23 April 1862

Rosecrans, William S. (William Starke), 1819-1898

Letter

Title: to Nathaniel Prentiss Banks

General Rosecrans transmits a telegraph to Banks, commander the Department of the Shenandoah. Discussing military matters, mentions Generals John Charles Frémont, Irvin McDowell, John Joseph Abercrombie, and George McClellan, and Edwin McMasters Stanton, Secretary of War: "...possibly Genl Fremonts apprehensions of losing his promised troops induced the Secretary of War to let things go. Nothing is done, except McDowell has Fredericksburgh, People capitulated- Bridge was burned- on information of Abercrombies movements. I wish we could combine to strike a blow while in Richmond troops…

GLC02330.01

6 August 1808

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to Eli Williams, Thomas Moore, and Joseph Kerr

President Jefferson writes to the commissioners of the Cumberland Road about reexamining its route from Washington, Pennsylvania, to Wheeling, Pennsylvania. Explains that "the principal object of this road is a communication directly westwardly if however inconsiderable deflections from this course will benefit particular places and better accommodate travellers, these are circumstances to be taken into consideration." Written as president.

GLC02148

1851-1904

McKinney, Erastus R., fl. 1851-1904

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Erastus R. McKinney, I company, 11th regiment, Illinois, infantry] [decimalized]

Collection of 47 items from the papers of Erastus Root McKinney, who served as a private in the 11th Illinois Volunteers. The collection consists of 43 documents, 4 photographs, and a diary, much of which documents McKinney's service in the Civil War. There are 13 wardate letters from McKinney, along with 6 wardate letters from other soldiers. McKinney, a resident of Lacon, Illinois, enlisted as a corporal in the Illinois 11th Infantry in August 1861. His letters are most often directed to his father and his wife, Cynthia McKinney, and predominantly discuss military life, including the…

GLC02179.01

9 December 1863

Hamilton, P., fl. 1863

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to William Edwin Baldwin

Hamilton, aide-de-camp to General Baldwin, relates information pertaining to "roads leading from this point, Resaca, to the Etowah river, also to examine the conditions and crossing of different kinds over that stream." Lists distances between various adjacent points, and cites road conditions. Relates that there are four bridges and one ferry over the Etowah river between Kingston and Cartersville. Reports "The information concerning the roads, crossings, conditions & c was obtained from personal inspection. The names of the different roads, their distance, the streams & their…

GLC02395

1 July 1862

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Hayes writes as Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers to Scammon, his superior, as commander of the 1st Brigade. Reports that the water supply is inefficient after an inspection of the springs and wells in the area. The inspecting officer said, "The water has failed."

GLC02414.011

6 April 1862

Scammon, Eliakim Parker, 1816-1894

Manuscript letter

Title: to Rutherford B. Hayes

Marked "send in cypher" at bottom. Writes to Colonel Hayes of the 23rd Ohio to give instructions on their next move. Tells him to be ready to move by Wednesday. "Ammunition, Tents & 10 days rations for men & horses will be ready. Make no unusual bustle. The order was sent in Cypher. So mum." Reports that the brigade will move to Flat Top and Princeton, Virginia and will scout Logan, Monroe and Mercer Counties. Asks him if he can learn something about a road opening to Logan Court House. Year inferred from Scammon's rank as Colonel.

GLC02414.028

18 April 1862 - 21 April 1862

Crocker, John Simpson, 1825-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Crocker "Camp at Workwick [Warwick] Court House,"

Letter to his wife discussing camp life and military operations during the Peninsula campaign. Weather very hot, so he let the men break from drilling to rest. One thousand men constructing a military road. Relates a story of a rifle accidentally being fired in camp, but no one being injured. The two armies entrenched on opposite sides of Warwick Creek, occasionally skirmishing, with "tremendous cannonading" all around. "The siege progresses slowly but as fast as possible." Written at Warwick Courthouse. Crocker was taken prisoner two days later at Yorktown.

GLC02426.02

9 March 1846

Anthony, Philip, 1800-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ford, Heath & Company

Anthony discusses the payment of interest on bonds and business ventures with Ford, Heath, & Company, a British firm. Explaining the economic situation in Arkansas, Anthony states "Liberal loans were made upon long times payable in installments with interest. Revulsions in the monetary world & other misshaps, brought about general distress in the community- debtors who had more regard for their pecuniary safety then their moral responsibility sold their lands, or if incumbered, abandoned them and ran off their slaves & other effects to Texas, thus leaving large sums due the…

GLC02210.01

3 April 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that his son, William Gray Cobb, "thou by a wrong name" has accepted a military commission offered to him by President George Washington. Says he hopes to build a canal and believes that it may interest Knox as well. Asks Knox to send an engineer to survey the county for the project. They are competing with other canal companies in New England. Says, "what makes it a matter of greater consequence at this time, is, that the Company at Hartford have now, on the Files of our Genl Assembly, an Act, to empower them to clear the Falls on Connecticut River within the Commonwealth, which…

GLC02437.04897

19 December 1790

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb tells Secretary of War Knox that he has brought up the idea of a canal between the Charles River and the Connecticut River to several people since Knox left Boston, and the idea is growing. There needs to be a more concrete plan in order to attract investors. The "gentlemen" with whom Cobb has discussed this "are much divided in their opinions where the Canal ought to meet [the] Connecticut River." Cobb goes on to detail various plans for the canal. Cobb is convinced that this canal would be good for "the Commonwealth." Cobb says "we are still in the clouds respecting a War," and that…

GLC02437.04800

10 July 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb, a member of the Massachusetts legislature, writes that Knox may have seen "that small son of mine, whom you have kindly honor'd with a Commission." Says he has "an affection" for the "Lad" and that "the Females of my Family will never forgive you or me, if he is unfortunate." Mentions he has frequently discussed the prospects of a canal from the Connecticut River to Boston. Explains that the general consensus seems to be that the canal should be cut from Miller's River instead of the Chickibee. Says that Miller's River is above some of the waterfalls "that at present prevent the…

GLC02437.05057

3 December 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimate for a canal built between Barnstable and Buzzard's Bay]

Includes measurements and expenses for the construction of a canal between Barnstable Bay and Buzzard's Bay constructed by surveyor John Hills.

