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

April 11, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Discusses the Battle of Sabine Crossroads with Jane, his wife. Writes, "We have had a great battle. Three days fighting. The 1st day we whipped them. The 2nd day they whipped us and the third day we whipped them. The fighting was dreadful and we have lost terribly. In the 2nd days fight, my horse had his head blown off by a shell and fell on me holding me fast. I came near being captured but got my leg out from under him and mounted on a rebel horse whose rider had been shot, I escaped from the field. I have the horse, saddle and bridle." States his company lost supplies and personal money in…

GLC01505.05

September 22, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Brisbin informs his wife, Jane, that his regiment arrived at Mount Sterling that day, and that they leave for the battle front (possibly referring to an advance on Saltville, Virginia) under General Stephen Gano Burbridge tomorrow. Writes, "The expedition has so far been badly managed and I fear will be a failure." Relates that General McClean (possibly Nathaniel Collins McLean) fares poorly. States "If I fall in the Expedition I have some money in Lilfords Bank" located in Lexington, Kentucky.

GLC01505.06

January 29, 1919

Creel, George, 1876-1953

Newspaper

Title: Official U.S. Bulletin. [Vol. 3, no.524 (January 29, 1919)]

Newspaper published daily by order of the president by the United States Committee of Public Information. Contains the text of the eighteenth amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol. Accompanied by a statement by acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk. Also contains various other news items, reports on congressional and supreme court proceedings, agricultural and industrial information, and a list of casualties reported among United States forces overseas.

GLC01668

August 3, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

In pencil, James writes to his wife regarding how much he misses her and their son, Robie. He speaks of a letter from Liv and says "we are all bound to have an opinion on every subject and let Liv have hers, and you, our friend, and myself will have ours." With an added note, he writes "This day is one ever to be remembered by [sic] 4 months ago to day Jesse was foully murdered." He signs the letter as Ben.

GLC01648

7 May 1863

Manuscript

Title: [Casualties of Battle of Chancellorsville May 2 & 3, 1863]

Field report listing soldiers killed, wounded, and missing from the First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers Infantry in the Civil War Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Contains the name, rank, and company of each soldier. Lists nine men as being killed on either 2 or 3 May 1863, 44 wounded with remarks on the injury sustained, and 42 identified as missing. Created at camp near Falmouth, Virginia.

GLC01655

December 29, 1862

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Ambrose E. Burnside

Lee writes a letter to Burnside discussing the fate of Capt. E. P. Lawton. Captain Lawton, apparently a Confederate being held in Alexandria and probably mortally wounded, had asked to be visited by his wife. Lee's letter acknowledges receipt of Burnside's offer of conveyance for Mrs. Lawton.

GLC01663

August 15, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston and Robert James

Frank James writes to his wife Anna and son Robert (referred to as "My Precious Ones") while being pursued by state and federal authorities. References the Shakespearean character, Timon of Athens, who also spent time exiled in the forest. Reflects on his love for Anna by stating: "Did I not appreciate you I should feel as I was a disgrace to humanity and should be universally and deservedly detested as the most ungrateful being that ever lived." Refers to Charles and Bob Ford as "loathsome wretches" because they killed Jesse James, his brother, in April 1882. Expresses expectations that…

GLC01692

September 3, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

Frank James writes to his wife, Anna, about the reward offered for his capture. Mentions Dick Liddil, a member of the same gang, and the way Liddil was treated by the authorities. Comments on turning himself in and states that "... when ever I surrendered up my belt, it would be with the understanding that I was subject to no one for anything." Attempts to comfort her and boost her morale. Mentions that his friends thought him foolish to accept any offers from Thomas Crittenden, the Governor of Missouri. Expresses his view on his situation, "And as for taking tragic revenge on any one, I hold…

GLC01693

November 3, 1862

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louis Janin

Benjamin informs his friend Janin, who is in Paris, of the death of his son Eugene Janin at the battle of Antietam. "He fell in the battle of Sharpsburg...doing his duty to his country in the front ranks...He was wounded so severely...it was found impossible to convey him and he was left...with not a hope of recovery." Eugene is buried "with numbers of the other victims to the Carnage now which the insensate ferocity of the accursed and demoniac Yankees now wage against us." Letter written on "Confederate States of America, Department of State," stationary. Military records indicate that…

GLC01697

July 18, 1864

Hooper, Samuel, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts, discusses the prospect of obtaining bank loans for the United States Treasury. He informs Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury, that "... I have become strongly impressed with the idea that an appeal to the people would be cheerfully responded to and if encouraged by liberal subscriptions the banks would furnish more money…I do not regret your failure to make a negotiation with them in New York." Hooper notes that he will be in New York for a day and will meet with Mr. Cisco. Also discusses the death of Lt. Mason, evidently in…

GLC01596.01

1782

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Broadside

Title: Epitaph [mock epitaph on George III, "Button-Maker"]

Satirical epitaph on King George III. Compares George III to various dictatorial rulers, including Caligua and Cesar, Printed by F. Bailey. Inscribed at top to "Mrs. Rebecca Treat at Yorktown -- From Sam: Leatney [?]."

