April 6, 1865

Imboden, John D., 1823-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Imboden, a Confederate general, writes to an unknown correspondent about preserving the South, especially his state of Virginia. He mentions some shoes made by Yankees that do not fit. States that his wife is not well and that he is anxious to get back to his native Virginia before she is too sick to travel. Informs that he will write to General Lee for orders to return. Feels he will be more useful there since he knows the state. He hopes that the loss of Virginia to Union forces might be made more difficult by a "small active cavalry force," especially in the western part of the state.…

GLC01628

9 May 1861

Harris, Isham G., 1818-1897

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Richard G. Fain Commissary General of the Provisional Force of Tennessee Volunteers]

Signed by Harris as Governor of Tennessee. Gives Fain the rank of Colonel of Cavalry. With red seal intact. Harris was a Confederate sympathizer who maneuvered his state into the Confederacy.

GLC01629

September 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Samuel G. French

A page extracted from his letterbook (signed twice) discussing the defense of North Carolina and Virginia. Informs French that "the people of Onslow County N.C." passed a resolution regarding the defense of North Carolina. The resolution was sent to President Davis, and Smith hopes "conflict between State and Confederate laws" can be avoided. Also inquires if French is prepared to defend "Weldon, Petersburg or Richmond," and the surrounding area. The letter is undated but sent to Zebulon Baird Vance as the Governor of North Carolina. Vance was inaugurated on September 8, 1862, so the letter…

GLC01641

May 18, 1862

Hardee, William Joseph, 1815-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sterling Alexander Martin Wood

Confederate General Hardee discusses the impending battle of Corinth. Explains that his sickness, and "the possibility that I might be unable to command this army corps," makes establishing a chain of succession vital. He thanks Wood for relinquishing his claim to command to Bushrod Johnson. Hardee then commanded the 3rd Corps, Army of the Mississippi.

GLC01642

January 7, 1865

Humes, William Young Conn, 1830-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George William Brent

Confederate General Humes discusses his request for 1,000 yards of cloth from the Army of Tennessee to distributed for sale among the officers of his division. He explains that his officers have never before drawn clothing from the government and that many of them are "almost destitute of clothing." Letter written from Humes Headquarters in Georgia.

GLC01643

September 1, 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Lyons

Davis informs Lyons that General Robert E. Lee sent a dispatch indicating that General William B. Taliaferro was slightly wounded at Manassas Junction (during the second Battle of Manassas, AKA Bull Run). He does not want Lyons to be alarmed by "exaggerated reports." Lyons was a representative from Virginia in the Confederate Congress.

GLC01651

January 24, 1862

Pendleton, Alexander Swift, 1840-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rose Pendleton

Alexander "Sandie" Pendleton, Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson's aide, writes to his sister about his trip to Winchester, Virginia, from Romney, Virginia, where Confederate generals Richard Garnett and William Loring had their winter quarters. He asks her to send him clothes and boots (his shoes had been stolen). Discusses family correspondence and visits. Comments on the children playing around him as he writes. Letter written during Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign.

GLC01652

December 26, 1864

Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances Lucretia Thomas

Letter addressed to Mrs. Thomas (possibly Frances Thomas, formerly Kellogg), wife of Union General George H. Thomas. Tower, chief engineer of the defenses of Nashville, describes the December 15-16 Battle of Nashville. Thomas, commanding Union forces at Nashville against Confederate General John Bell Hood. Referring to Thomas, he writes "to inform you how beautifully matters have transpired here since you left & how glorious the Gen has demolished the Rebel Army of Hood who had the presumption to fancy it in his power to besiege Nashville..." Mentions Generals John McAllister Schofield (…

GLC01654

February 28, 1854

Price, Sterling, 1809-1867

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of George Stewart, convicted of assault with intent to kill]

Stewart was convicted of assault with intent to kill; sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "good and sufficient reasons". Encribed along top: "The State of Missouri." (c/s John M. Richardson). Pardon is printed on blue paper. Signed by Governor John M. Richardson and Sterling Price.

GLC01661

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

April 15, 1865

Imboden, John Daniel, 1823-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Gibbs

Confederate General Imboden encloses an approved application for leave for a man named Borlay (not present) and hopes the recipient (likely Colonel George Gibbs, de facto commandant of Andersonville) will be cured by his visit to Florida. Mentions Confederate prison department news and states he has heard General Daniel Ruggles was appointed Commissary General of Prisoners. Informs him of his request to obtain field command in Virginia again, with the implication that Gibbs could earn promotion to general and assignment to Imboden's position of commander of All Military Prisons West of the…

GLC01664

20 June 1862

Wood, Sterling Alexander Martin, 1823-1891

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Report on Battle of Shiloh]

General Wood's explanation of his own actions at the Battle of Shiloh, sent to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The report appears to be in response to negative testimony about Wood's conduct given by Judge Walters. Wood details all of his own actions during the battle, and denies the charges Walters has made. Wood describes the chaos that surrounded the entire battle, and the actions of himself and his regiment, mostly around Shiloh Church. Written at "Head Quarters 3d Brigade." The pages are joined by a ribbon.

