20 February 1765

Dayton, Elias, fl. 1774

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of service and of disability].

"This is to certify that the bearer, John Williams, has served in the New Jersey Regiment [illegible] the command of Col. McDonald and Serjent in Capn Draytons Company and in the service has lost the use of [illegible] thumb. Given under my hand and seal." Signed as Captain of the New Jersey Regiment. An important Revolutionary War military figure, Drayton was a member of the Continental Congress in 1787 and 1788.

GLC02498.04

February 3, 1863

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Stephens, Confederate Vice President, informs an unknown recipient that John Thomas Dawson of the 3rd Alabama Regiment was wounded in the Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia (31 May -1 June 1862), and has been since unable to perform field duty. Notes that Dawson's injury consists of a lame ankle. Remarks that Dawson is from an excellent family, and requests that other departmental heads in Richmond to consider adding Dawson to their staff.

GLC02469.26

1837-1908

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Header Record

Title: Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]

Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C. Preliminary inventory included.

GLC02618

21 October 1864

Wallace, Lewis, 1827-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Simpson or Dr. Hassan

Major General Wallace encloses "a list [not present] of wounded officers first arrived from the front. They are now at the depot in a sleeping car. Some of them will probably come here tonight. The rest ought by all means to be removed to the Hospital tonight..." Includes two endorsements by Surgeon J. Simpson on verso. In the first, written October 21, 1864, Simpson notes that Wallace's list of wounded officers was referred to Surgeon C. F. Campbell "for a full report in the case of the arrival of officers from Winchester Va." His second note, written October 23, 1864, indicates this letter…

GLC02463.22

1 April 1892

Howard, Oliver Otis, 1830-1909

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Howard writes, "In the battle of fair Oaks Va. the first day of June 1862 (second day of the battle) I was twice wounded in my right arm. The first wound was by a Mississippi rifle ball through the wrist. The second by a minnie-ball entering at the Elbow joint. The two wounds necessitated amputation about six hours after the second blow." Contains a Headquarters, Department of the East stamp at the top.

GLC02464.06

19 July 1862

Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

General Porter writes to Morgan, the governor of New York. Transmits an order (not present) appointing persons "to the vacancies occassioned by resignation and losses in action- in the 25th Regt New York Vols- subject to confirmation by your Excellency. Their appointments are for good conduct in the recent battles." Porter was commander of the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac.

GLC02464.13

19 July 1862

Couch, Darius Nash, 1822-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Adjutant General for the State of New York

Brigadier General Couch writes to New York's Adjutant General (possibly John Titcomb Sprague or Thomas Hillhouse). Recommends Captain James Walsh of the 36th Regiment New York Volunteers for the position of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel to Sprague and the Governor of New York (Edwin D. Morgan). Writes, "It is almost presuming for me unknown as I am to the Governor to make this recommendation- but the regiment has been under my command nearly a year and therefor know something of its condition- At the battle of Fair Oak Capt Walsh was the ruling spirit in the regiment." Goes on to praise…

GLC02465.07

7 April 1862

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to P. Wales

Written by Flag Officer Farragut to Wales as Surgeon on the USS "Colorado." Commands him to take charge of the hospital at Pilot Town and to make arrangements for the comfort of the sick and wounded. He is allowed to take any of the houses, furniture, or appliances as needed. Forwarded by Captain T. Bailey. 2 black and white bust engravings of Farragut included. Written while aboard the Flagship "Wissihigan".

GLC02476

November 1862

Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903

Pamphlet

Title: What They Have to Do Who Stay at Home

Written by Olmsted as General Secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Touts the good work of the Sanitary Commission, but "What They Have To Do" is get involved. Calls for a better system of donation and distribution of supplies to alleviate the suffering of sick and wounded troops. Says "The recent battles East and West have completely exhausted the reserved stock of the Commission, and it is found now not only impracticable to accumulate supplies, but impossible to meet even urgent demands daily made by hospitals within sight of the very dome of the Capitol." Says materials are becoming…

GLC08665

3 December 1777

Parker, W., fl. 1777

Newspaper

Title: General advertiser and morning intelligencer. [No. 337 (December 3, 1777)]

Reprints the "whole of the London Gazette Extraordinary," of 2 December 1777 which includes a letter of British General William Howe to Lord George Germain dated 10 October 1777 at Germantown concerning events in the Revolutionary War. Includes a list of wounded and killed at the Battle of Brandywine, 11 September 1777 and Germantown, 4 October 1777. Also prints extracts of letters from Sir Henry Clinton to William Howe. Stamped with half-penny tax on first page lower right corner.

GLC08717

16 May 1863

Foote, Francis C., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F. C. Foote

Written in camp near Brookes Station. Foote writes to his parents in Westport, Connecticut. Informs them that his captain, H. P. Burr, is held as a prisoner in Richmond, Virginia, with a great number of his fellow Union soldiers. Reports "Scofield is dead our ambulances went over to the battle field the other day to the rebbes hospital to get our wounded and to bury the dead our Lutenant Cournel was shot in the eye and is dead on the field... there is a good many of our troops that have died since they have had their limbs taken off and they folks that have come from the hospital say that…

GLC08415.02

05 November 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Daniel Barry who, in the District of Columbia in March 1860, had been convicted of arson].

Pardoned by Abraham Lincoln because he is an old soldier who has lost a leg in the service of the United States, because he was previously a law-abiding person, because he has served out most of his sentence, and because Judge James Dunlop, who presided at his trial, has recommeded him to Lincoln for his executive clemency. Countersigned by William H. Seward.

