2 March 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Sends his wife $10 and asks her to allow the bearer of the letter, Mr. Freeman, to stay at the house for one night. Notes that he believes there will be a battle soon but does not expect to be involved. A pencil sketch of a grave marker and verse appears on page two. "Gone to be an angle [sic] Albro K. Youngest son of J."

GLC05241.17

15 March 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Sickness has forced him to give up a portion of his business. Expects a big battle. Includes a list of questions asked by Mary, and James' response to the questions. Some questions posed by Mary are: why did Mr. Freeman come home, can they get a tombstone "for our darling Allie's grave," pension rights if he should be killed, and monetary questions.

GLC05241.21

7 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

"No 7." Written from camp near Franklin. He expressed winter clothes home, and had to get a special permit to send the box home since an order was issued forbidding the shipment of clothes home. A man in his tent died last night. Reports that McCandles was arrested for desertion and will be court-martialed.

GLC05241.30

21 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Thanks her for writing and remarks that "Religion and virtue dictated every line" of her last letter. Discusses death from a religious perspective. Informs Lucy that this letter will be delivered by Elbridge Gerry, a member of the Continental Congress from Massachusetts, and asks her to be as civil towards him as her circumstances will allow. Notes that Gerry will tell her about General Charles Lee's recent victory over the British at Fort Moultrie in Charleston (28 June 1776), South Carolina, and Knox provides some details about the battle. Briefly mentions the unsuccessful attempt of an…

GLC02437.00387

8 August 1863

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The regiment is once again on picket duty. He discusses losses to the regiment and the Battle of Gettysburg, "but I hope that we shall never get into another fight like that at Gettysburg Pa for it was awful beyond Discription I cannot discribe it with my pencil but if I do not get to come home myself this fall I will try to give you or Charley a slight sketch of it but I think you would not care to Read the details of the fight as it was. I will just say I sit on my knees by the side of Stone fence & loaded & fired my gun until I had blisters on my fingers as big as 10 cent peaces…

GLC04189.52

30 November 1900

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Owen Horsfall

Writes to his son stating that many men lost their lives from starvation or exposure as they were stuck with their dogteams on the trail to Teller, Alaska. He was talking to a friend, who told him that last summer at the local saloon and gambling house "they got all of their claims from parties who did not think much of them and would sell them for $10 or perhaps a hundred dollars each, or perhaps wanted a few dollars for a gambling stake…" Written on stationary from the Alaska Gold Mining Company, Cape Nome, Alaska.

GLC05245.05

9 June 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Reiterates the request for money he made in his last letter (see GLC02437.00328). Mentions that Lucy is well, but their newborn is ill from teething. Discusses recent misfortunes from the invasion of Canada. Mentions the 8th Regiment quartered in Detroit heading towards Montreal with a party of Indians. Comments on the activities of Major Henry Sherburne, Colonel John Paterson, and General Benedict Arnold, and a six day truce forced on the British. Mentions that the army was stricken with small pox and General John Thomas was likely to die from them. Chastises William for not writing more…

GLC02437.00336

23 October 1864

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Acknowledges receipt of a package containing honey (most of which spilled), pants, a cake, and butter. Describes the weather, is saddened to hear of the deaths of two ladies from Buffalo, expects a big battle soon. Encloses a piece of petrified wood (not included in the collection) found by workmen excavating the "Dutch Gap Canal."

GLC04663.51

28 April 1865

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Informs his brother that since they last communicated, several important events have taken place, the defeat and capture of General Robert E. Lee, the occupation of Richmond, and General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to Generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. Writes that Johnston has surrendered all the confederate forces this side of the Chatahoochie River, including Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. States that Sherman's army will march for home but the 10th and 23rd corps will remain in Raleigh. Mentions that he will try to get a leave of absence soon to visit…

GLC04663.61

16 May 1865

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Notes he selected the house of Dr. Haywood for his office and a smaller one for his quarters. The owner, a secessionist, had fled before the Union army entered the city. Family members had asked for the house to be returned to them, Walbridge refused. Reports that civilians were stealing horses from other civilians. Heard that [Confederate President] Jefferson Davis had been captured by Wilson's Cavalry. Acknowledges receipt of letter detailing [Abraham] Lincoln's funeral in Buffalo. Thinks President [Andrew] Johnson is doing a good job.

GLC04663.63

20 October 1864

Brown, Leon, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Writes that General Bidwell has been killed. Reports that Charlie is now in charge of the whole Quartermasters Department. Leon is acting as storage clerk. Talks about the election of 1864. The democrats "had an unpleasant time indeed at their grand turnout. . . ." He adds "I hope that Buffalo will go Republican and now I don't think them in any doubt who will be president in 1865. The 112th Regiment [New York] has not done very badly, there being 250 votes for Lincoln & five (5) for McClellan[;] don't you think it is pretty well[?]" Provides news concerning friends.

