24 June 1863

Williams, Seth, 1822-1866

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Letterhead, "Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac." Carbon copy, with Williams's signature and Hunt's notes on verso. The Commanding General [Meade] requests Hunt to proceed to Edwards' Ferry and prepare to post artillery there in preparation for the Gettysburg campaign. Career army staff officer Seth Williams served throughout the Civil War in top staff assignments with the armies in Virginia. A West Point graduate of 1842 from Maine, he had originally been posted to the artillery. He served with the Army of the Potomac throughout its campaigns and under its successive commanders: McClellan…

GLC02382.016

17 May 1864

Stanton, Robert A., 1839-?

Letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Whittelsey

Ordnance report during the Spotsylvania campaign. With Hunt's notes on verso. Written from the Ordnance Office Artillery Reserve. Charles H. Whittelsey (1832-1871) graduated from Yale in 1853. He served in the Civil War as a lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery in1862, and then on the staff of General Robert O. Tyler and General Horatio G. Wright. He received promotion to brevet major for his services in the 1864 campaign before Richmond and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign; brevet lieutenant colonel for gallantry in the battles of Petersburg; and colonel for gallantry in…

GLC02382.018

23 December 1864

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Writes, "I trust you are right and that their [main?] armies were broken up that the rebels will give in in good faith, and return to their allegiance in peace, and quiet but I dont expect it. People who have sacrificed so much and showed their capacity in that way, who have suffered so much, and who are governed so much more by their passions, pride, and prejudices, than by their interests will not humiliate themselves on a question of conveniences, or comfort, or of easy habits... It will be I think with them, and in a greater degree, as it has been with the Mexicans. Nine out of ten…

GLC02382.019

December 27, 1864

Williams, Seth, 1822-1866

Manuscript

Title: Special Order No. 357

"True Copy" of special order extract. Written and with a signed attestation by Hunt. Assigns the siege train of the armies operating against Richmond, commanded by Brig. Genl. H.L. Abbott, to Hunt. Written from headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.

GLC02382.020

14 May 1864

Burton, Henry Stanton, fl. 1816-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Discusses moving a battery to Belle Plain during the Wilderness campaign. Written in pencil. Career artillerist Henry S. Burton emerged from the Civil War as a regular army brigadier general by brevet. The New York native had received his appointment to West Point from Vermont and was posted to the artillery upon his 1839 graduation. A veteran of both the Seminole and Mexican wars, he had also been a professor at West Point before the Civil War. After a year and a quarter as a prison commander, he joined the field armies and directed the reserve guns of the Army of the Potomac in the…

GLC02382.021

May 14, 1864

Burton, Henry Stanton, fl. 1816-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Reports location near Salem Church with plans to proceed. Written in pencil. Printed date of 1863 is belied by the place of writing: Salem Church was abandoned by Union forces by this time in May 1863, but was the site of a battle in 1864 shortly after this date. Written at Salem Church

GLC02382.022

1864

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Notes concerning the Rapidan campaign and Burnside's corps]

Possibly written in May or June, with a later note by Hunt on verso dated Aug. 1882. Written on Artillery Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac letterhead.

GLC02382.023

17 May 1864

Tompkins, C.H., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Report of ammunition during artillery barrage (Wilderness). Written in pencil on letterhead for "Headquarters." Col. Tompkins was brevetted brigadier general and commanded the 6th Army Corps Artillery Brigade.

GLC02382.024

17 May 1864

Stanton, Robert A., 1839-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Whittelsey

Captain Stanton reports a shortage of supplies and insufficient ordnance during Wilderness campaign. The letter was written from the Ordnance Office, probably near Cold Harbor, Virginia.

GLC02382.025

11 May 1864

Williams, Seth, 1822-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Battle note with orders relayed from the Commanding General during Wilderness campaign. Written on letterhead for the Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac.

GLC02382.026

17 May 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military telegram. Reports the arrival of ammunition during Wilderness campaign. Written in pencil.

GLC02382.028

circa May 18, 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Battle note re artillery: "I have almost no control of firing," describing positions and actions. Contains Hunt's reply on verso, questioning remaining supply. Written in pencil. The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (9-21 May) was the second battle in the 1864 Overland Campaign. Grant, whose force numbered 100,000, suffered 18,000 casualties. Lee, whose army had 52,000 men, suffered 12,000 casualties. Although Grant's losses were more numerous, Lee's army would never regain the initiative it held in early May 1864, and President Davis had to pull units from other theaters to reinforce…

GLC02382.029

17 May 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Reports the status of artillery supplies during Spotsylvania campaign. Written in pencil on a very small piece of paper. Written from the General Artillery Brigade, 5th Corps.