GLC02437.05252

18 June 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Cobb, Henry Jackson, John Coffin Jones and Benjamin Hichborn

Discusses a proposed plan for a canal that connects the Connecticut River to Boston. Informs the other men that he has already engaged the services of a mutual acquaintance, Captain John Hills, to act as surveyor and supervisor for the business. Writes, "If the canal can be executed for a moderate capital from Worcester or Rutland to Boston the value of the object will be great indeed whether it be altered with reference to proffit to the proprietors..."

GLC02437.05510

circa 16 July 1792

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Journal entry on the survey for a canal]

Describes his journey to surrounding land to connect a canal with the upper part of the Connecticut River. Signed in text at top of first page. Originally enclosed with GLC02437.05726. See GLC02437.05578 for a shorter version of this manuscript sent to Knox.

GLC02437.05542

9 April 1796

Brown, John, 1736-1803

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions that the people of Worcester, Providence, and the towns in between would like a canal to be built to service those areas. They have set plans in motion, and he has enclosed a subscription form (not present), hoping Knox will become one of the proprietors of the canal project. Refers to Knox's earlier investment in a project to build a canal from Boston through Worcester on the Connecticut River, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Given that research suggests the present canal to be more promising, asks if Knox, being "of a liberal Mind," would support it. Emphasizes that the…

GLC02437.06698

22 April 1796

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

Apologizes for not responding to a previous letter. Discusses the canal project Brown wrote to him about, declaring that canals are extremely useful, and while they are expensive to install, they benefit the community dramatically and will return a profit. Mentions his previous experience with canal projects, and comments on other canals in the region. Provides suggestions. Adds that at present his resources are tied up with his land investments in Maine, so he will not be able to invest.

GLC02437.06714

21 October 1796

Gleason, John, fl. 1796-1811

Manuscript letter

Title: [Report concerning Brigadier's Island]

Reports on conditions at Brigadier's Island, particularly regarding wood and lumber, livestock, and the possibility of building a canal. Mentions Mr. Zenas Lothrop and Captain [George] Ulmer.

GLC02437.06848

circa 1790-1820

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Estimate of expenses]

Lists the calculations for the expenses of creating a lock made of timber and the expenses for a canal.

GLC02437.08194

circa 1794-1795

Varlé, Peter Charles, fl. 1794-1809

Autograph document

Title: [Regarding a canal] [incomplete]

Updates Knox regarding the process of building a canal, complete with lock mechanisms.

GLC02437.08239

May 6, 1824

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McLean

Secretary of State Adams writes to McLean, Commissioner of the General Land Office, about the government responsibility for internal improvements. In response to McLean's request, he encloses a copy of an 1807 resolution he put before the senate on the topic (written on p. 3 in a secretarial hand) and indicates it can be "found in the Octavo Edition of the Journals of the Senate recently published Vol. 4, p. 155." Describes it as "the first Resolution ever offered in Congress, contemplating a general system of internal improvement." Discusses the congressional vote on it and the…

GLC01727

February 7, 1833

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gen. Charles Gratiot

Requests funds for improvements needed to make the St. Marks River more easily navigated.

GLC01462

10 March 1792

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel. [Vol. 16, no. 52 (March 10, 1792)]

Prints the federal act to establish the U.S. Post Office and post roads in the United States. Also includes local news, news from France and England, shipping news, and public notices.

GLC01508

March 9, 1794

Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses a Congressional bill passed for fortifying New York City. Believes that a civic project like this will bode the republican interest well. Mentions opponents of the bill and the heady task they have in defending their side. Questions the delay in building the fortifications since they are needed now and that in the time it takes for timber to be gathered and builders hired, the citizens will suffer. Writes that those against the bill were mostly from upstate and were led by General Schuyler and Mr. Van Rensselaer. Discusses the possible unconstitutionality of passing a bill…

GLC01659

December 23, 1885

Younger, Cole, 1844-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Truman

Younger writes to his aunt while in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota. Discusses the travels of Captain and Mrs. Barton. Relates news received while in prison including Harts Bonnys' marriage on December 25 to Alice Sumner, and Ciry Jones' fall from his delivery wagon. Insists Frank James does not fit the description of anyone in the party at the Northfield, Minnesota bank raid in 1876 any more than the "man in the moon." Discusses the Missouri River waterway convention, scheduled to meet in Kansas City on December 29. Those expected to attend include "all the leading men of state," among them…

GLC01694

March 9, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Augustus Hurlbut

Letter written near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant, commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General Hurlbut. Grant sends Colonel Dicky, commanding a cavalry division, to report to Hurlbut. Grant plans for Hurlbut's cavalry to cooperate with other cavalry forces stationed on the Yazoo River in Yazoo City and Liverpool Heights, Mississippi. He intends for Hurlbut's cavalry to destroy a bridge over the Tallahatchie River. Mentions the coordination of other forces, with the objective of destroying railroads and bridges surrounding Vicksburg. Also coordinates troops in…

GLC01553