1861-1865 ca.

Ord, Edward Ortho Cresap, 1818-1883

Photograph

Title: General Ord, at Jeff Davis's Mansion

E. & H. T. Anthony & Co., publisher. Negative by Brady & Co., Washington. Caption: "Col. [sic] Ord, at the mansion formerly occupied by Jeff Davis, Richmond, Va. In the doorway is the table upon which the surrender of Gen. lee was signed."

GLC05137.241

20 October 1864

Button, Charles W., fl. 1858-1877

Newspaper

Title: Lynchburg Virginian. [October 20, 1864]

Includes an article discussing the recruitment of African Americans for military service. States "We prefer to organize colored regiments now, while we have an abundance of the white element in the field to absorb the other, and to guard effectually against the danger which some people apprehend from arming and organizing the servile race." Contains articles pertaining to recent Civil War events. Mentions Generals John Mosby and William Tecumseh Sherman, among various others. Discusses the Supreme Court vacancy caused by the death of Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice.

GLC05196

3 January 1855

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his uncle

A heartfelt letter noting the spiritual guidance that Jackson's uncle gave to Jackson's now deceased wife, Ellie. Jackson expresses thanks for his uncle's condolence after her passing. He discusses his sadness and changed outlook on life. Jackson also writes of his faith in God overlooking him.

GLC05508.006

January 11, 1881

Colquitt, Alfred Holt, 1829-1894

Typed letter signed

Title: to Dr. & Mrs. Talmage

Apparently written upon the death of Talmage's daughter-in-law. Colquitt offers his condolence and urges the Talmages and their son to find comfort in tears and faith.

GLC05508.071

17 August 1867

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Noted at top "Strictly Confidential." Discusses events of 1850, 1857-8-9 and 1860-61. He argues that repeal of the Missouri Compromise logically allowed nullification of other things as well. Blames abolitionism. Argues that the South had to withdraw rather than work against Lincoln because eventually it would be outnumbered whatever it did. includes justification for "The exercise of the sovereign right of state revocation of its Grants and withdrawl from the union." Alfriend was author of The Life of Jefferson Davis. Marked "Strictly Confidential" at the top. Written a few months…

GLC05344.01

3 May 1887

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Writes to his brother regarding his travel plans for the next week or so. States he will go to Washington to attend the meeting of the Army of the Cumberland and the unveiling of the Garfield statue, then he must go to Philadelphia. Informs that he will be at John's house on Wednesday 11 May. Discusses other personal and family matters. Discusses his Wolseley letter arguing that Ulysses S. Grant was a superior strategist over Robert E. Lee. "My Wolseley letter seems to be received generally with favor, but the South and England may not relish it. " The Wolseley letter involved a dispute…

GLC05465

21 March 1910

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sam Chapman

Refers to Gettysburg. Contrasts differing reports of Henry Heth and Ambrose Powell Hill about going to Gettysburg after some shoes.

GLC05470

1865-1869

English, John G., fl. 1827-1869

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Post-war plantation diary and journal of Mississippi cotton planter]

English mentions Confederate generals visiting, Civil War battles, slavery, and Reconstruction, among other topics. Provides a list of all slave families on this Mississippi Cotton plantation. Contains a detailed account of crops planted, weather, and other topics related to plantation life. (Refer to related items GLC05496, an antebellum journal, and GLC05460, English's presidential pardon). There is a space in the front of this manuscript as the result of pages which were cut out. Rebound, but accompanied by original cover.

GLC05497

1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: Items related to John Slidell [Decimalized .01-.02]

Letter by Slidell and print of him, clipped from a newspaper.

GLC05342

28 April 1871

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Marked "Private" at the top. Davis has not been able to obtain a copy of the biography which Alfriend wrote. The book is available only through subscription. He heard the book was "the best work on the subject which had been produced." He encourages Alfriend to write a history of the war between the states that would do "justice to our Section . . . ." He continues: "The severe ordeal of War and the still harder test of unrestrained power in the hands of the successful combattant [sic], have shed a flood of light on the questions which were discussed in the formation of the plan of Union…

GLC05344.02

3 October 1876

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Enclosing a letter from an author name Spruce [?], who wrote a history of the "War between the Northern and Southern States." Davis notes the book is widely circulated in America. [Enclosure is not included in the collection.]

GLC05344.03

1861-1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph note

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Informing Alfriend that Davis will come to see him tonight or tomorrow.

GLC05344.04

30 December 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: to Benjamin F. Butler

Arranging for a courier to deliver a sealed letter to "a Commissioned Confederate officer," who will pass it on to Jefferson Davis. The sealed letter requested a meeting with Davis to negotiate peace, and is possibly related to the Hampton Roads Conference.

GLC05456

21 November 1862- 2 December 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Letterbook

Title: [Nine letters (from letterbook) written by General Gustavus Woodson Smith]

Written while Smith was commander of defenses at Richmond (expanded to become the Department of Virginia and North Carolina). Contains a dispatch from Smith to the officer in command of Fredericksburg, Virginia dated 21 November 1862, stating that the Mayor of Fredericksburg telegraphed Smith the news that Fredericksburg is to be shelled the following day. Smith asks if he should send cars for the removal of women and children. Contains a letter from Smith to General William H. C. Whiting at Wilmington, North Carolina (21 November), assuring Whiting that everything practicable will be done…

GLC05469

1868

McRae, John C., fl. 1850-1880

Print

Title: The Surrender of General Lee

Title continues, "and his entire army to Lieut. General U.S. Grant, April 9, 1865." Depicts Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee in front of a tree in a field. Grant is rendered in the act of handing Lee the surrender treaty. Organized troops can be seen in the distance. A few men on horseback stand watching behind and to the side of both Grant and Lee. Published by Thomas Kelly.

