circa 1775-1776

Richardson, Samuel, 1748-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Poem honoring Colonel Moses Parker of Chelmsford]

Poem in 22 stanzas honoring Colonel Moses Parker, killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775. First stanza says: "Come all who have skill and Lament / and let your hearts and eyes have vent / While you to memory do call / The Valient Colonel Parkers fall." Goes on to speak of Parker as a hero because of his courage and valiant actions. Says he fought in the French and Indian War before dying in the American Revolution after being wounded in the thigh. Hopes Parker will be a role model for other soldiers.

GLC01450.050

April 27, 1782

Seymour, Thomas, 1735-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richardson Sands

Seymour asks if it is possible for Master Hany to visit during May or June. Indicates that it is especially important because of the losses they have experienced in Groton, Connecticut since he has been gone. Explains that because of these losses, he cannot take on the expense of Hany's trip but hopes Sands can arrange something. He gives his love to Mrs. Sands and friends. On September 6, 1781, British forces, commanded by Benedict Arnold, captured Fort Griswold in Groton and massacred 88 of the 165 defenders stationed there.

GLC01450.059

March 14, 1783

Metcalf, John, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Metcalf

Letter written by John Metcalf, a captured Continental soldier on the prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, to his father in Dedham, Massachusetts. Says he enjoys "tollerable good health" and was assisted by a Dr. Bacon of Salem, Massachusetts. Tells his father he has been there a month and sees no prospect for a quick release. Says conditions on the ship are "horrid beyond Description." During the first part of the winter he claimed 10, 15, or 20 prisoners died a day. Says health is better on the ship since there are fewer people on board.

GLC01412.01

May 29, 1775

Green, Robert, fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Letter cosigned by Mary Green. Says he has been in bad health for the past five weeks. He hopes to get better by the grace of God. Says their sister has a new daughter three months old. References a letter that came from several brothers and sisters. He hopes he will remember him to them all. Goes into his belief in faith and God. Says the country "Is In a uproar" and that "the peapel" have been taken "the kings forts" of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Says the Revolutionaries have taken the shipping in the "Lake" - probably Champlain. Says they had a small fight with the regulars. The…

GLC01412.31

February 1, 1780

Ceary, Owen, ?-1780

Document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance for enlisting Maryland soldier]

Partly printed document signed. Ceary enlists in the "7th Maryland Regiment, of Foot Commande by Col. John Gunby for three years. Also signs below in receipt of a $450 bounty. Printed part of document states that a $200 bounty should be paid, but this is crossed out, and $450 written over it. Printed document also says the bounty comes from Congress, but writing says it also comes from Maryland. Verso states that Ceary was paid and is signed by Benjamin Johnson, a lieutenant colonel. A pencil note indicates he was killed at the Battle of Camden.

GLC01412.50

30 October 1676

Winslow, Josiah, 1628-1680

Document signed

Title: [Estate inventory for William Foard, Sr]

Also signed by Marke Eames, Nathaniel Winslow, Samuel Sprague, and Secretary of the Colony Nathaniel Morton. Notes that Foard's widow, had appeared before him and testified that this is a true inventory, the lands and house where she dwells excepted. Signed as Governor of the New Plymouth Colony.

GLC01412.54

18 May 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement on letter concerning the remains of Captain W. G. Hewins]

Lincoln note written on a letter by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew, dated 13 May 1863 from Boston. The letter is addressed to "All Officers in Command, of the United States, or of Volunteers," asking that Mr. Gibbs, who is bringing home the remains of Captain W. G. Hewins, receive all proper courtesies while on his journey. Lincoln's signed note on the second page reads, "Secretary of War please see Mr. Gibbs, with this letter from Gov. Andrew." Also with an autograph note signed by Major General Joseph Hooker and dated 21 May 1863, to Colonel Ingalls requesting that he…

GLC01195

July 7, 1882

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel John E. Tourtelotte

Sherman writes to his former aide-de-camp about land ownership and taxes. He advises Tourtelotte to sell his land in Minnesota. Informs that he and his family have decided to settle down in St. Louis, Missouri. Talks of his retirement and remarks, " ... our military family must break up - It is better we should in good health, than by death." He states that Tourtelotte has no family and in some ways is more fortunate, because providing for a family is very expensive. Worries about his brother who fell from a ladder and is unconscious. Letter written on printed stationery of Headquarters, Army…