GLC04663.74

10 October 1864

L.B.F., fl. 1864

Autograph note signed

Title: [Report of the death of Samuel Watson Van Nuys]

Testament reporting the death of Samuel Watson Van Nuys. Date is from post mark. Written on "Head Quarters 3d Brigade 3d Division 18th Army Corps" letterhead (half sheet).

GLC07687.154

5 October 1864

Hills, T. Morton, fl. 1864

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certificate of corpse]

"Certificate of corpse" that accompanied [Samuel Watson] Van Nuys's body from Virginia to Indiana.

GLC07687.173

23 September 1839

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Forsyth states: "It is necessary to a just decision on the various points presenting themselves for the President's consideration in the case of the Spanish Schooner 'Amistad,' that the Department should be furnished, with a copy of the ships' papers, together with a transcript of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry held by the District Judge, on board that vessel, to which you refer in your letter of the 5th instant, and on which the Blacks were imprisoned for the alleged murder of the Captain and Mate..."

GLC05636.17

7 August 1862

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Relays rumors of Confederates in Maryland and the death of Kearny: "he was brave as a lion. The city is in mourning over the death tolls in recent battles. He used in battle to take his reins in his mouth, and with his sword in his right hand (he had no left) ride straight into the fight, cheering on his men."

GLC04663.06

8 May 1863

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Death of friends, moving toward Charleston. Also mentions news from home: a fair raised $500, "Cousins Elbridge and Mary have done me the honor to name their baby after me."

GLC04663.18

19 July 1863

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son

Describes the attack on Fort Wagner. A page dated 7/20, lists missing and wounded officers. "Shortly after dark our troops advanced to the assault. The 54th Mass. (colored regiment) in the lead... [T]his regiment which went into the charge with over nine hundred in the ranks, cannot muster five hundred, with all their field officers killed, besides many of their line killed & wounded."

GLC04663.22

4 September 1863

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Sister Rosalie [a Roman Catholic nun?] arrives at Folly Island from Buffalo. The joys of soldiering, progress of the siege, death of a sergeant.

GLC04663.24

11 April 1864

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Receives his commission [as captain, see # 42]. He is starting home on furlough but must first be mustered out of his old regiment. Hopes to visit home before George [his brother?] leaves. Death of a sister's young child.

GLC04663.37

17 May 1864

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Confederate attack near Fort Darling. Lists officers wounded and killed.

GLC04663.39

21 June 1864

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

A visit to the Petersburg lines, requests paintings done by Sarah and Louise, wonders why Lydia Walbridge still succumbs to "the humbug of spiritualism" after it has taken the lives of several of her children.

GLC04663.43

December 25, 1863

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The army celebrated Christmas with an artillery barrage on the city of Charleston. As a result a fire broke out in the city which burned for 11 hours. The rebels fired back, hit a gun boat and killed three people. He is applying for leave, but does not want to get his hopes up. His sawmill is running but needs a new boiler. He mentions the progress of the canal.

GLC04662.052

13 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Henry is upset that Lucy is taking others advice over his and reiterates his recommendation for her to go to Fairfield or New Haven immediately. Mentions various people going to New Haven who Lucy could meet up with. Discusses the British attack of New York the previous day. Knox lost six men in an accident, which he casts as a learning experience for the others, who will learn "to moderate their fiery courage." After the attack the British ships sailed north to Tappan Bay, near Tarrytown New York. Knox will send…

GLC02437.00372

9 October 1782

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a variety of business concerns with Knox regarding Knox's investments with the Government, and asks for his opinion on how to handle certain matters. Mentions that he and Colonel Hatch are planning to send to Knox possessions of his brother William Knox's, which have been in the possession of Mr. [Joshua] Loring while William has been in Europe. Relates that the appraisers living on a limerock farm that Knox is interested in are having difficulty conducting their appraisal due to the presence of the enemy. Discusses the recent death of a Treasurer Gardner and the candidates who…

GLC02437.01654

24 October 1782

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Peirce to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 8 October. Consoles Knox on the death of his boy. Says "Alas Deaths Shafts fly thick. no less than five of my little ones have fallen by his relentless hand." Mentions a small box he wants to send and asks if Colonel Brooks has room on one of his wagons. Tells him "At present I cannot think of any other method to accomplish the desires of the Gentleman you mention, than for his brother to petition the Governor & Council, or the Genl Court, if that will not do it." Says the gentleman called on him about it and after a…

GLC02437.01678