1865

Hunter, William W., fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: [Parole permitting William L. Maury to return home]

Signed by Hunter, a captain in the U.S. Army.

GLC03693.01

25 May 1865

Scoville, C.E., fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: [Certifying oath of allegiance taken by William L. Maury]

GLC03693.02

1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Asa Smith, K company, 16th regiment, Massachusetts, infantry] [decimalized]

The Asa D. Smith collection of Civil War correspondence includes letters written to his family in Massachusetts. Smith writes most of his letters from Camp Hamilton in Hampton, Virginia, with a few from Suffolk, Virginia as the regiment moves into battle in June of 1862. His letters describe camp life and second-hand stories of fighting around the Newport News, Virginia area. Smith himself does not enter battle until June 18, 1862, ten days after the last letter in the collection. His letters do not describe particular battles, but he does include details of smaller guerrilla skirmishes (#2,…

GLC03696

1839-1844

Jones, William, fl. 1823-1860

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Plantation Book]

Plantation account book of William Jones, the owner of a cotton plantation in the vicinity of Jonesville, Liberty County, Georgia, near Savannah. Also mentions planting rice, but cotton appears to be the main staple of the plantation. Gives a nearly day-by-day account of the operation of his plantation. The book was kept as a record of planting, harvests, weather, preparation of ground, allocation of slave labor, crop yields, prices realized, and other agricultural matters. Provides extremely little on Jones's personal life. No systematic listing of slaves on the plantation is provided, but…

GLC03703

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

22 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Printed document signed

Title: [General Orders No. 143 regarding the organization of African American troops]

Establishes a bureau for organizing and recruiting African American troops. Issued by Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General based upon the orders of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Excerpts include: "III. Boards will be convened at such posts as may be decided upon by the War Department to examine applicants for commissions to command colored troops, who, on application to the Adjutant General, may receive authority to present themselves to the board for examination. IV. No persons shall be allowed to recruit for colored troops except specially authorized by the War Department; and no…

GLC03721.01

26 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General Order #147 re: reversing dismissal, remitting death sentence of Private

Reversing a decision against Lt. John C. Walsh, 28th Reg. NY Vols.

GLC03721.02

25 June 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General orders no. 190

Order stating that "All men enlisting in the Regular Army for five years' service...shall receive a premium, advance pay, and bounty, of $402."

GLC03721.03

25 June 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General orders, no. 191

An order regarding the recruitment, enlistment , pay, and service of veteran volunteers.

GLC03721.04

28 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General Orders no.152

Appointing R. M. Scott as secretary to General in chief.

GLC03721.05

5 December 1864

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Barnes

Addressed to the Surgeon General and marked as "Confidential Circular" at top. Instructs that the Secretary of War [Edwin M. Stanton] directs that all supplies for General William T. Sherman's army be sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina immediately.

GLC03749

12 July 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Asking for Howard's assistance in his pardon application. "I write this truly trusting the war has not changed your feelings towards me personally..."

GLC03722.01

22 August 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Lee reponds to Howard's letter (not present) of 26 July 1865 in which Howard declined to take an interest in his pardon application. He describes his motives in fighting for the Confederacy and refers to the South's failure.

GLC03722.02

26 June 1863

Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Disagreement over whether the replacement for a deceased officer in a Georgia regiment is to be elected or chosen by the President. Brown, who often believed Jefferson Davis exercised too much power, believed that the officer should be elected, however Seddon writes that Confederate law states he will be chosen by the President. Written on Confederate States of America War Department stationary.

GLC03723

19 April 1861

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Alexander H. Stephens as agent to treat with Va. (c/s Toombs)

Countersigned by Robert Toombs. Stephens was to negotiate Virginia's joining the Confederacy.

GLC03724

1875

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Book signed

Title: Memoranda During the War [presentation copy to J.Q.A. Ward]

Inscribed on a printed "Remembrance Copy" notice. To Ward from "his friend the Author."

GLC03737

1864

Manuscript

Title: [Pro-Lincoln campaign speech by a Union army officer who commanded the 15th corps, 2nd division] [incomplete]

Reminds the soldiers of the necessity of the Civil War and why they are fighting, " ... the suppression of the Rebellion and the preservation of American Liberty." Urges the soldiers to vote for the Union ticket and influence their friends and family to do the same. "Upon the result of this election depends the fate of this government. Defeat the Union Ticket and the Union goes to atoms. Elect it - a speedy peace will follow and our Union will be saved and once more happy." Warns soldiers to be aware of traitors and conspirators. A fragment, lacking beginning and end. Paginated 6…

GLC03738

27 June 1864

Cochran, S.C., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William M. Stone

Cochran writes to Major Stone at Mobile, Alabama. Draws Stone's attention to the case of James L. Godbold, "who before the passage of the last Exemption Act applied for exemption from military service under the 20 negro law, & paid $500." Notes that Godbold has not received exemption, and deserves a refund of the $500 he paid. Requests Godbold's receipt, which was previously sent to Stone. Also mentions the "meat-law." Contains a Confederate stamp.

GLC03740

28-29 March 1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Parents re: soldier's letter recounting details of Sherman's march

Unsigned letter, describing Sherman's march from Savannah, through Georgia and the Carolinas from 1/29/1865.

GLC03741

1861-1862

Smith, William Wallace, fl. 1861-1862

Header Record

Title: to Asa Smith

Letters from William Smith to his brother Asa Smith. The Smith family appears to be from Newton, Massachusetts. See GLC03681.01-.03 for letters by Asa Smith to his mother on the battle between the USS "Monitor" and the CSS "Merrimac."

GLC03742

5 April 1865

Header Record

Title: Letter and printed document related to the fall of Richmond during the Civil War [Decimalized .01-.02]

See descriptions in GLC03744.01-02

GLC03744

31 December 1863

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John S. Thrasher

Accepts Thrasher's offer to telegraph him relevant news items and send him a Richmond newspaper daily. Expresses his desire that the state authorities would help find army deserters and "get them back." Also discusses military movements.

GLC03745