GLC01531

November 16, 1910

Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912

Typed letter signed

Title: to Hart O. Berg

Gives a detailed account of the 1910 International Air Meet. States that the Americans did much better than the French. Comments on a few men whose planes broke down and states, "Why does not the French government forbid monoplanes?-They have killed ten times more men than double propellers have." Describes many of the flight events including information about the pilots, the wind, speeds, and breakdowns. Goes on to discuss the profits of the American Wright Company for the year. Talks again about monoplanes and their problems. Compares the Wright planes' flight records with European planes.…

GLC01537

January 25, 1765

Winthrop, John, 1714-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Belcher

Winthrop congratulates Judge Belcher on recovering "from a dangerous illness." He notes having read that many French Acadians have been removed from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the West Indies, and observes that because of their religion, they "could hardly ever have been good Subjects to a Protestant government." Indicates that the Sugar Act and the Currency Act, referred to as "The late Acts of Trade," are widely discussed and cause much uneasiness among merchants and judges alike. He notes the death of Edward Wigglesworth, the first Hollis professor of Divinity at Harvard College. Discusses…

GLC01541.01

April 21, 1865

Park, William E., fl. 1855-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Mr. Newton

Writes to his cousin about the Union soldiers' reaction to the assassination of Lincoln. States that "the boys are in for exterminating the Rebels altogether." He also writes that there are many men who would re-enlist now that would not have done so a week ago. Expresses his hope that President Andrew Johnson is capable of conducting public affairs and doesn't show any mercy to the traitors. Also appends a short note to his cousin Mollie stating that since the death of Lincoln, he feels like re-enlisting and "help exterminate those accursed Rebels".

GLC01545.05

4 July 1865

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Document signed

Title: Order of the procession at the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the monument in the Soldiers' National Cemetery, July 4, 1865.

Possibly the program of an 1865 celebration in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ceremonies include speeches by President Andrew Johnson and Andrew Greg Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania. Docketed by Major General Geary.

GLC01545.08

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Copy in Samuel Shaw's hand and signed by him for both Knox and Morris. Knox and Morris assumed the public would be interested in the POW report they recently submitted to Congress, so they wrote this letter for Washington with information they excluded from that report to avoid its publication. Says they "had no opportunity of bringing forward distinctly the affairs of Mr. Laurens. By pushing it abruptly into notice we might have obstructed but would not have forwarded your views for his release. Had our general propositions been acceded to, his exchange would have followed necessarily. Had…

GLC02437.01395

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sir Guy Carleton

First two pages are from an unsigned letter written by Major General Knox to General Carleton, the commander of the British Army. The third page is a signed note to Washington on 31 July 1782. References Carleton's previous letter which contained a request for a passport to be forwarded to Chief Justice Smyth so he could bring the trial transcript and his explanatory comments to the Americans. This is probably a reference to the court martial proceedings against Lippincott, who the Americans claimed was responsible for the killing of Captain Joshua Huddy. Hopes that Carleton will punish the…

GLC02437.01513

10 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Informs Washington of the death of his infant son, Washington's godson. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10042

22 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Says he arrived at camp to find that 22 American women and children, formerly prisoners who had travelled from Canada, were seeking assistance. They travelled down from Vermont to Albany, New York. From Albany, Lord Stirling sent them southward with the idea that they could reach Philadelphia. Says "These unhappy people, were inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their husbands and fathers have been murdered by the Savages and themselves taken into captivity to Canada." Reports that after "horrors unutterable," they…

GLC02437.01624

16 December 1782

Blair, Samuel, 1741-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Reverend Blair to Major General Knox. Asked Colonel John Lamb to inform Knox of his impending retirement and his reasons for leaving the service. Says he would have written sooner but had problems with "the extreme weakness and disorder of my Nerves." Has recovered but says "I question much whether ever I shall be able to do effectual service to my fellow men in any line hereafter." Still praises God. Says he is leaving because "of many uncomfortable reflections during my connection with ye Army - to retain that connection therefore, when unable to do any thing, would have been…

GLC02437.01747

11 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Thanks him and Mrs. Biddle for their kindness to Mrs. Knox and their young daughter while in Philadelphia. Comments that Biddle's knowledge of his orders during the siege will excuse his inability to write frequently. Stresses his interest in ensuring that American battalions are filled with troops. Describes the recent illness and death of Mr. Custis, George Washington's stepson, while he was at camp with Washington as an aide. Mentions that General and Mrs. Washington were present for his "last gasp." He is waiting for General and Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Custis to arrive, but "Mrs. Knox…

GLC02437.01287

17 October 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph document signed

Title: A Report of ordnance Ammunition Expended during my Command on the different Batteries in the lines, between the 16 & 17 Oct. inst.

Lists quantities of stores used in the first and second batteries under Major Bauman during the siege of Yorktown. Reports the death of Peter Peiner. Bauman commanded an artillery corps that was a part of Colonel John Lamb's Second Regiment of Continental Artillery.

GLC02437.01232

23 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Writes that he hopes to be able to visit General Washington at Mount Vernon soon. Is convinced of the General's affection for him and feels sure that his limited correspondence will not be misconstrued; is aware that responding to too many letters can be difficult, and he has been traveling to and from Massachusetts on both public and private business, which has prevented him from writing. Argues that the political system currently in place is inadequate: "The powers of Congress are utterly inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things…

GLC02437.03319

January 27, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Written from Brookfield, likely in Massachusetts. Marked "copy." Relates how he led his troops to the aid of General Shepard. "Writes, Gen'l Sheppard expects hourly an attack by the whole force of the Insurgents:- Shays marched with the party under his immediate command, about as is said: one thousand yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock to the front of the Magazine; General Sheppard sent an officer to him to warn him of his danger if he passed over a certain line, which was described; Shays laughed at the information & continued his march until he approached within a few yards of the line…

GLC02437.03425