GLC05472

1880 August 27

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Photograph signed

Title: [G.T. Beauregard]

Signed on the front "G.T. Beauregard. 1865" with a note on verso giving an August 27 1880 date. Imprint of Washburn, New Orleans.

GLC05498

7 September 1863

King, & Baird, 1839-1876

Broadside

Title: The Road to Peace through Pennsylvania via Washington, as Engineered by Southern Rebels and their Democratic Allies.

Includes several excerpts from the Richmond Enquirer, described as Jefferson Davis' Organ. States that the next Congressional session will be important, as "During its deliberation, the Presidential campaign of 1864 will be marked out." Proposes that "Should General Lee cross into Maryland, the embarrassments of Lincoln would increase." Advocates a Confederate campaign into Pennsylvania to retaliate following the July 1863 Union victory at Gettysburg.

GLC05645

11 November 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Gordon Meade

Grant, Commander in Chief of the United States Army, writes to Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, during the Union's operations against Petersburg. States that Confederate forces are moving on General Terry's (possibly Alfred Howe Terry's) front and massing North of the James River. Notes that these might be troops reported the previous day to have left Hill's Corps (possibly Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill). States "If the enemy should attack Terry it will be out of the Question to reinforce him... but be prepared to attack at Petersburg either by morning to the left or…

GLC05623

May 1862

Map

Title: [Confederate Civil War map of the Army of Mississippi camp at Corinth, Mississippi]

Manuscript map shows the lines of entrenchments and reinforcements, the Danville Road, cultivated land, camp roads, a cotton press, the O & M Railroad and C & M Railroad, and General William J. Hardee's headquarters. Map was blind stamped while folded with a mark saying "Peter O'Donnell, 16 Camp Street New Orleans" with a design of a ship; he was the stationer who made the paper. Docketed on verso.

GLC05668

5 March 1861

Memminger, Christopher G., 1803-1888

Printed document signed

Title: [Requirement for the deposit of money to the Confederate Treasury]

Memminger, serving as Secretary of the Confederate Treasury, instructs former public officers of the United States to "make immediate payment into the Confederate Treasury, of any balance ... of money collected or received by you, for the account of the United States."

GLC05674

January 15, 1866

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Letter draft written in prison by the former commander the CSS "Alabama" to the President defending himself against all charges. Discusses the surrender agreement at Greensboro, the definition of treason, the United States Constitution, and his unlawful imprisonment. "The commerce of half a world was at my mercy, and the passions of men North and South, were tossed into a whirl wind by the current events of the most bloody and terrific war the human race had ever seen." Extensive corrections throughout. President Johnson in May 1866 directed that Semmes, while unpardoned, could not hold…

GLC05590

22 March 1864

Pierrepont, Edwards, 1817-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Evarts

Recounts a private conversation with the Secretary of State William H. Seward. Discusses presidential politics. Reports that Salmon P. Chase has withdrawn from the election. Remarks, "Mr. Lincoln has the people; there is no doubt of this; but he has not the upper classes nor the Politicians ... The Copperheads are all for McClellan. The radicals and Germans for Fremont. The Common Man for Lincoln ... " Mentions the ongoing Civil War, "Grant [General Ulysses S.] comes here today and leads the Army of the Potomac. We have every confidence that Lee must be destroyed ... We expect bloody…

GLC05603.01.02

28 December 1874

Kell, John McIntosh, 1823-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Raphael Semmes

Writes to Semmes about "my recollection of the capture of the Whaling Ship Levi Starbuck." Gives a detailed description of the events leading up to the ship's capture and the situation of the Levi Starbuck's prisoners on board -- "I most solemnly hold that no prisoners on board of the Alabama were treated with severity" but "greater restrictions were necessary...perhaps confinement in irons." Mentions that a man named Whitney claims that "the loss of the use of his hands" occurred while he was imprisoned on the Alabama and calls the accusation "simply absurd." Writes that Whitney…

GLC05591

17 May 1862

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard S. Ewell

Notes Ewell's "crossing the mountains in consequence of Shields having done so." Also requests that General George H. Stewart and his men be returned to Jackson as soon as possible. This movement along the Shenandoah Valley was part of a larger set of maneuvers by Jackson that led to important Confederate victories.

GLC05615

11 October 1867

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward George Washington Butler

Lee, President of Washington College, replies to a letter from General Butler. Acknowledges the receipt of a pamphlet entitled "Oaths, Amnesties, & Rebellions." Discusses the execution of Ferdinand Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, before a firing squad in Mexico, stating that "His death was not necessary & accomplished nothing, but the excitement of the horror of the civilized world. He went to Mexico at the formal invitation of her people, & laboured hard for their improvement." Requests that Butler offer his regards to several acquaintances. Discusses a recent bout with…

GLC05275