26 June 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: Special field orders

Signed "W.T.S." Apparently a draft of orders, unnumbered, with cross outs and additions. Concerns the strategy for rationing supplies at the start of Atlanta campaign. Also details procedures for dealing with deficiencies of supplies due to railroad service or other causes. Lists the men that should be counted for supplies (officers, men present for duty, sick, unarmed cooks, teamsters, etc.). States that "All other persons dependant on our supplies are useless mouths which we cannot afford to feed and should be sent north of Nashville." Written on printed stationary from the Military…

GLC02137

15 April 1890

Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896

Photograph signed

Title: [Signed portrait of seated William T. Sherman]

Seated portrait of Sherman holding sword and ceremonial hat. Inscribed and dated by Sherman on the mount to Frederic G. Huntington, Cincinnati, Ohio, a few years before his death.

GLC02138

4 April 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Nathaniel C. McLean to Brigadier General of Volunteers]

Official document promoting McLean, signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. This item was accompanied by maps. Includes blue seal on top left section.

GLC01740.01

18 April 1863

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster in Washington, D.C. Pertains to pay for the month of March 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins and John Brockenberry, whose complexions are described as "cold," and Albert. Servants' eyes and hair are "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield…

GLC01762.01

18 April 1863

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster in Washington, D.C. Pertains to pay for the month of January 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service in the field. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins, John Brockenberry, and Albert, whose complexions are described as "cold." Servants' eyes and hair are "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve.…

GLC01762.02

February 6, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of John A. Brannan to Brigadier General of Volunteers].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Brannan had been a hero at Chickamauga (not mentioned on commission). Docketed at upper left by Lorenzo Thomas as Adjutant General. Blue seal on upper left corner.

GLC01770

5 June 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Thomas McGregor to Second Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Cavalry].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Docketed at upper left. McGregor was also known as a California "Argonaut" and Indian fighter. Pink seal on upper left corner.

GLC01771

June 5, 1864

Kirby-Smith, Edmund, 1824-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

General Smith writes to Davis, Confederate President. Relates that General Walker (possibly William Henry Talbot Walker) was informed by General Thomas Neville Waul that Davis attributes him (Walker) with the failure to assist in the relief of Vicksburg. Writes "It is but justice to a gallant & efficient officer that this impression should be removed.- The blame, if it rests anywhere, is with myself & Genl Taylor, the Depart & District Commanders." Relates that while marching from Arkansas to Alexandria, Virginia, Walker had asked for permission to act with his Division against…

GLC01707

circa 1853-1897

Header Record

Title: Collection pertaining to John and Nathaniel Collins McLean [Decimalized .01-.04]

GLC01740.05.01 and .02 were previously attached together with metal clips. These two letters discuss Nathaniel McLean's participation in the Battle of Second Manassas (McLean outlines events which took place under his command on Bald Hill, 30 August 1862). Contains a leave of absence granted to N. McLean during the Civil War (.03), and a biographical sketch of John McLean (.04).

GLC01740.05

3 May 1863

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $299.50 from Major William Smith, Paymaster of the United States Army. Pertains to pay for the month of April 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service at Murfreesboro. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins, John Brockenberry, and Edmund Keebles, who are described as "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve. Docket is partially printed.…

GLC01762.03

1 August 1863

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster of the United States Army. Pertains to pay for the month of July 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service in the field. Lists the names of three servants: Professor, Andrew, and Edmund, who are described as "Colored." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve. Docket is partially printed. Voucher no. 1236.

GLC01762.04

1 June 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of James W. Ripley as Captain in the Fourth Regiment of Artillery]

Engraved document signed by Adams as president and countersigned by James Barbour as secretary of war. Includes a paper seal. A note on the side signed by "R. Jones" indicated that it was "Registered Vol: 2 page 59" in the attorney general's office. Ripley later became a general in the Civil War.

GLC01492

July 20, 1861

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs his wife, Jane, of his travels from Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., through Alexandria with a company of 120 men, supported by artillery men from Rhode Island Governor William Sprague's "celebrated Rhode Island Battery." States that he is in camp south of Alexandria, and will march for Fairfax Court House in the morning en route to Bull Run. Reports that the previous day at Bull Run, the Union lost several hundred men, while Confederate forces lost over one thousand. Refers to the actions of the New York and Massachusetts 8th Regiments. Writes, "A Desperate fight has been…

GLC01505.01

July 10, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs his wife that he arrived in Washington, D. C. the previous day. Referring to his introduction to Colonel Windham, an Englishman, he states "I hate foreigners particularly the dutch- Windham offered me a very nice place but I asked to be sent to the field." Received orders to report to General [George] Mead[e]. States that only three officers (Solen, Carpenter, and Balk) of the 6th United States Cavalry were not killed, wounded, or captured. Describes injuries sustained by Balder, McQuisten, Claflin, Cram, Paulding, and Chaffee, stating that only 108 men are left in the regiment.…

GLC01505.02

1867/04/19

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

Endorsement signed

Title: [Promotion request: presumably to Edwin Stanton]

A.N. Preston, acting assistant adjutant general of the District of Mississippi, details his qualifications for promotion; the top portion of his request is missing, so the addressee and date are unknown. Brevet Major General Thomas J. Wood adds his recommendation on January 10, 1867. W. T. Sherman recommends Preston's promotion on January 15. The request is signed and forwarded to the Secretary of War by Grant on April 19, 1867.

