27 September 1861

Slidell, John, 1793-1871

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for fifteen hundred dollars to John Slidell]

Partially printed document acknowledging receipt of $1,500, for use as "Commissioner of the Confederate States to France." Money received from William J. Bromwell, the "Disbursing Clerk of the Department of State."

GLC03006

25 October 1866

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Mason re: Jefferson Davis' imprisonment, his law career in England

Cross-written on p. 1. Benjamin mentions that Pres. Johnson is intimidated by the Radical Republicans from releasing Davis. He mentions his legal career in England and says he saw Slidell in Paris.

GLC03787

23 September 1861

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of James M. Mason as Confederate Special Commissioner to England]

Credentials appointing James M. Mason Confederate Special Commissioner to England. Signed by Hunter as Secretary of State. Partly printed document, in calligraphic hand with blind stamp of the Confederate States of America, Department of State. The arrest of Mason and John Slidell on their diplomatic voyage to Europe began the Trent Affair.

GLC04448

December 31, 1861

Broadside

Title: Herald extra. [December 31, 1861]

Long sheet. Reports on Lincoln regarding the Trent Affair.

GLC06107.44

1864

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Book

Title: Commodore Charles Wilkes's court martial

First 301 pages is the document titled "Commodore Charles Wilkes's Court-Martial," while the last 24 pages is a separate document titled "Commodore Charles Wilkes's Court of Inquiry." A report submitted by Secretary of the Navy Welles to the House of Representatives consisting of correspondence and documents pertaining to the court martial and court of inquiry of Charles Wilkes in 1864. Wilkes's court martial stemmed from a scathing letter he wrote expressing his anger about Welles's report on Wilkes's behavior after the Trent affair. Wilkes was the commander of the vessel that captured two…

GLC00267.348

1851-1904

McKinney, Erastus R., fl. 1851-1904

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Erastus R. McKinney, I company, 11th regiment, Illinois, infantry] [decimalized]

Collection of 47 items from the papers of Erastus Root McKinney, who served as a private in the 11th Illinois Volunteers. The collection consists of 43 documents, 4 photographs, and a diary, much of which documents McKinney's service in the Civil War. There are 13 wardate letters from McKinney, along with 6 wardate letters from other soldiers. McKinney, a resident of Lacon, Illinois, enlisted as a corporal in the Illinois 11th Infantry in August 1861. His letters are most often directed to his father and his wife, Cynthia McKinney, and predominantly discuss military life, including the…

GLC02179.01

23 September 1861

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Queen Victoria

Presenting James M. Mason as the "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary" from the Confederate States of America to Great Britain. Mason and John Slidell were captured by Union ships during their voyage to Europe, beginning the Trent Affair.

GLC01546

18 November 1861

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Pamphlet

Title: President's message

Address to the Confederate Congress regarding the progress of the war, Southern production, international relations and the Trent Affair. Celebrates Southern success on the battlefield, proclaims Southern independence permanent and unstoppable, states production or war materiel is increasing. Attacks the North for violating international laws in various ways, most importantly by arresting two Confederate ambassadors aboard a British ship. These arrests would set off the Trent Affair, named after the boat that captured the diplomats. The British were just as upset as the Confederates over…

GLC08486

March 1, 1863

Wilkes, Jane J., fl. 1863

Letter

Title: to Charles Wilkes

Incomplete letter from which author has been inferred (says "Mrs. Wilkes" in the body). Mrs. Wilkes discusses her meetings with President Lincoln, Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, Secretary of State William Seward, Senator Isaac Arnold, and General John Sedgwick in trying to get her husband's rank of commodore reinstated (it had been annulled according to this letter). Wilkes was disrated (becoming a captain on the retired list) in November 1862, on the ground that he had been too old to receive the rank of commodore under the act then governing promotions. Recipient inferred from the lines "…

GLC00496.265

December 19, 1861

Mason, J. M. (James Murray), 1798-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Price

Letter written as a prisoner of war near Boston. Mason thanks Price for the gift of tobacco he sent to the prisoners of war. Mason had been captured on board the Trent. Letter written at Fort Warren.

GLC01062

17 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

He writes that he heard southern regiments mutinied by Norfolk when they were not allowed to go to the defense of their states and said they would only fight under "the stars and stripes." A hard-of-hearing Union sergeant was accidentally shot by his own sentry when he failed to respond to the cry. He hopes he will be ordered to Beaufort. He reports that German scouts saw "2000 rebels" nearby and says if the Confederates attack Newport News, "they will get awfully whipped." The chaplain saw Senators Mason and Slidell. The men badly need new pants. Smith received letters from Wallace and…

GLC03696.06

25 December 1861

Gilman, Joseph, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Enoch Q. Fellows

He is sad to hear Fellows is thinking of resigning. He mentions the Mason and Slidell affair in England.

GLC02745.008

January 1862

McKinney, Erastus R., fl. 1851-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

re: mess duty, release of Confederate comissioners James Mason and John Slidell; capture of 100 hogs. Top portion missing.