GLC01216

1863-1864

Leslie, Joseph, fl. 1863-1864

Diary

Title: [Diary of Joseph Leslie 18th regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company D]

Several pages in the diary have names and regiments of different officers from New York, Ohio, Michigan, etc., who were prisoners with him. Includes several pages of Libby Prison expenses/accounting of what he paid for crackers, paper, tobacco, bread, onions, soap, and other items. There are nine pages of Union and Confederate generals who died or were killed in action with their place of death including, Chantilly, Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilsons Creek, Shiloh, Manassas, Vicksburg, Corinth, Perryville, etc. At the back are 12 pages of poetry and verse Leslie composed while in Libby…

GLC01185

April 5, 1865

Hardee, William J., 1815-1873

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Cooper

In a clerical hand, Confederate General Hardee reports to Adjutant and Inspector General Cooper on the operations of his corps of the Army of Tennessee, including the loss of Atlanta and his differences with General John B. Hood, whom he blames for the loss. He states that his report is late because, "most of the General officers in that Corps having been killed, wounded or captured in the recent Tennessee Campaign ..." He feels it is necessary to correct misrepresentations made by General Hood. He comments "That I failed to save Atlanta as charged by General Hood is a matter of regret, that…

GLC01190

October 14, 1776

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Robinson

Wayne writes just as the British are approaching Fort Ticonderoga for an attack. "I have just time to inform you that the Enemy are approaching - the shattered remains of our fleet arrived last night." Eleven of the sixteen ships were lost, as well as two hundred men. "The whole body of the Enemy are now within two hours march of us - and we expect to see them every moment." He promises that "the contest will be warn and bloody - they out number us - but if we are too die - we are enough - and if to conquer the few men the greater than of Honor." Says he is sending Robinson's brother away,…

GLC01154

20 July 1865

Ordway, K.G., fl. 1855-1865

Object

Title: [Congressional mourning ribbon]

Black ribbon with gold trim and fringes. There is a white rosette sewn on to the top with a gold sequence star and two sequence stars on the black part of the ribbon directle below the rosette. The entire ribbon is covered in black transparent silk. Originally accompanied by a letter from K.G. Ordway, the ribbon's designer and an inauguration day admission card for March 4 1865.

GLC01423.01

October 2, 1870

Lee, Mary Custis, 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Norvell Caskie

Mary writes of her husband Robert E. Lee's sudden illness. "He has taken very suddenly & alarmingly ill after a day of rather harrassing mental fatigue but is now better & the Dr. gives us good hope he will soon be well again though he is still confined to his bed & indeed lies in our dining room where he was taken sick & we have been unable to move him up stairs..." Mentions that it has been raining for days and that floods have carried away bridges and people's winter supplies. She informs that there is a break on the Central railroad and many people visiting in town have…

GLC01440.01

July 1776 - December 9,1777

Tilden, Ezra, 1751-1819

Diary

Title: [Diary of Ezra Tilden]

Provides a detailed day by day account of Tilden's march through New York during the Revolutionary War. Writes extensively about daily duties, poor rations, hunger, hardships along the march, sickness and death amongst the soldiers, and the demoralized spirit of the men. Possibly writes something about the cruelty of the officers in code on p. 34 by mixing the letters of the words. Includes lists of towns he passed through (p. 12, 49, 107, 141), an item by item list of contents of his pack (p. 9), a list of the monthly wages for each military rank (p. 54), rations for each soldier (p. 55…

GLC01450.004

February 12, 1866

Bancroft, George, 1800-1891

Pamphlet

Title: Memorial address on the life and character of Abraham Lincoln

Delivered before Congress in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Printed by the Government Printing Office. With "Correspondence Relating to the Memorial Address," printed beginning on page 73.

GLC01306

December 10, 1827

Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Dates letter Thursday. Discusses President John Quincy Adams' State of the Union Address before Congress on 4 December 1827 and comments that it did not move her either negatively or positively. Observes that some may be critical of it because he persists in his conviction that it will be advantageous to be represented at the Congress in Panama. Continues the letter on Friday and states that she just received Madison's letter. Discusses the welfare and happenings of friends. Reports that Henry Conway died after a drinking spell. Continues on Saturday and writes a little about her day.…

GLC01812

1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Album autographed by John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette].

