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

1 July 1864

Colquitt, Alfred Holt, 1829-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to G.G. Grattan

General Colquitt writes from near Petersburg, Virginia to Captain Grattan, a wounded soldier at Richmond, Virginia. Praises Grattan's qualities as a soldier, relates that others speak highly of Grattan. Expresses his wish that Grattan should not resign, and offers to recommend him to the position of assistant adjutant general on his staff. Offers Grattan sympathy, stating that the position of assistant adjutant "will require of you but little riding, exposure or active personal exertion... If you should find after awhile that you cannot go into the field in any capacity, or you be…

GLC01879.01

4 November 1864

Palfrey, Edward A., fl. 1864

Printed document signed

Title: [Special Orders No. 263: Assigning Capt. G.G. Grattan to Alfred H. Colquitt's Brigade]

Signed as assistant adjutant general. Special Orders no. 263, by command of the secretary of war and approved "through Genl R. E. Lee." Partially printed document on Special Orders form. Indicates Confederate Captain Grattan was an Assistant Adjutant General.

GLC01879.02

circa 1864

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Letter

Title: [Draft letter regarding recent conflict between soldiers and citizens]

Creator and circa year previously inferred. Reports that the previous day, Colonel Dibrill had informed Wheeler's adjutant that a man near Dibrill's camp had two hundred bushels of corn that he refused to sell. Wheeler instructed Dibrill to take some of the corn, and a fight ensued. One soldier was wounded from a shot, and the citizens guarding the corn finally surrendered. Wheeler ordered the citizens arrested, and is investigating the incident. Remarks, "I exceedingly regret this occurrence as my command was getting along remarkably well and all the citizens in the neighborhood of…

GLC01931

7 August 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Gives a detailed description of the unsuccessful cavalry raids by George Stoneman and Daniel McCook, Jr. at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Both took place on the June 27, 1864 in accordance with Sherman's Order 42. Before the raids, Stoneman asked Sherman's permission to attempt to free union prisoners held in Macon and Andersonville after the battle. Sherman consented. McCook heroically led the raid against a superior force, and was mortally wounded. Sherman was criticized for this attack against General Johnston's entrenched forces, which resulted in heavy union casualties.

GLC01961

27 July 1861

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Written in pencil. Discusses First Bull Run, 10,000 fighting against 800, and 15,000 killed and wounded

GLC02082.06

10 May 1863

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Writes to his sister Mary about the Battle of Chancellorsville. Discusses those wounded and burned to death and mentions that Jackson has been shot.

GLC02082.33

February 21, 1864

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Discusses his return to old winter quarters. Mentions marching in the cold weather. Reports that the Yanks seized Tuscaloosa. Also Tate also worries about the seizure of Tuscaloosa and wishes for a furlough to "bush whack them." Also describes an interesting meeting in Richmond with the widow who cared for him when he was wounded in 1862.

GLC02082.50

October 1859-January 1862

Higgins, Patrick, fl. 1859-1862

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters written to Fannie Schoonmaker from Patrick Higgins, K company, 56th regiment, New York, infantry] [decimalized]

The collection consists of ten letters written to a young lady named Fannie Schoonmaker, and one letter to an unknown recipient. Nine of the eleven letters, some of which predate the Civil War, are from Patrick Higgins. One letter is from David Reese, and another is from Charles Johnson. Patrick Higgins was from Neversink, New York in Sullivan County, about 110 miles northwest of New York City. On September 29, 1861 he enlisted in the Union army as a Private. On October 10, he mustered into K Company of the 56th New York Infantry. The 56th New York became part of the Army of the Potomac. On…

GLC02164

December 4, 1776

Autograph document

Title: The names of those in Captain Arnold's company which crossed the North River Dec 4th, 1776

A list of the men in Captain Arnold's company who crossed the North River on December 4, 1776.

GLC02150.04

1861-1862

Davis, William B., fl. 1861-1862

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William B. Davis, D company, 10th regiment, Connecticut, infantry] [Decimalized .01-.06]

All 6 of these letters are written from New Berne, North Carolina (written as "New Berne" or "Newberne"), to his sister back in Connecticut. Davis is wounded 8 February 1862 at Roanoke Island, and writes in detail of this battle and of his wound; but he is not discharged until October 1864, after serving his three years.

GLC02160

1862-1864

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William H. Holly, E company, 12th regiment, Connecticut, infantry] [Decimalized .01-.17]

Written between January 1862 and May 1864 to a friend, Mary Ann Davis, first from Connecticut and then from various camps in Louisiana (Parapet, Hubbard, Kearney, and Stevens, as well as two regions - Lakeport and Vermilion Bayou). Describes the early Louisiana campaigns, including capture of New Orleans in letter of 27 May 1862, and capture at Cedar Creek, Virginia. Also discusses weather. Shows disillusionment with a private's life - the monotony, lack of individuality, respect - and often expresses desire to return home, though balanced by a sense of duty to country. Includes a number of…

GLC02165

1861-1910

Morse, Justus, fl. 1861-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Justus Morse, G company, 4th regiment, Indiana, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .66]

Morse was a Private in the 47th Indiana Volunteers, Co. G. The collection describes battles and skirmishing in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. One group of letters were written from City Hospital in Indianapolis. The bulk of the collection dates from 1861-1864. Contains 60 letters, 5 letter fragments, and 1 pension certificate from 1910. This collection begins with Morse headed South with his unit, fighting in Missouri, Tennessee, and then in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, good letters of the fights and activities. The correspondence ends with a large…

GLC02170

1862-1865

Scarborough, William H., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William H. Scarborough, B company, 96th regiment, Ohio, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .59]

Scarborough was a Private in the Ohio 96th Vols. Consists of correspondence as well as an invitation to an 1886 reunion of his regiment. The collection also includes three 1940 documents regarding his death and war injury.

