December 1860 - March 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Paul J. Semmes archive regarding buying arms and military equipment [decimalized .01-.14]

14 copies of documents and letters, most in the hand of Paul J. Semmes about his efforts as agent to buy arms for the state of Georgia before the war. Contracts with Parrot for guns and DuPont for gunpowder.

GLC00508

December 11, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with Charles Hugh of Pittsburgh for six eight inch Columbiads, 300 solid shot, and 1500 shells. Advises that the guns will be inspected by a member of the U.S. ordnance corps. Informs that the guns weight 900 pounds each, the shot 65 pounds, and the shells, 50 pounds. Discusses the costs. States that these guns will be cast using the "Rodman patent." Remarks, "Such guns cannot be obtained at any other foundry in the U.S." Marked copy on docket. Addressed from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.02

December 21, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract for 300 Colt New Model Army pistols to be delivered in two weeks. Mentions that the same factory, the Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut is now filling orders for the U.S. Government at the same price of $22.50. Comments on the pistol, "...this is a very superior arm - a little longer & larger than Colts Navy and lighter than Colt Dragoon pistol and better than either." Informs of other contracts made for "...cavalry & artillery sabres, cavalry & Infantry equipments, rifle cannon &…

GLC00508.03

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]

Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The…

GLC00508.04

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a copy of a letter to the Secretary of War and to Major Wayne (not present), the newly appointed Adjutant General of Georgia. The letters concern an attempt to purchase tents from the U.S. government. Advises that the tents be manufactured in Georgia under Wayne's direction as cheaply as possible and of good quality. Informs that he will report on the status of a proposed contract for 18 pounders to be made in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC00508.05

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with James T. Ames of Chicopee, Massachusetts (Ames Manufacturing) for cavalry equipment, postal pouches, haversacks, knapsacks & straps, Infantry equipment, carbine equipment, cavalry sabers, artillery sabers, and artillery saber belts and plates. With a pencil note signed PS stating he has had a cold since leaving Georgia. Written from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.06

January 14, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Augustus Viele

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to Viele in West Troy, New York. Insists that Governor Brown and the State of Georgia will only make payments for the cannons produced by Viele's foundry according to the terms of the contract. Advises that Mr. Kemble of New York will appoint an inspector for the cannons in case Lieutenant Balsh cannot find one. Viele might have been worried about getting his payment as the war drew nearer.

GLC00508.07

January 15, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimates of camp & garrison equipage for 10,000 men]

List of estimated costs of equipment for 7,500 Infantry, 1,500 Cavalry, and 1000 Artillery according to United States standards. Not in Semmes's hand but with additions by him. Includes items such as knapsacks, bedsacks, hatchets, camp kettles, tents and other equipment. Total cost of $109,436.80. (See 00508.11 regarding Georgia's decision to raise 10,000 troops.)

GLC00508.08

circa December 8, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document

Title: [Estimates of sizes needed for tents]

Size estimates for hospital tents, hospital tents fly, wall tents fly, and servants tents. Docketed by Paul J. Semmes; on top a note in pencil that reads, "Copy sent Gov Brown 8 Dec 1860 PJS - " Otherwise not dated. Blue lined paper.

GLC00508.09

February 1, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel H.C. Wayne

Semmes's retained copy. Encloses letters (not present) from Augustus Viele, Mr. Kemble, Captain J. G. Britons, and E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co in Wilmington, Delaware. The letters concern the inspection of gun carriages and the shipment of powder, cannon and cartridges. Addressed to Wayne as Adjutant General, Milledgeville, Georgia.

GLC00508.10

March 11, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copies. Writes to the Governor of Georgia to advise that Jefferson Davis is calling for only 2000 troops from the state of Georgia, instead of the 10,000 volunteers the state had planned to raise. Also advises that Davis planned to make all appointments of general officers in the state troops and gives Brown the opportunity to reconsider his commission of Semmes as brigadier general, lest it "might embarrass you and place us in an awkward position." This letter documents the start of the friction between Jefferson Davis and Georgia Governor Joseph Brown that lasted…

GLC00508.11

January 5, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Marked copy but possibly a draft as it contains cross outs. Writes to the Governor of Georgia concerning the purchase of cannons from Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia. Encloses a contract (not present; possibly GLC00503) made with Mr. J.R. Anderson & Co. for six 18 pounder guns and projectiles. Informs that James T. Ames Co. of Chicopee, Massachusetts is requesting an extension as he says he cannot have the knapsacks ready for delivery in the time stipulated in the contract.

GLC00508.12

January 18, 1861

Dupont de Nemours, E. J., fl. 1861

Manuscript document

Title: [Bill from E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co. for the State of Georgia]

Duplicate addressed to Governor of Georgia Joseph E. Brown. Bill for cartridges totaling $2119.50.