GLC02382.030

18 May 1864

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Field dispatch, written at 8 a.m., re battle of Spotsylvania Court House, during main Union assault, which was preceded by heavy artillery bombardment, directed by Hunt. Written at 8 AM. Colonel Wainwright writes to Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Writes that General Gouverneur K. Warren "insists on a much more rapid firing than I think my supply of rifled ammunition can stand." Notes that General George Gordon Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, informed Warren of the location of a large supply of ammunition. Asks…

GLC02382.031

23 May 1864

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Personal military checklist]

Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, writes in pencil on Artillery Headquarters, Army of the Potomac stationery. Notes things he needs to do, including making sure rations are drawn, obtaining several field returns, confirming that ammunition has been drawn before leaving Fredericksburg, Virginia, etc. Cites one captain's refusal to act as commissary, and mentions the 2nd, 5th, and 6th corps of infantry. Lists other notes. Possibly written in Virginia. Content pertains to the campaign of Cold Harbor.

GLC02382.032

3 June 1864

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph note signed

Title: [Questions regarding munitions]

A field dispatch written during the Battle of Cold Harbor. Hunt signs with initials. Hunt asks Col. Charles H. Tompkins how many batteries have been engaged and arms expended and whether he can spare ammunition for Capt. Elder. A Tompkins autograph note signed on verso says "Have five (5) batteries engaged. Have expended about 100 rounds per gun. Not known exactly…." Offers to provide ammunition to Captain Elder, but may need it himself. The Battle of Cold Harbor, part of the Overland Campaign, pitted Grant against Lee in one of the war's bloodiest engagements. At dawn on 3 June 1864,…

GLC02382.033

16 August 1867

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to dear General

Signs with the letter "H." Addressee is likely Hunt's father-in-law, Henry K. Craig. Hunt.discusses President Andrew Johnson's attempt to force the resignation of Secretary of War Edwin McMasters Stanton. Refers to newspaper editorials discussing Stanton's successor. "So S. [Stanton] is at last kicked out - and what a precious scene of buttering and licking each other is presented by him and his successor." Writes that Johnson "would be sure to select the worst possible man" for the position. Declares that the Republican party always turns to Ulysses S. Grant. Discusses various letters/…

GLC02382.034

4 October 1867

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Hunt calls Emory Upton's book A New System of Infantry Tactics, Double and Single Rank a "botched application of a stolen principle." Hunt had been a member of a three-man board that revised field artillery drill and tactics, and published a revered manual on the topic. Claims that Upton stole his ideas, but "failed to apply the principle properly to the infantry, or to understand the fullness of its value..." Refers to William F. Barry, who had served with him on the board. Discusses the evils of current times; does not think that political conservatives will carry elections in Iowa, Ohio,…

GLC02382.035

circa February 7, 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Hunt discusses salmon he previously sent to Craig. Mentions Julia and Conway, his children. Discusses other family or mutual acquaintances. Year inferred from content. Signed as "H.J.H." Includes a pencil note on page 3. Letter was originally with others in an envelope labeled "Private Letters from Eastport to General Craig &c."

GLC02382.036

February 25, 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Hunt reports that he sent papers to Craig the previous day addressed to General Schenck (possibly Robert Cumming Schenck, a Congressman from Ohio), and Wilson. Discusses whether or not the House of Representatives will vote to impeach President Andrew Johnson, using the accusation that he wrongly fired Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton (on 24 February the House actually did vote to impeach Johnson). "I am of the opinion that the House will think better and that they will not impeach. Then the Rads will be furious and it is not unlikely that both S. & W. will jump at the chance of taking…

GLC02382.037

19 March 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Henry Knox Craig]

Comments on Johnson's impeachment and radical reconstruction. He has been involved with Schenck's bill. Says, "It looks to us here as if the P. [President] would stand a poor chance, that the case is prejudged on party grounds. I hope the evidence will be full and show up many things not expected by the Rads…."

GLC02382.039

2 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

He is working for pay for retired soldiers. Comments on the Supreme Court decision in the McCardle case and President Andrew Johnson's impeachment. Expresses strong feelings about the Republican party and Reconstruction, criticizing the unfair treatment of rebels. "I don't wonder that you characterize so severely that little dodge by which the Supreme Court was ousted of its jurisdiction in the McArdle [McCardle] case…." Compares it to a scene from Tristram Shandy of "accomplishing a purpose and avoiding the responsibility." Discusses the Radical Republican tactic of disallowing votes from…

GLC02382.040

13 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Henry Knox Craig]

Writes from Fort Sullivan. Asks if Craig received a copy of a play-bill he previously transmitted. Complains about the cold Eastport winter. Discusses the abrupt departure of Captain Wilson from Fort Sullivan. Discusses Wilson's actions, and declares that he is insane or deranged, due to his loss of memory and atypical behavior. Recipient inferred from content and from previous letters in the collection.

GLC02382.041

29 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Writes about Captain Wilson, noting that he was an honest man who became involved in dishonest dealings regarding expenditures, etc. Cites his attempts to organize Wilson's ill-managed accounts "in the interest of those who have in good faith trusted Uncle Sam through him." Discusses the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, mentioning Charles Sumner, an impeachment advocate. "I have not doubted a conviction, law or no law, evidence or no evidence and Mr Sumners [proposal?] just received here, to limit the 'findings' to the facts set forth , and not to pronounce on the charge 'high crimes…

GLC02382.042

25 June 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Expects Craig to visit in July. Mentions his son Conway Hunt. Discusses his plans for the Fourth of July, and whether Craig should travel to Maine by steamer or train.

GLC02382.043