March 9, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Richard Sprigg Canby

Marked "(Cipher)" at top. In this telegram, Grant criticizes Canby's request for men and material to build 70 miles of railroad, and orders him to "Take Mobile and hold it." He writes, "I expected your movements to have been cooperative with Shermans last. This has now entirely failed. I wrote to you long ago urging you to push forward promptly and to live upon the country and destroy railroads, Machine shops and not to build them." Advises him to take a position where he can be supplied by water and states that "By this means alone you can occupy positions from which the enemy roads in the…

GLC01555

12 November 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Writes to General George Washington that he would like a copy of the "general system of signals" Washington is producing when it is finished. Discusses placement of regiments and guards, including the Invalid Regiment, for the coming winter. Comments briefly on military stores (such as the amount of rachets on hand) and then recounts that General [Alexander] MacDougall's troops in Connecticut are displeased because they will be losing a guard after inspections, and Knox suggests that permitting them to continue having a guard would "probably induce a continuance of favor." Asks for…

GLC02437.01709

17 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington [incomplete]

Writes that he has received General Washington's letter respecting a sleigh, and discusses the possibilities for constructing that sleigh, which will "be put in train immediately and finished with all possible expedition." Is concerned that the painting of the sleigh will take the most time. Relates the ways builders might construct it to limit the jostling and bumpiness felt while riding on a rough road, and also types of curtains they might use to limit the wind's effects.

GLC02437.01748

7 July 1862

Asboth, Alexander Sandor, 1811-1868

Letter signed

Title: to Charles S. Hamilton

Inquires "whether the new road, called the Prince road running from Corinth across the Jacinto road is in a practicable condition for the Transportation of Trains." Discusses the position of his cavalry companies. Believes "My Company is ready," but worries about "my right flank, in the rear of Rienzi as a weak point." One bust engraving of Asboth included as collateral.

GLC02458.01

October 15, 1861

Hampton, Wade, III, 1818-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard

Hampton acknowledges previous correspondence from General Beauregard, commander of a corps in the [Confederate] Army of the Potomac. Regarding fords on the Occuquan River, states "I should prefer to make a thorough personal examination of Bland's ford, with the roads leading to, & from it, before expressing my definitive conclusion as to the best position on the river. I venture however to make one suggestion ... unless the fords of Wolf Run & Davis are guarded, if my command is withdrawn from Bacon Race Church, there will be an unobstructed road to Brentsville & Bristol. I will…

GLC02459.11

22 June 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph document signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Discusses various troop movements in Mississippi. States "General Van Dorn orders Breckinridges Corps and Six Thousand men from my Command forward to Vicksburg. General Villipigue telegraphs that his command is independent. He has all my armed troops, and calls on me to defend the Memphis and Tenn Rail Road route!" It is reported that "Holly Springs is reoccupied by the Enemy and that General Sherman has twenty five thousand men at Grand Junction." Verso states that the letter was telegramed to General Bragg. For the next year Vicksburg would be a heavily contested city.

GLC02460.13

circa 1791

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimate]

Estimates concerning a canal, regarding its measurements. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.09981

10 June 1785

Ronald, William, fl. 1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Patrick Henry

Seeks instructions from the governor of Virginia on how to attend to the upcoming sale of public lands. Comments on the financial matters pertaining to the sale and requests money for surveying and marking boundaries. Also wishes to be informed of the commands given by the governor to "the Commissioners appointed to the canal business." Discusses a plan orchestrated by Colonel Carrington to have a Mr. Andrews from Williamsburg "lay off" some valuable lots. Inquires about plans for payments. A clipping from another letter also discussing the land sale accompanies this letter. Clipping…

