2 April 1864

Ayres, E.W. and Wade, W.H., fl. 1862-1864

Newspaper

Title: Southern illustrated news. [Vol. 3, no. 13 (April 2, 1864)]

Sketch of Major General John C. Breckinridge and Illustration of "Laird's Anglo-Rebel Ram."

GLC05959.76.59

18 March 1862

Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Magill Conrad

Refers to Conrad's letter asking if there is any new legislation before the session comes to a close. Discusses the efforts being made to build iron plated vessels for the Confederacy in Europe and estimates its cost at 2 million dollars. Discusses increasing price of iron and coal and decreasing production of iron within the Confederacy. States it is due to producer's apprehension that foreign iron will be introduced when the war is over at low rates. Post script states that estimates have also been sent to the Confederate President Jefferson Davis for approval. Note on last page of…

GLC08155.01

01 April 1863

Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Recommends measures be adopted for construction and delivery of 10 ironclad war ships to this government in Southern Europe. Refers to an enclosed estimate for the ships. States the amount may seem large but that the importance of building ships that can enter the Mississippi is evident. Stephen R. Mallory was Confederate Secretary of the Navy.

GLC08155.02

01 April 1863

Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873

Autograph document signed

Title: [Estimate of the cost for construction of 10 ironclad war ships]

Estimates cost for the construction, armanment, and equipment of 10 ironclads in southern Europe at ten million dollars in sterling funds. Stephen R. Mallory was the Confederate Secretary of the Navy.

GLC08155.03

06 April 1863

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Confederate Senate and the House of Representatives

Transmits communication from the Secretary of the Navy to be read in secret session. He asks for their special attention to the subject.

GLC08155.04

1864

Thompson, W. S., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [Civil War pocket diary of W.S. Thompson]

Signed "W.S. Thompson / 1st Asst Engineer / U.S. Navy." Entries for 1864 are much more extensive than for 1862 and 1863. Includes detailed weather and accounts of his "usual duties." Reports his leave of absence and returning to duty on the U.S. ironclad "Atlanta" as first assistant engineer. Memoranda and summary of accounts at back. Wrap-around black leather cover. Selected excerpts: 14 February: "Having a gale from the N.W. Anchored off Fort Monroe…" 22 February: "Salute of 31 guns from flagship Minnesota…" 14 March: "This morning at 3 oclock a sailor fell overboard…1/2 hour before…

GLC01838.03

1865

Thompson, W. S., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [Civil War pocket diary of W.S. Thompson]

Signed "W.S. Thompson / Engr. U.S.N. / on board / U.S. Ironclad "Atlanta" / Jany 1, 1865." Short daily entries, mostly on the weather, as well as the condition and whereabouts of his ship. Entries end on April 6 (the date of Thompson's accidental death). Notes, jottings, summary of accounts, and memoranda at the back of the diary. Wrap-around brown leather cover. The corner of the leather cover and some of the pages at top of the diary are singed by fire, although text legibility is not affected. (Burn marks likely caused by the explosion that resulted in Thompson's death.) Selected…

GLC01838.04

16 June 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written on the battlefield of Fair Oaks, Virginia to his wife. Reported for duty for the first time in two weeks. They have had recent orders to repulse the enemy from their picket and he expects an attack. Writes that they formed lines of battle but no enemy appeared except for six which another picket took as prisoners. Is unsure of when they will take Richmond but hopes it will be soon so he can go home. Is glad to hear that their families are doing well. Sends her some money but notes that he had to spend 20 dollars to pay a debt. Writes that one of his friends died from the wounds he…

GLC03523.13.045

March 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Complains of the dreary weather, which has brought down his spirits. Asks his sister to thank their aunt for the extra stamps she sent with her last letter, as stamps are very scarce and difficult for soldiers to obtain. States that Camp Hamilton is a "rebeldom" where soldiers have to sleep with their shoes on and guns closely by them. Mentions the Monitor and the Merrimac and states that if not for the Monitor, the Merrimac would have continued North. Reports that he had the pleasure of seeing General Wool during battalion drill. Writes that a new regiment is arriving and that General…

GLC02016.008

13 April 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

States that the soldiers were paid recently and that most of the men sent their money home. Describes watching the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) capture three vessels within 200 yards of a land battery. Writes in detail an encounter between the USS Monitor and the Merrimac, where the Stevens Battery opened fire and the Merrimac, after shooting back, retired up the Elizabeth River. Reports that General McClellan may call on General Wool for reinforcement in Yorktown. