15 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications and perform other labor connected with the defences of the country.

Senate Bill 129, passed by the Confederate Senate 13 December 1864. Ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives 15 December 1864. States that "The Congress of the Confederate States of American do enact, That all free male negroes, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be held liable to perform any labor or discharge any duties with the army ... such as working upon fortifications, producing and preparing materials of war, building and preparing roads and bridges ... " Includes guidelines for the impressment of slaves, placing the Secretary of War and the general…

GLC08419

6 May 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill (No. 49) to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to increase the efficiency of the army, by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities, approved February 17th, 1864, and to repeal an act for the enlistment of cooks in the army, approved April 21st, 1862.

States "it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to have employed one hundred thousand slaves, as provided in said act, if so many should be necessary, to work upon fortifications, or government works, for the production or preparation of material of war ... " Reports that slaves shall receive rations and clothing while employed, and that their owners will be compensated six dollars per month for each slave. States that cooks employed should not exceed one for every ten privates. Repeals an act approved 21 April 1862 for the enlistment of cooks in the army. States "By Mr. Orr" (…

GLC08420

1816

Urquhart, Thomas, fl. 1816

Pamphlet

Title: A letter to Wm Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the subject of Impressment; calling on him and the philanthropists of this country ...

Title continues "... to prove those feelings of sensibility they expressed in the cause of humanity on negro slavery, by acting with the same ardor and zeal in the cause of British seamen." First edition. Published for the benefit of the Maritime Society. Printed by J. Gillet, London. Published by R. S. Kirby, London.

GLC00267.029

11 May 1830

United States. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Francis Larche.

21st Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives document no. 401. The Senate referred a bill to the Committee of Claims for the relief of Francis Larche, who sought reimbursement for an enslaved person killed while impressed into U.S. service.

GLC00267.071

February 14, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Amendment to the negro soldier bill

Invests the Confederate General-in-Chief with the power to call slaves in to military service. States that clothing and rations will be provided to slaves impressed or voluntarily offered for service by their owner. States "By Mr. Swan" (likely Confederate Congressman William Graham Swan). Contains a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08472

March 12, 1823

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen R. Bradley

John Quincy Adams explains his 1804 opposition to a bill supported by General Samuel Smith that would further protect U.S. sailors from British impressment. Refutes Smith's suggestion that Adams' position justifies British impressment. Argues that the legislation did not discriminate between U.S. and British sailors on American vessels and would strain the relationship between the two nations. Claims that the bill's passing would cause the question of war to arise immediately.

GLC00496.003

9 April 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter about an act to protect U.S. seamen]

Printed circular letter, labeled "Duplicate" at top, regarding an act to further protect American seamen. Mentions the slave trade. Addressed to Thomas Aborn, Commercial Agent of the U.S. at Cayenne. Signed in type by Thomas Jefferson as president and Aaron Burr as vice president.

GLC00515

June 30, 1805

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee

Written to William Lee, who was serving as American consul at Bordeaux, France. Mentions that he arrived in Paris on June 20, 1805 after a 25 day trip and that he will soon proceed to London. He mentions the unsuccessful mission to Spain. In the autumn of 1804 he went to Madrid to assist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in his efforts to secure the definition of the Louisiana boundaries and the acquisition of the Floridas. They negotiated with Don Pedro de Cevallos, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, from January to May 1805, without success. This letter finds Monroe between missions. On his…

GLC00655.02

March 8, 1814

Boggs, Francis, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Fisher

Boggs wrote this letter as a United States seaman being held as a prisoner of war on a British ship during the War of 1812. He comments on the war and asks for assistance in getting released. He discusses the miseries of the prisoners' situation over the last fifteen months, being forced to work with enslaved individuals in service of the British government and having to impress men for service in the British armed forces. He asks for aid for their families, and notes that the two prisoners with him are named Parker Wilcox and William Fox. Fisher is identified as a major.

GLC00890

7 April 1748

Hathaway, Ebenezer, 1718-1791

Autograph document signed

Title: [Notice to John Godfrey, a Justice of the Peace for Bristol County, Massachusetts]

Also signed by two witnesses, Joseph Read and James Winslow. Notice of a complaint of Captain Ebenezer Hathaway in regard to two soldiers impressed into his company, Thomas Davis and James Chase, who did not show up for their appointed duty.

GLC01450.199.02

23 July 1746

Martin, James, fl. 1746

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Order to pay Martin Howard nine pounds and seventeen shillings]

Payment due for Howard's appearance in court for the Samuel Bannister case "and for impressing Men in the Expedition against Cape Breton" during the British conflict with French and Indian forces during King George's War. Sent from Rhode Island Secretary Martin to General Treasurer John Gardener.