GLC02450.16

January 5, 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Washington complains of applications, letters of compliment, and enquiries which occupy his time and deprive him of exercise. He plans to hire someone to deal with the drudgery of this troublesome correspondence. Assures Knox that his letters are valued, as Washington enjoys corresponding with those he loves. Discusses the extended navigation of United States rivers, hoping that the legislatures will agree. Proposes to employ adventurers to first navigate the rivers, and later to impose tolls as river traffic increases, noting that the enterprise will not begin at the expense of the public.…

GLC02437.09406

18 June 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his appointment (on March 8, 1785) to the post of Secretary at War. Encloses a certificate of service for Major Sergeant (not included). Hopes to receive limestone for use in construction. Discusses the Virginia Assembly's appropriation of shares intended for him (Washington) in navigation of the Potomac and James Rivers. Referring to Knox's new position as Secretary at War, mentions the Western Territory, Great Britain, and military posts near Detroit. Suggests Fort Pitt or Fort McIntosh as posts of deposits from which other forts may draw supplies. Discusses…

GLC02437.09407

1807

Sketch

Title: [Plan]

Drawn plan for a canal to be built along the Merrimack River. Includes the placement of various buildings along side. Noted as the property of S. Blodget. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.09923

6 October 1788

Irvine, William, 1741-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Navigation of Pennsylvania Rivers] [Incomplete]

Irvine, a member of the Continental Congress and former Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War, writes to an unknown recipient. Refers to an enclosed sketch of the Allegheny River (not included with this document). Discusses navigation of the Allegheny, Susquehanna, and Tioga Rivers in Pennsylvania. Addresses possibilities for navigating French Creek and (Conewango?) Creek. Only the last page of this document survives.

GLC02497.08

3 May 1803

Cleaveland, Moses, 1754-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McClellan

Discusses the business and legislative needs of Norwich & Woodstock Turnpike Company, which has "persons willing to trade the Shares of the Road from our Turnpike Road to the Massachusetts Line." Cleaveland was the company president. Address identifies the recipient as Major John McClallan of Woodstock. He is probably John McClellan of Woodstock, Connecticut, son of General Samuel McClellan.

GLC02499.04

25 May 1785

Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Fitzgerald

Lee, a United States diplomat, discusses financial matters with Fitzgerald, George Washington's former aide-de-camp. Requests information regarding money he invested for his brother, Richard Henry Lee, in the Potomac Canal project.

GLC02504.26

23 September 1734

Belcher, Jonathan, 1682-1757

Letter signed

Title: to Richard Waldron

A personal letter from the Royal Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Has received his letter. Hopes to go to Derry. In spite of the bad road, plans to go to Haverhill on Friday and "shall order Gilman to meet me on the line with one good troop." Asks Waldron to let him know by return post if the he can let the warrant be printed "in next Gazette." Is sure that Waldron will give him the details in the news about "Gerrald."

GLC02468.02

15 December 1778

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son [possibly his son-in-law, James Duane]

Discusses a snow storm that may work to the American troops' advantage as the roads are impassable. Mentions a food shortage and the rising costs of provisions. Assures the recipient that his family, under Livingston's care, is healthy. Asks about the developments in Congress and whether any news has arrived from France, England, or Spain. Wonders whether the British will allow the war to continue for another year. Encloses a letter for recipient's brother Robert (not included) and wishes him a happy holiday.

GLC02537.01

11 May 1855

Bryan, Francis Theodore, 1823-1917

Letter signed

Title: to Mary Williams Shepard

Lieutenant Bryan, a topographical engineer, writes to his mother from the steamer Australia on the Missouri River. Relates visiting Washington, D. C., St. Louis, Missouri, and Indianapolis, among other locations. States that "the people all appear to be very busy in this part of the country ... They are the most active, busy, go-a-head people I ever saw." Comments on the land in Illinois and Indiana, and the rapid settlement of the west. Relates his plans to join Generals Churchill (possibly Sylvester Churchill) and Clarke to inspect Fort Riley, Kansas. Relates his plans for the rest of…

