January 29, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Hatch

Major General Sherman writes to General Hatch about his plans for the Carolina campaign against Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. Sherman gives Hatch orders for troop movements. "I wish you tomorrow to send a Detachment to the Forks of the Road this side of the Salkehatchie, ... Try and make a pathway of fallen timber through the swamp, so as to Enable skirmishers to appear near the River Bank at the Railroad & Wagon Road Bridges." Informs that he will wait where he is until he hears from General Henry W. Slocum about Robertville. Believes it to be very important to hold the…

GLC03666

7 August 1862

Marshall, Humphrey, 1812-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Marshall believes "unless Col Morgans movement into Kentucky formed part of a plan of invasion intended to be permanent and effective, it would do harm instead of good." Thoroughly details his plan for such an invasion of Kentucky. Thinks Colonel John Morgan's raiding actions are ineffectual for creating armed resistance to Union control. Instead feels that if he launches a sustained invasion Kentucky residents will join him by the thousands, and he will be able to take Kentucky, and even move against Ohio. Letter mentions numerous officers including Confederate Major General William Wing…

GLC03906

February 22, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Marked Cipher at top and copy on verso. Grant writes to the Secretary of War that he had a 100 gun salute fired yesterday for the capture of Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, and has sent out Stanton's order to have it repeated.

GLC03923

12 September 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Hood

Writes to Confederate General Hood to discuss a prisoner exchange. Also discusses the deplorable conditions at Andersonville Prison, asking him to give the Union prisoners more room and food, and to allow them to construct shelters. Written on stationary of the "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi."

GLC03882

24 November 1865

Wirz, Elizabeth, 1826-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Affidavit concerning the lies of General L.C. Baker in regard to the case of Henry Wirz]

Wirz, the wife of the recently executed Captain Henry Wirz, denies Baker's allegation that she attempted to deliver a poison to her husband during one of her visits to him before he was convicted of war crimes at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. Contends that Baker was angered by her claim that government officials committed perjury during her husband's trial and forbade additional meetings with her husband. Without money to support herself, she returned to Kentucky "Committing her husband to the care of his Maker, and submitting his fate to the honor and Justice of a shoulder…

GLC03887

8 April 1862

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caroline Flagg Foote

Written by Foote as commander of the Mississippi River Squadron to his wife. Written from Island No. 10, the day after Foote's Squadron captured it. Says he can barely lift his pen to write after the recent fight and the "intense mental anxiety for 23 days." Says she will see the account of the capture of Island No. 10 and claims "It is a Gibraltar." Says he cannot keep his head up and will feel better after a good night's sleep. Says his foot (earlier injured by a Confederate shell) is bothering him. Also includes a black and white print titled "Bombardment of Island No. 10." Shows ironclad…

GLC03910

13 June 1861

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Winthrop

Following the 10 June 1861 Battle of Big Bethel, General Butler writes a letter of sympathy to Winthrop, informing her of the death of Major Theodore Winthrop, her son. States "After Major Winthrop had delivered the order with which he was charged to the Commander of the Regiment, he took his rifle and while his guide held his horse in the woods in the rear with too daring bravery went to the front; while there stepping upon a log to get a fell view of the foe, he received the fatal shot ..." Informs Mrs. Winthrop that because Theodore was so close to enemy lines, Union troops could not…

GLC03915.01

December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph manuscript

Title: [draft account of cavalry operations of Army of Northern Virginia]

Draft account of cavalry operations sent to Robert E. Lee, detailing actions of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division during May through June 1864, from Grant's crossing of the Rapidan River through the death of General J.E.B. Stuart. Details movement of his forces, battles fought, and general events during the time period. Laments the death General Stuart. Also discusses Union African American troops, whom he accuses of committing "outrages."

GLC03917

28 September 1861

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss [Gray?] Washington

To the sister of a Union soldier, stating that her brother desires "to see more active service," and that McClellan is feels "We need the service of all such officers." Written on Army of the Potomac stationary.

