February 3, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: Orders No. 7

Retained copy of his orders No. 7, as captain of the Columbus Guard, gives orders regarding the departure of the company from Columbus, Georgia to serve as "an escort of honor to Company __ of the __ Regiment of Alabama volunteers." Possibly related to the Columbus Guards's honor service at Jefferson Davis's inauguration in Montgomery, Alabama. Countersigned by 3rd Sergeant Van Marcus. Docketed by Semmes on verso.

GLC00572.32

March 10, 1861

Brown, Joseph Emerson, 1821-1894

Telegram

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Telegram from the Governor of Georgia telling Semmes he must see him in Savannah immediately, before his company is organized. Reads " I must see you before you organize your command. Come to Savannah immediately - Answer." Docketed at bottom. On stationery of the American Telegraph Company.

GLC00572.33

28 October 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Orders No. ? on roll calls and drills]

Retained copy of his order relating to rules for roll call inspections, drills and parades for the 2nd Georgia Infantry of which Semmes was elected colonel at the outbreak of the war. Written in pencil from Camp near Centreville, Virginia.

GLC00572.34

December 3, 1861

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Jasper S. Whiting, major and assistant adjutant general, replies to Semmes's letter questioning something about certificates of disability. Written from the Headquarters of the 2nd Corps. Addressed to Semmes as Colonel commanding the 9th Brigade.

GLC00572.35.01

February 4, 1862

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Manuscript document signed

Title: Circular order

Circular from Major General Commanding Joseph E. Johnston concerning recruiting. Advises brigade commanders to promptly forward recruits to their companies as it is urgent that the Confederate army increase its numbers. Signed by Major and Assistant Adjutant General Jasper S. Whiting by command of Major General Gustavus W. Smith. Initialled by Paul J. Semmes, "P.J.S." in margin on page one. At the time, the Confederate Army was suffering from severe shortage of recruits.

GLC00572.36

circa 1863

unknown, fl. 1863

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of the reburial of Confederate Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes]

One undated hand-colored photograph of the reburial of Confederate Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes. Image is of military officers gathered by Semmes's new grave in Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia.

GLC00572.37

circa 1860s

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Object

Title: [Coat button from General Semmes's uniform]

Brass coat button with eagle emblem. Complete with shank. Stamped on back, "Horstmann & Allien NY."

GLC00572.38

August 4, 1863

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Pleasanton

Custer writes to his commanding officer to report that he has complied with his orders to send 800-1000 men. He notes that this will leave him in command of two batteries of Horse Artillery without support. He explains that he would rather see those two batteries go along than leave his train open to Confederate General John S. Mosby's attack. Written in pencil from the Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division.

GLC00614

25 April 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Manuscript document

Title: [General Ruggles' official report on the Battle of Shiloh]

Very detailed report on the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on 6-7 April 1862, addressed to Major George G. Garner. Confederate General Ruggles commanded Ruggles Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Mississippi at the battle. Retained copy.

GLC00617.01

December 4, 1864

Trimble, Isaac Ridgeway, 1802-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Octavia Trimble

Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, a Confederate prisoner of war held in Boston, writes a poetic letter to his wife, Octavia, about captivity and his longing for home. "You may think I am sincere if you reflect a moment that I am not free like you 'to wander at will among the woods, & hold sweet communion with nature's loveliness.' Oh no! lonely, lonely captivity is my lot, with but few glimpses of the sky & none of the earth, woods, flowers, birds or babbling brooks ... All under foot, above, around is granite; granite! ... Home is now almost a forgotten word, or its memory comes lone,…

GLC00615

1878

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Defense of conduct at the Battle of Shiloh]

A report on the Battle of Shiloh defending his conduct against claims made in a biography of A.S. Johnston by Johnston's half-brother William Preston Johnston, entitled: The life of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, embracing his services in the armies of the United States, the republic of Texas, and the Confederate States. Quotes Braxton Bragg. Describes W.P. Johnston's work as "infamous calumny on the military record of myself and the troops I had there." Written in pencil.

GLC00617.02

April 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Excerpt from General Ruggles' official report on the Battle of Shiloh]

Brief excerpt in Ruggles' hand from the bottom of p.4 of GLC00617.01.