GLC01471

1862-1868

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to James Sanks Brisbin. [Decimalized .01-.04 (20 items)]

GLC01504

August 11, 1862

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Captain Brisbin writes to his wife following the Battle of Malvern Hill, which he describes as "the memorable occasion when General [George] McClellan changed his base of operations from the York to the James River." Refers to Captain Kantz (possibly August V. Kantz), Captain Gregg, and [Lieutenant Kermin]. Describes the stench of rotting corpses and witnessing the death of a severely wounded soldier. Recounts delivering his Company to safety during a mission by ordering them to take off their blue shirts, exposing grey shirts underneath, thus disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers.…

GLC01504.01

1864-1868

Mills, Albert L., 1854-1916

Header Record

Title: [Collection of typed military transcripts regarding James Sanks Brisbin] [Decimalized .01-.17]

These records are typed and witnessed by Albert L. Mills, first Lieutenant and adjutant of the first cavalry. Includes information regarding General James Sanks Brisbin's service in the Civil War. Brisbin's leadership, possible promotion in rank, wounds obtained during battle, and success as a recruiter are discussed, among other topics. These documents are written by Brisbin and by various political and governmental officials. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02

circa 1864

Object

Title: [James Sanks Brisbin's epaulets]

Consists of two gold colored brass epaulets. Each epaulet contains (on the epaulet's top) a brass button and an eagle embroidered with silver thread. Measurements reflect epaulet as positioned on a shoulder (width is measured from inner shoulder). The underside of each is padded with red satin. Epaulets are contained within an oval-shaped tin container equipped with a front clasp for closure. The container includes an illegible inscription.

GLC01504.03

circa June 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Photograph

Title: Photograph of Brisbin in Brigadier General uniform [damaged]

Brisbin fought at Gettysburg. (Photograph damaged.)

GLC01504.04

1861-1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Header Record

Title: Letters from Brisbin to his wife Jane detailing Civil War battles [Decimalized .01-.06]

GLC01505

November 18, 1863

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Complains that he has not received a letter from Jane, his wife, in two weeks. States "If I thought you had been so careless as not to write in all that time I would feel like casting you off- but I think you certainly have written and your letters miscarried." Relates seeing Beaver, Captain Patterson, Bayard Edmunds and other members of the Centre Company. States that he will soon see Major Jack, and encloses a note (not included) from Colonel Murray. Instructs Jane to save the note, revealing that the Colonel owes him money. Informs Jane that her colt is being trained. States "I hope we…

GLC01505.03

March 4, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Informs Jane, his wife, that he is in great distress due to the fact that he has not received a letter from her in over a month. States "It is now a Month since I stood on the back platform of the car at Milesbury and saw your sweet form vanish from my sight ... it seemed after you were gone as if I had left the world and when I met the snow shoe Cars I could hardly help going back on them ... You are young and sometimes foolish but what you do is done in the innocence of your heart I know you would not wrong your poor husband for the world." Promises to send money, and instructs Jane to…

GLC01505.04

April 11, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Discusses the Battle of Sabine Crossroads with Jane, his wife. Writes, "We have had a great battle. Three days fighting. The 1st day we whipped them. The 2nd day they whipped us and the third day we whipped them. The fighting was dreadful and we have lost terribly. In the 2nd days fight, my horse had his head blown off by a shell and fell on me holding me fast. I came near being captured but got my leg out from under him and mounted on a rebel horse whose rider had been shot, I escaped from the field. I have the horse, saddle and bridle." States his company lost supplies and personal money in…

GLC01505.05

September 22, 1864

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Brisbin informs his wife, Jane, that his regiment arrived at Mount Sterling that day, and that they leave for the battle front (possibly referring to an advance on Saltville, Virginia) under General Stephen Gano Burbridge tomorrow. Writes, "The expedition has so far been badly managed and I fear will be a failure." Relates that General McClean (possibly Nathaniel Collins McLean) fares poorly. States "If I fall in the Expedition I have some money in Lilfords Bank" located in Lexington, Kentucky.

GLC01505.06