26 August 1863

Broadside

Title: The Draft in Berks County

Extra from the "B. & S. Journal" -- the Berks and Schuylkill Journal. Broadside lists men drafted in the first Northern draft by town, with occupation, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Lists the names of men from 16 different towns. Mentions number of men enrolled in the draft and the number drafted above the names. Was previously folded.

GLC02036

23 April 1862

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Discusses Peninsular Campaign and Yorktown battle action. Also relates news of conscript law.

GLC02082.14

1862-1863

Bartlett, George O., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George O. Bartlett, B battery, 1st regiment, Rhode Island, light artillery] [Decimalized .01-.21]

Bartlett came from Rice City, Rhode Island, and saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. His spelling is poor but his writing is descriptive. The George O. Bartlett collection of Civil War correspondence contains letters and envelopes addressed primarily to his friend, Mr. Ira Andrews of Rice City, Rhode Island. Bartlett wrote most of his letters from Falmouth, Virginia and discusses fighting in the Fredericksburg Campaign (1862-1863) (.03, .04, .07, .13, .14). Of particular interest is the letter dated December 18, 1862 which vividly portrays his first foray into…

GLC02158

1861-1864

Various

Header Record

Title: Documents related to the Civil War draft and Eben Whittemore [Decimalized .01-.34]

This group of 34 documents, both printed and manuscript items, detail the draft apparatus on Cape Cod: printed lists of the number of eligible men, and the quota of such men required to enlist or be drafted from each of these towns. Some of the letters or documents concern the quotas, written be selectmen from the town, or are about an individual who has been exempted and his reasons. Included are long lists of volunteers.

GLC02175

15 June 1864

Broadside

Title: [Poster for quota meeting to procure volunteers for the draft in Ward Six of Lynn, Massachusetts]

Printed by Stevenson & Nichols at No. 22 & 24 Healey's Arcade. Calls "The Citizens of Ward Six who are Liable to a Draft" for a public meeting to get sufficient volunteers to avoid a draft. Meeting being called in anticipation of another call for volunteers from the president. Two small holes, one in the top right section and one on the middle left section Neither repaired.

GLC02388.01

16 July 1864

Broadside

Title: One More Rally! Ward 6 in Advance!

Printed by Stevenson & Nichols at Nos. 22 & 24 Healey's Arcade. Broadside announces a meeting scheduled at "Volunteer Hall" to hear the report of the Committee on organizing the Mutual Draft-Preventing Association. This was a pro-quota meeting to avoid a draft by getting volunteers. Says the business must be completed in 3 days and that those "who have not paid their Assessments be sure to come Prepared To Pay, and have this thing finished up." Had previously been folded in half. Small hole toward the top and a small piece missing from right side at the fold line.

GLC02388.02

31 August 1864

Pratt, William M., fl. 1864

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders no. 59 regarding the purchase of African Americans to serve in place of drafted persons]

Signed by Pratt, Aide-de-Camp (possibly to Brigadier General Innes Newton Palmer). Relates the story of John H. Irish, a recruiting agent, who attempted to bribe officers to allow him to cite previously enlisted men in order to satisfy recruiting quotas for Yates County, New York. States that Irish furthermore intended to sell the names to a recruiting agent in New Jersey, committing a double instance of fraud. Irish is portrayed as "a fair sample of a good portion of the Recruiting Agents who are now sent out from the Northern States, to purchase colored men to do the fighting for them to…

GLC02224.01

8 August 1863

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Henry Knox Craig]

Written from "Camp near Warrenton Junction, Virginia." Discusses supplies, reservists and conscription. "There is a notable difference in the manner in which supplies are now furnished from that practiced after the battle of Antietam, the drag seems not to be on now…No sign of immediate action. I suppose that, unless we are attacked, we will be quiet until the conscripts begin to fill up our ranks…it has been directed that the Artillery receive no recruits until the Infantry is filled up…The neglect I almost may say antipathy to the artillery passes my comprehension." Has requested three…

GLC02382.017

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

January 14, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Abraham Lincoln endorsement]

Lincoln endorsement written on the fourth page of an autograph letter signed of P. Golden from Bangor, Maine to John H. Rice of Washington dated 29 December 1864. Golden asks that a cousin John Murphy, a prisoner of war, be discharged. Golden explains that Murphy was forced into Confederate service and tried to escape but did not succeed. He had to rejoin under another name in the 42nd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, where he was taken prisoner. He is being held at Point Lookout in Maryland. Calls Murphy a "true Union man" and refers Rice to Vice President Hannibal Hamlin for further…

GLC01772

August 11, 1862

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Captain Brisbin writes to his wife following the Battle of Malvern Hill, which he describes as "the memorable occasion when General [George] McClellan changed his base of operations from the York to the James River." Refers to Captain Kantz (possibly August V. Kantz), Captain Gregg, and [Lieutenant Kermin]. Describes the stench of rotting corpses and witnessing the death of a severely wounded soldier. Recounts delivering his Company to safety during a mission by ordering them to take off their blue shirts, exposing grey shirts underneath, thus disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers.…

GLC01504.01

11 August 1862

Speed, James, 1812-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Hillhouse

Requesting a pamphlet copy of the New York State draft law. Docket states that a copy of the law was sent to Speed.