GLC00617.03

5 May 1865

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript

Title: to William Terry and John Daniel Imboden

Order to Confederate generals Terry and Imboden to exchange federal prisoners. "The Commissary General of prisoners directs me to instruct you to parole all Federal prisoners of war now held within our jurisdictions, according to established forms, and to send them under flag of truce in charge of competent officers to the nearest accessible points in the Federal lines for exchange ... " Though unsigned, letter has a pencil endorsement signed by Ruggles, dated 1897, stating this is an original order in his own handwriting. Ruggles was serving as the commissary general of prisoners of war…

GLC00618

May 22, 1863

Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Zebulon B. Vance

Encloses letters (not included) sent to soldiers from their homes encouraging desertion. Discusses the growing problem of desertion in the army at length and attributes it to one cause, the negative state of public opinion on the home front. Believes that the commanding officers are not doing enough to combat desertion in their ranks. Remarks that, "The great majority of my Brigade would shoot a deserter as quick as they would a snake, but our place is here and not in the rear..." States that he has sent men out to bring back the deserters dead or alive but thinks they will not be successful…

GLC00627

December 8, 1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General C.J. Wright

In the letter, Jefferson Davis writes about his political future and Reconstruction. Davis upholds the secessionist notion of the Union: "The word Union implies volition among the members...." The location where the letter was written is possibly Mississippi City or Missouri City.

GLC00578

July 19, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George H. Thomas

Sherman writes to General Thomas, also engaged in the Atlanta campaign. He refers to a note from General George Stoneman endorsed by Thomas, which reported the advance of troops under the command of Confederate General John Hood. Sherman writes that he can not reconcile information in the note with what he has seen and heard. He thinks it is possible "that the Enemy is crossing in force at the mouth of the Sweetwater. I think it is the cavalry by way of diversion. Please send to Gen Stoneman again and see if he has ascertained the truth..." He writes that Stoneman and General Edward McCook…

GLC00583

August 29, 1873

Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Raphael Semmes

Jubal Anderson Early, a former lieutenant general in the Confederate Army, writes to former Confederate admiral and brigadier general Raphael Semmes regarding correspondence with a German who has created a flying machine that could be used to bombard northern cities. Says "...I have this day received an offer from a German who says he has invented a flying machine, to dedicate to the Southern Cause, which he says is not lost...he says we can bombard and destroy...Northern Cities with his flying machines. I will publish the letter as a fitting comment in all the fit Northern papers are raising…

GLC00610

1861

Hoyer & Ludwig, fl. 1860

Map signed

Title: New map of Virginia

Folding map with Jackson's (Stonewall) signature "T.J. Jackson" on the inside of what was once the outer wrapper/binding. Insets of Harpers Ferry and Norfolk Harbor. The map was printed by J.W. Randolph, drawn and colored by Husted & Nenning, and lithographed by Hoyer & Ludwig in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC00612.01

1865

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883

Photograph

Title: [Platinum Rice Print of Alexander Stephens]

Copyright written on negative on lower right corner. From the original 1865 imperial negative by Gardner, printed in 1901. Rice is believed to have been an assistant to Brady or Gardner during the Civil War. He later opened his own studio.

GLC00551

May 13, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Bruce Seddon

Confederate Secretary of War Seddon writes to his wife about the Civil War and the Battle of Vicksburg. He states "I am in the greatest anxiety about Vicksburg- The Yankees I fear have taken Jackson- At last accounts they were only a few miles from it and our forces retiring- Vicksburg is cut off..." He mentions General Johnson (possibly General Joseph E. Johnston), commanding Confederate forces at Jackson, Mississippi with General John Gregg. He transmits a "Yankee paper" (not included).

GLC00542

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

18 April 1865

Johnson, Joseph E., 1807-1891

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft of the surrender agreement between Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston]

Copy made, certified, and signed by Colonel Alexander Robert Chisolm, Confederate General Pierre T. Beauregard's aide-de-camp. Details the terms of the surrender of the Army of Tennessee.

GLC00689

January 3, 1865

Kell, John McIntosh, 1823-1900

Document signed

Title: [Navy Department invoice of stores]

Receipt for "a Tin basin & pitcher" signed by York and Kell.

GLC00684.14

March 24, 1865

Lee, Sydney Smith, 1802-1869

Letter signed

Title: to John McIntosh Kell

Lee grants Kell leave until the first of May, "when you will report in writing to this Office the condition of your health." Letter forwarded by Surgeon James Harrison. Letter written on stationery of the C.S. Navy's Office of Orders and Detail.

GLC00684.15

February 4, 1869

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McIntosh Kell

Raphael Semmes writes that, while in Baltimore, he has inscribed a copy of his book and ordered the publishers to send it to Kell's "little son, my namesake." He fondly inquires after Kell's family. Raphael Semmes, commander of the famous raider CSS Alabama was promoted to admiral in the Confederate Navy in 1865, and briefly served as a brigadier general in the army following the fall of Richmond.

GLC00684.16