GLC04037

29 November 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Aaron Rawlins

General Sherman states that he will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, on 30 November 1865, and will leave Colonel R. M. Sawyer, Assistant Adjutant General of the Military Division of the Mississippi, in charge in his absence. Reports that he sent General Joseph J. Reynolds three African American regiments ordered to Sherman by General Lorenzo Thomas. States that Reynolds plans to muster out and discharge all volunteers in his department. Hopes to muster out the 100th Regiment of Colored Infantry, as it exceeds the needs of his department. States that General Edward Ortho Cresap Ord…

GLC04039

January 17, 1862

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

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Grant endorsement on exchange of prisoners taken at Battle of Belmont]

Union Brigadier General Grant reports on Federal prisoners taken at Belmont on 7 November 1861. "Nothing special has been heard from Federal prisoners for some time. I believe they are yet in Memphis." Endorsement written on the verso of a 17 January 1862 letter from Nathaniel B. Baker to Major General Henry Halleck requesting information about the exchange of prisoners taken by the Confederates at the battle of Belmont. Asks specifically about Captain Crabb of the Iowa 7th Infantry or any other Iowa soldier or officer. Written on State of Iowa, Adjutant General's Office stationery.…

GLC04003

circa 1870

Book signed

Title: Book signed and carte de visite of General George Armstrong Custer [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC04007

22 April 1865

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Walter Taylor

Submits a report of the operations of his command, the Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia from 28 March to 9 April 1865, the days leading up to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Detailed account of troop movements, skirmishes with Union forces, and the number of captured, wounded, and killed. Reports being joined by the divisions of Generals William Henry Fitz Lee and Thomas L. Rosser. Indicates that they attacked Sheridan's cavalry at Five Forks. Describes events leading up to the army withdrawing from Petersburg. Praises commanding generals W. H. F. Lee, Rosser, Thomas T. Munford,…

GLC04019

11 April 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen A. Hurlbut

Grant, Commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General Hurlbut, Commander of the 16th Army Corps. Refers to news of Hurlbut's movements brought by General Lee (possibly Albert Lindley Lee). Instructs Hurlbut to coordinate movement with General William Starke Rosecrans. Writes that due to the rising water of the Mississippi River, it will be impossible to move against Vicksburg, Mississippi from Helena or south of Panola, Louisiana. Due to rising water, predicts he will not be able to move for four days. Relates that the Marine Brigade was ordered to cooperate…

GLC04036

February 21, 1870

Chandler, Zachariah, 1813-1879

Document signed

Title: [Signatures of Senators and Congressmen requesting a speech by Zachariah Chandler on the topic of Fitz-John Porter]

Signed by 39 Senators and Congressmen, including Alexander Ramsey, Benjamin Franklin Rice, Charles Sumner, Hannibal Hamlin, Richard Yates, Carl Schurz, and Simon Cameron. Speeches ordered are to be printed at the Congressional Globe Office. Nine of the signers voted for and signed the 13th Amendment in 1865. The remaining signers are: Zachariah Chandler, Jacob Merritt Howard, Alexander McDonald, Matthew Hale Carpenter, William Alfred Buckingham, James Bruen Howell, James Warren Nye, John Spafford Harris, Reuben Eaton Fenton, William Pitt Kellogg, Abijah Gilbert, Thomas Ward Osborn, George…

GLC03947

10 June 1862

Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Dahlgren

Written by Fox as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Dahlgren as commander of the Washington Navy Yard. Tells Dahlgren that Ericsson is willing to produce 1 inch plates. Wants his report on the firing of cannon and his opinion before he proceeds. Dahlgren wrote a note at the bottom saying "Ericson was very positive as to his plates - why should he hesitate now?" Refers to inventor John Ericsson, who designed the ironclad "Monitor."

GLC03959.02

7 September 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Davis Townsend

Major General Meade requests information regarding "the organization of the Division of Colored troops formerly belonging to the 28th Corps" from Townsend, the Assistant Adjutant General. Inquires regarding the status of the command of Brigadier General Payne (possibly Charles Jackson Paine). Instructs Townsend to send his reply to Major General [Thomas Howard] Ruger. Written in ink with several pencil notations.