GLC00187

October 5, 1862

Stevens, Whitfield, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Archabald Wade

Whitfield Stevens, a Confederate soldier from Company A of the 4th Virginia Infantry (Stonewall Brigade) writes to his grandfather (letter addressed "Dear Granpa") and sends his letter in a "Yanky Envelope." Written from "Camp Bunkers Hill" outside of Winchester, Virginia. Mentions that his regiment has been badly wounded and predicts that they only have one big fight left in them before they break for winter.

GLC00220

1856

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Pamphlet signed

Title: Speech of Hon. Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, on the resolutions of the Massachusetts legislature concerning the assault on Mr. Sumner.

Signed by Hunter on a a piece of paper pasted to the title page. Delivered in the senate of the United States, 24 June 1856. Printed at the Congressional Globe Office, Washington, D.C. Hunter was a senator from Virginia.

GLC00267.003

October 28, 1861

Meane, John, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Julia S. Moulton

Discusses the aftermath of the Battle of Ball's Bluff, which occurred on October 21, 1861. Written on Connecticut multi-color magnus letterhead with matching patriotic envelope. Mentions seeing McClellan, who was using their movements as a possible ruse to lure the enemy from Manassas. Discusses ambulances and wounded men. Also mentions the death of Colonel and United States Senator Edward D. Baker, "You have heard of the death of Col. Baker of the California Reg."

GLC00233

July 21, 1862

Thornton, Joel F., fl. 1839-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Hamilton Stephens

Thornton requests advice from Stephens, Vice President of the Confederacy. He explains that he was previously deprived of one of his feet, and that he went to New Orleans in February 1862 to have an artificial foot constructed. Later, an agent sent to pick up the artificial foot had to escape New Orleans before the foot was finished due to the May 1862 Union capture of the city. He writes "I want you to let me know- what you think the chances would be to get the Commding General at Jackson to let a man have a flag of Truce- & also to get you to write to him & state the circumstances…

GLC00238

January 13, 1813

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jones

Written on board the homeward bound USS Constitution to Secretary of the Navy Jones regarding damages incurred during battle with the HMS Java as well as Bainbridge's own injuries. It was after this battle that the Constitution got the name "Old Ironsides."

GLC00496.007

circa 1825

Cornwall, Barry, 1787-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter signed Bryan Waller Procter, his writer pseudonym is Barry Cornwall. He sympathizes for the recipient's recent accident. He suggests having the recipient's publisher send proofs directly to Cornwall for transcription, and hopes for a speedy recovery.

GLC00496.211

May 22, 1863

Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield, 1834-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Birdseye McPherson

Ransom, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Corps, writes from "50 Rods from Enemies Works" to McPherson, commander of the 17th Corps during the Battle of Vicksburg. Writes "am holding position but suffering awfully... terrible loss- stop that gun for God sake... I cannot get the move forward until that damn gun on the left is silenced- My loss is heavy- I have done all man can do to get over the works..." Mentions that Colonels Nevins and Humphreys were killed. Written in pencil. Location inferred from content.

GLC00538

August 26, 1777

Mumford, Giles, 1759-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Giles Mumford as a soldier under Lieutenant Colonel Meigs to his father Thomas Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. References his father's letters from August 11, 1777 and August 13, 1777. Says he has not received his powder puff, nor his cups, but that if they are returned he does not need them since there is a barber where he is. Says Colonel Samuel Webb has given him the liberty to keep a horse, as long as it is outside of camp. Says that in his last letter he informed his father that General Parsons and Colonel Webb went on a secret expedition to Long Island with 600 men…

GLC00496.075.02

28 November 1864

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Probably Wheeler's original draft of a telegram. Wheeler, commanding Cavalry Corps in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida writes to Bragg, commander of the Department of North Carolina. Reports on an engagement against the troops of General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick near Big Buckhead Church, noting that General Felix Huston Robertson was severely wounded. Writes "The enemy fought stubbornly and a considerable number of them were killed. We stampeded and came very near capturing Kilpatrick twice but having a fast horse he escaped bare headed, leaving his hat in our hands..."…

GLC00549

March 31, 1869

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Grant Cramer

Ulysses S. Grant writes to his sister about family matters and office seekers. He apologizes for not having replied at once to her letter. He mentions that "Father...left here(?) last Thursday after a visit..." His father evidently had some sort of injury that "will prabably make him lame for life." Letter written on lined paper.

GLC00655.13

August 4, 1863

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edgar Cowan

Geary writes to Cowan, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania, in attempt to obtain a recommendation for his promotion to Major General. He cites his qualifications and the achievements of his brigades. He declares "I have received four honorable wounds, and have never left my command for a single hour (Except once when my left arm was badly shattered) to devote even one moment to my own private affairs, or like many that you and I could name, parade ... around Washington to make political capital and ensure promotion." Discussing his opinions on current policy, he states that "Patriotism…

GLC00673

March 15, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Robert Crooke Wood

Sherman writes to Assistant Surgeon General Wood (Sherman incorrectly addresses the letter to "C.R." Wood). Sherman writes about his armies' medical preparedness, commenting that they are well supplied with surgeons, medicines, medical supplies, and hospital accommodations. He extensively praises his Chief Surgeon, Dr. Charles McMillan. Sherman shows concern for soldiers wounded in the Vicksburg campaign. He writes from camp before Vicksburg.

GLC00667

January 11, 1863

Wood, Sterling Alexander Martin, 1823-1891

Document signed

Title: [Report on the Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River]

Written from the Headquarters of Wood's Brigade, General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne's Division, Army of Tennessee (Confederate). Brigadier General Wood directs this report to Captain Irving A. Buck, Cleburne's assistant adjutant-general. Discusses the battle in detail, naming generals present, mentioning troop movement and position, and citing weapons and tactics used. Relates "In conclusion, the Brigade Commander Expresses the opinion that in this battle the 1100 men he took into action vindicated by their blood the determination of our people to conquer their freedom or die in the struggle…

GLC00784