GLC08506

13 September 1864

Sale, John B., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Writes to Confederate General Bragg just after the fall of Atlanta about Union General William T. Sherman's and Confederate General John Bell Hood's 10 day armistice. "Sherman & Hood's 10 days Armistice is troubling the public mind hereabout." Mentions the absentee officers and soldiers and states that though some are sick and wounded, many are not. Asks what Bragg thinks Sherman's course will be. Informs that Sherman "has utterly demolished the Macon road out from Atlanta, ... showing thereby no intention of advancing further in that direction ... If Canby & Sherman could meet…

GLC08491

21 March 1862

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: The New-York Times. [Vol. 11, no. 3274 (March 21, 1862)]

Mostly contains news from various theatres of war. Most articles are short updates on skirmishes, but there are several larger ones. News from Washington: an inquiry into censorship of the press, report of the House Judiciary Committee, bridges destroyed by the rebels as they retreated from Manassas, increased railroad facilities between New York and Washington,and debates on the tax bill in House of Representatives. Other articles on fighting in Eastern Kentucky and Island Number Ten. Articles dealing with issues on the Southern coast, including Florida and New Bern, North Carolina. Includes…

GLC08726.17

30 December 1860

Cadwalader, George, ?-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Cadwalader, a Sacramento lawyer, discusses California politics with Sherman, a United State Senator from Ohio. Reports that the California presidential election will be held on the following day, with Lincoln holding a 134 count majority over Stephen A. Douglas. Referring to a different election, reports that James William Denver, a former United States Representative from California, "is the only person who can be elected." Discusses the postponement of an election in California in order to find a Republican associate for Colonel Edward Dickinson Baker, a United States Representative from…

GLC08647

circa 15 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Amendment to senate bill (s. 129) to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications, and to perform other labor connected with the defences of the country.

Provides corrections for Confederate Senate Bill 129. Establishes guidelines for the number of slaves that can be impressed from one owner. States that the Secretary of War is authorized to exempt certain areas from the act if "the labor of the slaves therein is indispensable to the production of grain" or if the slaves are "necessarily employed on works of internal improvement of importance to the common defence." Includes a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08418

15 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications and perform other labor connected with the defences of the country.

Senate Bill 129, passed by the Confederate Senate 13 December 1864. Ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives 15 December 1864. States that "The Congress of the Confederate States of American do enact, That all free male negroes, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be held liable to perform any labor or discharge any duties with the army ... such as working upon fortifications, producing and preparing materials of war, building and preparing roads and bridges ... " Includes guidelines for the impressment of slaves, placing the Secretary of War and the general…

GLC08419

6 May 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill (No. 49) to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to increase the efficiency of the army, by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities, approved February 17th, 1864, and to repeal an act for the enlistment of cooks in the army, approved April 21st, 1862.

States "it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to have employed one hundred thousand slaves, as provided in said act, if so many should be necessary, to work upon fortifications, or government works, for the production or preparation of material of war ... " Reports that slaves shall receive rations and clothing while employed, and that their owners will be compensated six dollars per month for each slave. States that cooks employed should not exceed one for every ten privates. Repeals an act approved 21 April 1862 for the enlistment of cooks in the army. States "By Mr. Orr" (…

GLC08420

January 15, 1839

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. F. Allen

Millard Fillmore mentions trying to obtain a report from the Topographical Bureau on the estimates for the repairs of the Black Rock harbor and includes the costs. Discusses a bill concerning this harbor. Advises that he has declined to be a candidate for state comptroller and says that the only office he would be interested in is Attorney General but there is too much competition for that post. Remarks that he is happy with his present station as a member of the House of Representatives from New York. Comments on some issues concerning the house.

GLC00162.02

January 1811

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph document signed

Title: Petition to Select and Common Council of the City of Philadelphia

[Title continued] re: repairs to be made to an alley commonly known as "Willlings Alley." Signed by Rush's son and 22 others, mostly on verso.

GLC00184.42