GLC01666

September 30, 1854

McClellan, George B., 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

McClellan, Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, describes the Island of Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) geographically and politically to Davis, Secretary of War. Relays information about Hispaniola obtained from the German explorer Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk. Referring to Hispaniola, he states "there are no indications of either commercial or agricultural prosperity."

GLC01669

4 July 1827

Worth, William Jenkins, 1749-1849

Printed document signed

Title: [United State Military Academy diploma of Leonidas Polk]

Diploma is cosigned by Major General William J. Worth, among other instructors. Partly printed document.

GLC01687

December 12, 1863

Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Thrasher

Confederate General Polk writes to the wife of a man identified as Colonel Thrasher to inform her that he has began an inquiry into the affairs of a man she wrote to Polk about. In an initialed postscript, he comments on the removal of Braxton Bragg from command of Army of Tennessee.

GLC01696

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

26 September 1864

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph document signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

In this telegram Stanton, Secretary of War, writes "The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday rejoices that 'Beauregard has been assigned to the Command of the Army in Georgia, that his star ever led to victory and his very name inspires confidence of success.' A report comes to the Navy Department via Memphis and Cairo that Mobile has surrendered. I do not credit it." Mentions Union General Philip Henry Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

GLC01583

January 1864

Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Birney

Discusses a congressional investigation into General George G. Meade for disciplining officers who testified before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War after Meade let Lee escape after Gettysburg. Tells Major General Birney to give his true opinion to Congress and that he will urge his contacts in the Congress and the Secretary of War to back off. Also mentions having dinner with President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, where he also met Henry Halleck and Meade. Meade was later exonerated and received a vote of thanks from Congress.

GLC01599

1 September 1869

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Document signed

Title: Selma marion memphis railroad company first mortgage eight percent bond.

Signed by President of the railroad company, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest, an inveterate opponent of Reconstruction, used such ventures to rebuild his fortune after the Civil War. Includes 28 coupons for $40 attached. Second page includes an endoresement of the bond by the state of Alabama, and a list of "persons allowed" to take out a bond.

GLC01593

September 17, 1864

Drayton, Percival, 1812-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. C. Palmer

Drayton served as captain of Admiral David Farragut's flagship, the sloop of war "Hartford," and also as fleet captain of the West Gulf Blockade Squadron. Tells Palmer, the fleet surgeon on board the "Pensacola," that he sent a box and small package by the "Sebago" for Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan. Wants Palmer to ask Buchanan when the 15 inch shot that almost penetrated the port side of the CSS "Tennessee" during the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864 was delivered. Both Buchanan and the "Tennessee" were captured during the battle -- Buchanan was wounded. Wants to know if anything…

GLC01545.07

23 September 1861

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Queen Victoria

Presenting James M. Mason as the "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary" from the Confederate States of America to Great Britain. Mason and John Slidell were captured by Union ships during their voyage to Europe, beginning the Trent Affair.

GLC01546

1 March 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Proclamation of martial law in Richmond]

"I Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America do proclaim that martial law is hereby extended over the City of Richmond and the adjoining and surrounding country to the distance of ten miles." The word "Seal" with a circle around it is written on the second page, in place of an official seal. Signed as President of the Confederate States, written in the hand of Judah P. Benjamin, as Secretary of War.

GLC01547

May 3, 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Philip St. George Cocke

Signed two weeks after Lee left the service of the U.S. Army. The letter from Lee to Cocke discusses mustering the first Virginia regiments to defend state.

GLC01564

May 10, 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Philip St. George Cocke

Lee writes to Cocke discussing early training of the newly recruited Virginia regiments. Letter signed three weeks after leaving the service of the U.S. Army.

GLC01565

July 13, 1863

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to John Daniel Imboden

Lee outlines his plans for the safe retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia 10 days after their defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg. He gives instructions to Brigadier General Imboden to cross the Potamac and proceed to Cherry Creek to ascertain whether or not the enemy troops are waiting. He instructs him to do all in his power to repress the advances of the enemy and defend the Confederate trains nearby so the army could retreat. Imboden did as he was told and Lee safely crossed the Potomac River the same night this letter was written. He was able to retreat because Union General George…

GLC01566