GLC02179.01.019

16 December 1861

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. After Henry left, he went to see Mr. Lancaster, who showed him around. Went to the Academy of Music. References receiving his letter from New York, and was glad he made it back on time. Says he sent the $5 to Aunt Eliza and settled with their mother, and says they are now even. Says he walked down the street with Mrs. Spalding and that she enquired after him. Says "We are all rejoicing here over the news from the other side and I hope that you will soon have to leave off blockading etc and go to fight the British Lion." Says there has been a good deal…

GLC03523.21.13

19 December 1861

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father Tobias Gibson

Gibson has been given the command of the 3rd Brigade of General Pillow's 1st Division, which consists of the 13th La., 3rd Miss., and Williams' Light Battery. He is now acting Brigadier General and expects a full promotion. Gibson analyzes their military strengths and weaknesses, comments on the Mason and Slidell affair, and discusses the depreciation of money. Gibson signs at the close of the letter and again, with initials, at the end of his postscript. In part: "...I am well and standing the campaign magnificently. After having had occasion to examine our lines of…

GLC04501.014

29 December 1861

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

The letter provides news about the plantation crop and Randall's friends in New Orleans. Tobias Gibson believes Seward will "comply with the British demand."[Refers to the Trent Affair. Britain demanded the release of Southern Commissioners, James M. Mason and John Slidell.] Continued on 12/30. Surgeon C.M. Smith [see # 4] told Tobias he may not be able to return to duty. The North released Mason and Slidell.

GLC04501.020

30 April 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to his sister Louisiana Gibson]

Randall writes to his sister once a week, hoping that one of his letters will break the blockade and make its way across the Atlantic. He also hopes that John Slidell will be able to secure the recognition of the French government. He includes news of family and friends and stresses the importance of learning to spell correctly. Kin (a nickname for his brother John McKinley Gibson) is now his aide de camp. [excerpt] [3]…I hope Mr Slidell may be able even yet to get the French Government to appreciate our Cause and to help us. I have no doubt but that he has secured the friendship…

GLC04501.022

19 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Written aboard the USS "Alabama." Encloses a one-page hand-drawn chart of the 7 November 1861 naval battle at Port Royal Harbor, which he had copied by "placing a sheet of thin paper" over the original. Reports that the original chart had been made by one of the officers of the 'Susquehanna' and was "said to be very accurate." Says he is at Charleston and that they are still blockading "this nest of secession." Duty has been dull; since "the stunning blow inflicted on them [Confederates in the area] by Dupont's splendid victory. We have seen no sign of the small steamers which were in the…

GLC03836.27

4 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's letter of 26 November. Says the Confederates are trying to avoid the blockade by stopping in Nassau and transferring their cargo to smaller ships to slip past the Union Navy. Says the Union controls the sea islands off South Carolina and that "the niggers being lords of the land. They have availed themselves of the opportunity to sell to the invaders large quantities of beer, mutton and vegetables, the ownership of which nobody troubles themselves to inquire about." Says he gave some money to one of the former slaves and he remarked that he would probably give it to…

GLC03836.28

3 October 1862

Slidell, John, 1793-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl Shaftesbury

Attempting to secure diplomatic recognition for the South. "two governments were now considering our question & that our recognition would very probably soon be announced...The advance of Lee in force across the Potomac had a double object, one political which has only partially succeeded, an uprising in Maryland...the failure does not surprise me, as nearly every leading secessionist in Maryland was already with our armies or in federal prisons. The other object was strategic to protect a movement by Hagerstown to the Upper Potomac & to cut off the Federal force at Harpers Ferry.…

GLC09175

12 April 1864

William Lloyd and Co. (Richmond, Va.), fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper

Title: Daily Richmond examiner. [Vol. 18, no. 37 (April 12, 1864)]

Victory in Louisiana, Farragut about to attack Mobile, Slidell - Maximilian affair about recognition from Mexico.

GLC05959.72.081

22 November 1861

J.A. Cowardin & Co., (publishers), fl. 1853-1880

Newspaper

Title: Daily dispatch. [Vol. 20, no. 120 (November 22, 1861)]

The Capture of Commissioners Mason & Slidell, Particulars of the Arrest of Senator Gwin & others from California, The Privateer Sumter, The Occupation of Potomac by the Yankees.

GLC05959.56.096

25 December 1861

J.A. Cowardin & Co., (publishers), fl. 1853-1880

Newspaper

Title: Daily dispatch. [Vol. 20, no. 148 (December 25, 1861)]

Report of the Van-Wyck Investigating Committee, The Mason Slidell Affair, The Yankees Back Down to England, The Battle at Drainsville, Opothleyholo's Forces Increasing - Col. Cooper in Five Miles of Him - Col. Drew's Cherokee Regiment Disbanded - A Battle Expected Daily.

GLC05959.56.100

27 November 1861

Newspaper

Title: Richmond weekly enquirer. [Vol. 7, no. 34 (November 27, 1861)]

The capture of our ministers to France & England (Trent Affair), Confederate victory near Jacksonboro, Skirmish near Falls Church.

GLC05959.73.09

20 August 1862

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Turlow Weed

Explaining the anti-American bias of the English press during the Trent Affair.

GLC08216