GLC01450.278

1775-1776

Header Record

Title: Correspondence related to Melzar Cudworth, an impressed seaman [Decimalized .01-.05]

GLC01450.630

10 May 1790

Sayre, Stephen, 1736-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses surprise at Knox's lack of a reply to a mutual friend (unnamed, but Sayre may be referring to William Duer, whom he discusses throughout the letter). Reports business difficulties with Duer, declaring, "Mr. Duer will not deny his having made a most solemn agreement, as a man of honor, to act with me, for our equal benefit." Duer has not, apparently, done justice to this agreement. Hopes for Knox's help in encouraging Duer to contribute to the project, by securing the appropriate business contracts to let Sayre continue his work in England. Also advises Knox to have the…

GLC02437.04602

1807

Book

Title: War Without Disguise

or "The Frauds of Neutral Commerce. A Justification of Belligerent Captures, with observations on the Answer to War in Disguise, and Mr. Madison's Examination. Showing that the true interests of America require the rigid application of the British rule of '56.

GLC03107.05324

February 17, 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: [Amendment for an act (Senate Bill, No. 109) authorizing the employment of free African Americans]

Increases compensation given to free African Americans for their employment. Authorizes the Secretary of War to employ 40,000 slaves instead of 20,000 for governmental service. Empowers the Secretary of War to impress 40,000 slaves if they will not willingly offer their service. States "by Mr. Henry" (possibly Gustavus Adolphus Henry, a Confederate congressman). Establishes guidelines for impressment. Includes a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08417

5 January 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: (House bill.) . . . A bill to be entitled An act to increase the efficiency of the army by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities.

stamp of record division

GLC06745.076

10 December 1863

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: (House bill.) . . . A bill to be entitled "An act to provide payment for slaves impressed under state laws, and lost in the public service."

stamp of record division

GLC06745.084

1 June 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill to be entitled An act to provide for the settlement of claims against the confederate states, for property lost, captured or destoryed, while in the miltitary service of the confederate States, or which has been taken or impressed.

stamp of record division

GLC06745.102

28 November 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: House Bill, No. 233. A Bill To be entitled An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relative to impressments.

stamp of record division

GLC06745.108

12 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Amendment to Senate bill (S. 129) to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications, and to perform other labor connected with the defences [sic] of the country.

stamp of record division

GLC06745.018

February 26, 1801

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus King

Written by Marshall as Secretary of State to King as American Minister to Britain. Includes extract of a letter from Fitzsimmons to Secretary of Navy Benjamin Stoddert, to give King an idea of recent conduct of British Admiralty Courts in America. The extract is not included here. Claims that Sir Robert Liston, British Minister to the United States, is doing all he can "to check the piratical system" of seizures and impressment. Says Mr. Thornton, in the absence of the British charge d'affairs, hopes to limit the damages between Britain and the United States. Marshall wants to believe him,…

GLC05789

February 27, 1864

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877

Newspaper

Title: Brownlow's Knoxville Whig and rebel ventilator. [Vol. 1, no. 10 (February 27, 1864)]

The Oath of Amnesty - slaves - impressments, etc.

GLC05959.50.10

October 1, 1775

Cudworth, Melzar, fl. 1775-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Cudworth

Cudworth, impressed on board H.M.S. Asia, writes to his father James in Scituate, Massachusetts. Assures James of his well being. Expresses uncertainty regarding his return home. Mentions John White, Daniel [Mack], Morris Comdon, and Joseph Pierce, possibly some of his shipmates aboard the Asia. Reports that he received news of his father from Edman Patrick.

GLC01450.630.01

March 24, 1776

Cudworth, Melzar, fl. 1775-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Otis

Cudworth, impressed on board H. M. S. Asia, writes to Otis, his friend in Boston. States that on March 14, he was impressed on the H. M. S. Livley, at Marblehead, Massachusetts. Relates that he was on the Livley until March 24, when he was taken to Boston and placed on board the H. M. S. Asia. Pleads with Otis to visit him on board the Asia. Asks that Otis inform James Cudworth, Melzar's father, that he went to Marblehead with Samuel Holbrook. Possibly written in 1775 (date is partially illegible).

GLC01450.630.02

March 25, 1776

Cudworth, Melzar, fl. 1775-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Zephaniah Cudworth

Cudworth, impressed on board H. M. S. Asia, instructs his brother Zepheniah "what you do do quick for I hear we are a going to nan tasket ... " Letter addressed to Melzar's friend Joseph Otis in Boston. Includes some mathematical calculations near the address.

GLC01450.630.03