A note by Lafayette dated January 23, 1825 indicates he was an "old friend" of the parents of the young lady who owned this album. Adams writes a seven-line poem dated March 10, 1825. A note from William White dated March 23, 1825 quotes Proverbs. Three other notes, New Haven, Buffalo and New York, 1865 news clipping on Palmerston death, one small broadside concerning $1 contribution to the Washington Monument and piece of embroidery. Bound by P. Thompson, Washington City, in red ribbed morocco binding with gilt decorative board.

GLC01826

1763-1791

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Header Record

Title: Correspondence of Catharine Macaulay [Decimalized .01- .63]

Collection of correspondence of Catharine Macaulay Graham with various people from England, Scotland, France, and America, including a folder of transcripts of letters not included in this collection. Materials in this collection consist of retained drafts, letters received, drafts written on other letters, and some occasional pieces. According to a later note in GLC 1795, these letters were returned by her second husband William Graham to daughter Catharine Sophia Macaulay Gregorie. Some letters are in French. A full inventory is available, and transcripts of some letters are also…

GLC01794

1783-1900

Gregorie, Catharine S.M., 1765-1821

Header Record

Title: [Catharine Macaulay family correspondence][Decimalized .001- .109]

Collection of letters belonging to Catharine Macaulay dated approximately 1783-1900. Consists of 109 letters and documents related to the Macaulay, Graham, Gregorie, and Brickdale families, Majority of letters are sent from Catharine S. Gregoire to her mother Catharine Macaulay. Later correspondence is later sent to William Graham from Catharine S. Gregoire following the death of Macaulay and Catharine S. Gregoire's husband, Charles Gregoire. Letters also includes recipients of Charles Richards, Jane Frazer, Anne Frazer and Isabella Frazer from their cousin Catharine Gregoire Brickdale.

GLC01795

1828

Binns, John, 1772-1860

Broadside

Title: Monumental Inscriptions!

Depicts 6 fictitious funeral monuments, each to a militiamen executed by Jackson on 21 February 1815, after the Battle of New Orleans, for being deserters. The tombstones bear inscriptions detailing how each was a good man and soldier, and regardless of this, was "By the Orders of General Andrew Jackson, Shot to Death." Each monument was supposedly erected on 4 July, 1828. One monument reminds the reader "Let not the splendor of Military renown Blot out from your indignant recollection this bloody deed DONE BY A HERO." Includes a verse at the bottom entitled "Mournful Tragedy." Jackson…

GLC01825

1770

Revere, Paul, 1735-1818

Engraving

Title: The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King-Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Reg.

Engraving of the Boston Massacre, hand-colored, first edition. Crispus Attucks is colored in, indicating that he was an African American. The depiction of the event and a poem printed below the engraving vilifies the British Army. The casualties, described as "unhappy sufferers," are listed at the bottom.

GLC01868

23 July 1864

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas

Reports death of Brigadier General James McPherson to General Thomas.

GLC01875.01

22 October 1864

McPherson, Cynthia, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William E. Strong

Three months after the death of her son, General James B. McPherson, McPherson responds to the sympathy offered by Lieutenant Colonel Strong, who served as General McPherson's assistant inspector general. She praises Strong's eulogies, writes at length about her son's patriotism, and invites Strong to visit.

GLC01875.02

November 16, 1863

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Grace Stevens

Mrs. Stevens's husband had been lost aboard the C.S.S. Ram. A very gracious letter.

GLC01882

December 15, 1863

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Approval of request for leave]

Hooker endorses an autograph letter signed on verso from Captain Samuel B. Sherer, of Company K, 15th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, to William H. Perkins, Assistant Adjutant General for the 11th and 12th Corps. Sherer applies for twenty five day furloughs for Sergeant Daniel Rettis and Private Henry Wilson of Company K, 15th Illinois Cavalry. Reports that Rettis was recently informed of the death of his child and severe illness of his wife, and that Wilson is having trouble with the lessee of his farm. Hooker approves of the request. Autograph endorsement signed on verso of a document.

GLC01911