GLC03946

1864-1865

Phoenix, John W., fl. 1864-1865

Header Record

Title: [Diaries of John W. Phoenix, A company, 28th regiment, Wisconsin, infantry]

Diaries are decimalized.

GLC03956

1861-1865

Scurry, John G., fl. 1861-1871

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John G. Scurry, A company, 11th regiment, Virginia, infantry][Decimalized .01-.81]

Collection of letters belonging to John G. Scurry dated 1861-1865. Consists of 81 letters sent to various recipients, two of which are incomplete. The letters describe the battles of Chickahominy, McClellan's claim of victory in the Penninsula campaign, being wounded and captured at Gettysburg, service in North Carolina in 1864, and prospects for McClellan's election as president in 1864. Also includes 14 letters by other soldiers.

GLC03957

1 April 1864

Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Jenkins Logan

General Logan writes to his mother. Writes, "I have longed to have a letter form you, but have all the time been disappointed. I know that you do not feel opposed to writing to me but perhaps feel as tho' you ought not... I feel as Tho' I was lost and forgotten to the family, you Tho' are my mother and feel toward you as I ever have respect and love you and ever will and hope that you will write to me, and write me all about matters at home... this campaign will be a long and hard one but I hope to survive it" (possibly referring to the upcoming Atlanta campaign). Accompanied by an…

GLC03975.01

4 July 1862

Leggett, Mortimer Dormer, 1821-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Alexander Logan

Marked private at the top of page one. Written in pencil. Colonel Leggett writes, "For Heavens sake get us out of this, if you can. Gen Hurlbut is doing all in his power to get us permanintly attached to his command- & I would sooner my regiment would fall into the hands of the devil, for the devil has brains at least. As for me, he can't have me, for I'll quit the service 'in disgust' first... Half of the time he is a poor, drunken, brazen faced fool, & the other half, as timid as an unfledged gosling afraid of his own shadow." Claims that few officers from the 30th Illinois or…

GLC03976

28 November 1863

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Faxon

Written by Rear Admiral Farragut to Faxon as the chief clerk of the Navy Department on stationery of Astor House. Says he saw Mr. Davis, a government paymaster, and told him to go to Washington to settle the matter of the prize money that was turned over to the paymaster of the "Pensacola."

GLC04083

January 18, 1862

Howard, Oliver Otis, 1830-1909

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to a captain]

Possibly written in Virginia. Howard describes a recent foraging expedition. Reports that a Squadron of Cavalry under Major Beveridge 8th Illinois was sent to his Head Quarters (possibly referring to John Lourie Beveridge). Recently went to "Edsel's Hill." Saw the Widow Fitzhugh, whom he claims has protection from Generals [Levit?], Blenker, and Franklin (possibly Louis Blenker and William Buel Franklin). Notes that the widow has no forage or stock beyond what she needs. Mentions Burt's Station. Comments on stock and supplies, mentioning civilians living near the Little River Turnpike.

GLC04056

16 June 1864

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph note signed

Title: to William Farrar Smith

Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, writes on Headquarters, Army of the Potomac stationery in Virginia near Petersburg. Written at 3:30 pm. Refers to a note he wrote at 2:00 pm, regarding the practicality of an attack on Petersburg led by General William Farrar Smith. Also wishes to know the strength and size of Smith's force. Written in pencil.

GLC04064

26 October 1864

Wright, Horatio G., 1820-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louisa M. Bradford Wright

Major General Wright replies to a letter from his wife while "In the field," following the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia. Mentions an enclosed dispatch (within the letter from his wife) from General Philip Sheridan. Referring to Sheridan's dispatch, writes, "It is highly colored, naturally enough perhaps, for he had come up from Winchester thro' the crowd of skulkers who had fled from the battle field! but when he arrived, the lines were forming, the retreat of all who would fight (and those who always run away...) had been arrested, and the preparations for an offensive movement had been…

GLC04065