GLC02173

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

January 26, 1862 - June 9, 1862

McKinney, Erastus R., fl. 1851-1904

Diary

Title: [Diary of Erastus McKinney]

Autograph manuscript signed. Includes reports on Union casualities during the capture of Fort Donelson (fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862 at Stewart County, Tennessee).

GLC02179.02

1860-1877

Powers, John Hale, fl. 1973

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John H. Powers, 1st regiment, Vermont, cavalry] [decimalized]

Collection of 75 letters written to a private in the first Vermont Cavalry, 1860-77, from friends and schoolmates at Newbury Seminary, and fraternity brothers from Wesleyan College. Some of the letters are from soldiers in the field, while others are from civilians writing about the war and their work at home. Letters discuss political climate, college courses, the trials of teaching, and the war. The collection also includes a group of 14 printed items. Highlights include ten letters from Dr. George Gale, four while he is Acting Staff Surgeon, Calvary Corp. Hospital, City Point,…

GLC02181

12 July 1863

Cleveland, Thomas P., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes

Cleveland, Emily and Paul Semmes's nephew, describes in detail Semmes's death. General Semmes was mortally wounded in Longstreet's charge at Gettysburg and died in the retreat. Sends the letter care of Captain Cody. Emily Semmes wrote a note on the envelope reading "This package dearest of all. E.J.S." "…I tried to get leave of absence to come home with the corpse, but failed. But as we will not be able to send it at this time perhaps it is all for the best. Oh! how I long to see you all & tell you how noble, brave & patriotic he was while living...above all, how happy & serene…

GLC02411

27 December 1863

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Letter signed

Title: to M. S. Worth

General Banks informs Miss Worth of Albany, New York that "The Ladies of the North were gratefully and enthusiastically remembered by the soldiers in the Hospitals of this Department on Christmas Day ... The sweetest earthly solace that a stricken soldier can receive is to know that the women of his Country appreciate his sacrifices and are willing to give their hours of leisure and luxury to his care and comfort ... "

GLC02413

1864

Reid, James Henry, 1845-1921

Diary

Title: [Virginia Confederate soldier's diary recording events of the Seige of Petersburg]

Possibly the diary of James Henry Reid. Signed on cover by J. Henry Reid. In January and February, records social activities. Reports for duty in the army 1 March 1864. Marches to various destinations, and leaves Lynchburg again for Richmond in May. On Thursday, 16 June 1864, marches across the James River to Petersburg. Records Union attacks on Petersburg through the month of June. Spends most of July in the trenches. Refers to the Battle of the Crater 30 July 1864, declaring "whipped the Yanks soundly." Records August as a fairly quiet month, though on 30 August, writes "Last day of…

GLC02260

1864 - 1 February 1865

Penfield, James Allen, ?-1910

Manuscript signed

Title: [Union Prisoner of War autograph album]

Contains over 900 prisoner of war officer signatures and their ranks. Ornate hand drawn title page, "Autographs of U. S. Officers, Prisoners of War confined at Richmond, Virginia, Macon, Georgia - Savannah Georgia - Charleston, South Carolina - Columbia, South Carolina - Charlotte, North Carolina J.A. Penfield, Major 5th New York Cavalry." Title page signed "Yours Truly," by Lieutenant J. Arthur Richardson but his company or regiment is cut off the bottom of the page. Some names have been annotated in graphite in a later hand. Also contains a similar page of pen art entitled "Song Sherman…

GLC02262

1847-1874

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Header Record

Title: Collection of signed materials, pamphlets and Civil War-related items of Charles Sumner [Decimalized .01 - .41]

Collection of signed materials, books, letters and documents related to the coming of the war, Sumner's career and Reconstruction. Includes: 17 ALSs (30 p.) 1847-1874, 6 AQS on themes of liberty and equal rights, 3 cartes de visite (2 signed), 2 signed checks, clipped signature of Preston Brooks, and 5 major books/pamphlets. Also includes a full set of the Complete Works of Charles Sumner, published by the Negro University Press, located with reference books. Two black and white bust engravings of Sumner included.

GLC02095

6 August 1790

Blair, Samuel, 1741-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Reverend Blair to Secretary of War Knox. Blair says his infirmities dating back to his days in the army hinder his ability to work in the "stated customary offices" of his ministry. Requests that Knox help him get a "Chaplaincy in the Congress, on their removal to Philad[elphia]. Mentions that the timing of this letter might be inconvenient as the government prepares to move from New York. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.04671

August 6, 1791

Chamillard de Varville, Paul de, fl. 1779-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: Request for admission into Society of the Cincinnati

Writes that French Lieutenant Colonel Chamillard has the honor to represent to the members of the Society of the Cincinnati that he was the commander of 200 volunteers on board the frigate Bonhomme Richard. In the battle with the HMS Serapis "his conduct was such that the most flattering elogiun [sic] were given to him, in consequence the favours of his court were bestow'd on him." Says that of the 25 volunteers on the poop deck under his command, 22 were disabled. He has heard that Captains Stark and [Maurty] of the Irish Brigade were admitted into the Society of the Cincinnati by a decision…

GLC02437.05105

9 November 1791

Darke, William, 1736-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: to George Washington

Written from Fort Washington, near present-day Cincinnati, Ohio. Battle report providing extensive details of the defeat of General [Arthur] St. Clair at the hands of the Miami Indians on the Northwest Frontier. Docketed by George Washington.

GLC02437.05233