GLC02490.16

23 May 1775

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800

Letter signed

Title: to Jedediah Foster

Written by General Ward as commander-in-chief of the army outside Boston to Colonel Foster. Says the bearer of this, Mr. Wood, was lately at Worcester and learned that the selectmen of the town are "binding out" people that can be called friends of the government if they will not join the army. Says it is extraordinary and unjustifiable conduct if it is true. Hopes he will take Wood's information and investigate the situation, claiming "I doubt not you will consult the Safety of the Individuals as well as of the Community."

GLC02499.17

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

2 January 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document

Title: General Orders no. 1: Emancipation Proclamation

Army printing of the final version of the Emancipation Proclamation, three pages, accompanied by General Orders no. 7, 10, 22, 24, 30 and 35. This is the first six pages of a compilation of General Orders for 1863. Printed in 1864.

GLC08525

1863

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Pamphlet

Title: [Message regarding govermental liability for the value of slaves who escaped while impressed]

Confederate President Davis's statement, issued 21 April 1863, reports "Whether the liability of the Government shall be extended to such cases is a question to be determined, not by the Executive, but by Congress." Includes communications from various Confederate governmental officials discussing the necessity of impressment and governmental liability for escaped slaves. The earliest statement is dated 14 February 1863. This printing includes no publisher information and was possibly previously bound within a larger volume.

GLC08473

21 November 1862

Hershman, J.T., fl. 1862

Newspaper

Title: Camden confederate. [Vol. 2, no. 4 (November 21, 1862)]

Schedule of the South Carolina Railroad. Proclamation of Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens, including 10 resolutions ordering all "white residents" to be put under arms in a militia immediately and the draft of all men ages 18 to 45. Asked to be printed twice in the newspapers. Letter to the editor is glad that the patrol system has been kept up without compulsion. Description of the reception and burial of General J. B. Villepigue, his staff, and 10 privates in Camden. Also two short articles: one on the death of Lieutenant Edward P. Niles and another on the body of Lieutenant H. M.…

GLC08494

July to August 1863

Various

Header Record

Title: Items relating to Gettysburg troops sent to quell New York draft riots [Decimalized .01-.03]

Three official copies or extracts from Army Headquarters relating to the New York City draft riots.

GLC08523

3 October to 12 December 1863

Brennan, Matthew T., fl. 1822-1870

Document

Title: [Draft riot damage checks from the Broadway Bank, New York City]

Countersigned by Mayor George Opdyke, Clerk J.B. Young, and registered by County Book Keepers S.C. Lynes, Jr. and James Watson. Endorsed checks for riot damages ranging in amounts from $4.20 to $44.

GLC08563

February 1, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document

Title: [General Order No. 35 to draft 500,000 men]

Signed in print by President Lincoln. Orders the draft of 500,000 men to serve for three years or the duration of the war.

GLC08441.05

circa 1863

Broadside

Title: The Draft! Full List of the Drafted in Bordentown Township

Lists men drafted into the army from Bordentown Township, New Jersey. Says "Three clergymen, Rev. J. Biggio, Rev. O.H. Hazard, and R. Julian, were among the lucky ones." List is divided into two sections. One section has no heading and the other's title is "Per Centage." There are about 150 names printed on the sheet. Date inferred from the year of the first Northern draft.

GLC08441.02

January 11, 1862

Beers, Otis, fl. 1862

Document signed

Title: [Draft notice for Lemuel J. Beardsley for state militia]

Notification that Beardsley has "been Drafted as a Member of the Active Militia of this State." Says the law gives him five days "to make your excuse to the Selectmen," in accordance with a law passed 3 July 1861. Signed by selectmen Otis Beers, S.P. Curtis and D.B. Booth.

GLC08441.03

16 March 1864

Smith, James Youngs, 1809-1876

Document

Title: [Proclamation from the Governor of Rhode Island]

Signed in type by Rhode Island Governor Smith. Co-signed in type by Rhode Island Secretary of State John R. Bartlett. Proclamation says a further draft of 200,000 men has been ordered by the president. Hopes the quota can be filled by voluntary enlistment. Governor says the proclamation was put forth by the state to be "relieved of all apprehension of a draft, and pursue their avocations without anxiety." Image of the state seal of Rhode Island, which consists of an anchor with the word "hope" above it, is at the top. Was previously folded.

GLC08441.04

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

17 July 1942

George VI, King of the United Kingdom, 1895-1952

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Harry James Gardiner

Printed document. Convicted of an offense against the National Service Act.

GLC00173.11