GLC00508.13

January 22, 1861

Dupont de Nemours, E. J., fl. 1861

Manuscript document

Title: [Bill from E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co. for the state of Georgia]

Bill for Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia for cannon, muskets, cartridges and other munitions. Totals $8452.12.

GLC00508.14

6 May 1865

Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879

Broadside

Title: General Order No. 54

Printed broadside of Confederate General Richard Taylor's surrender to Union General Edward S. Canby on 4 May 1865 at Citronelle, Alabama. Under the terms of the surrender officers retained their sidearms and horses, but property and equipment were to be turned over to the Federals, and the men were paroled to return home safely. The orders were issued from the headquarters of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.

GLC00512

March 30, 1863

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Letter signed

Title: to Earl Van Dorn

Reports that local citizens have complained about property destruction by Confederate troops. Claims that their men are doing more harm than if the Union forces were there. Recommends replacing officers and moving the troops. Argues "As a general thing there ought to be a change, and that soon, as the complaints are becoming loud & Heavy."

GLC00521

11 April 1865

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Header Record

Title: General Orders no. 9 [decimalized: order with pass]

GLC00526

11 April 1865

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Document signed

Title: General Order No. 9

Lee's farewell orders to his troops, written the day after his surrender to Grant. Docketed "General R. E. Lee's Farewell Orders." Written from Appomattox Court House, Virginia. This version is said to be one of the second group made out by Lee's secretary, Charles Marshall. (The handwriting of the text is Marshall's.)

GLC00526.01

May 14, 1863

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Lee

Written on Headquarters, Army of the Potomac stationery, following the Battle of Chancellorsville. Hooker, Union General commanding the Army of the Potomac writes to Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. States "On learning yesterday afternoon through my Medical Officers who have returned from your lines, that permission would be given to throw a bridge across the river at the U. S. Ford to enable our ambulance trains to proceed to the hospitals in the vicinity of Chancellorsville for our wounded I at once gave directions to have the bridge laid at an early hour this…

GLC00536

11 May 1865

Jackson, William Hicks, 1835-1903

Document signed

Title: [Confederate prisoner parole document]

Also signed by Union Brigadier General Elias Smith Dennis. Jackson signed as Confederate Brigadier General. Partially printed parole of honor of Confederate soldier John L. Dismukes, 2nd Lieutenant, Company K, Nixon's Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Marked with no. 290. Printed on the other side of a blank receipt of Jennings, Dismukes & Woolwine Hat, Caps, Straw Goods in Nashville, Tennessee. Lower left corner is missing.

GLC00565

1862-1863

Ruggles, Edward, 1817-1867

Header Record

Title: [2 letters to Edward S. Ruggles pertaining to his appointments] [decimalized .01-.02]

Decimilized at GLC0571.01 and .02.

GLC00571

15 May 1862

Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Edward S. Ruggles

On Confederate Navy Department stationery. Signed by Confederate Secretary of Navy Mallory. Endorsed by Admiral Franklin Buchanan and Commodore Charles McBlair. Letter appointing Ruggles, who was in Jackson, Mississippi, as Acting Midshipman in the Confederate Navy, Signal Corps. Ruggles was assigned to the second class. Buchanan's endorsement says that Ruggles "Reported July 21st 62. Report for duty on board the 'Morgan.'" Edward S. Ruggles (1843-1919) was the son of Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles, who fought at Shiloh, Corinth and Baton Rouge before being appointed commissary general of…

GLC00571.01

20 August 1863

Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880

Document signed

Title: to Edward S. Ruggles

Partially-printed document signed by Confederate Secretary of War Seddon. Appoints Ruggles as Signal Officer with the rank and pay of Second Lieutenant in the Provisional Army (Ruggles had previously served in the Navy), effective 19 August 1863. Ruggles to report to "Maj. Morris for more thorough instruction in the Signal Service." Ruggles was the son of CSA brigadier general Daniel Ruggles.

GLC00571.02

1834-1866

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of Paul J. Semmes, 2nd Regiment, Georgia, infantry [Decimalized .01-.38]

Documents relating to the arming of Georgia and Semmes's militia and early Civil War service. Most documents are housed together, although .4 and .18 are in oversize documents and .38 (button) is housed separately. Includes his Univ of Virginia instruction certificate, pre-war militia training, manuals.

GLC00572

21 April 1834

Partridge, N., fl. 1834

Document signed

Title: [Recommendation letter and certification of military instruction for Paul J. Semmes]

Partridge certifies that Semmes attended his course at the University of Virginia on military instruction "embracing the practical drills of infantry; permanent & field fortification; artillery; the attack & defense of fortified places; Ancient & Modern Tactics ..." Recommends Semmes and praises him as "attentive to the Instruction, correct in his deportment and his conduct that of the Gentleman and the Soldier." Docket crossed out on verso.

GLC00572.01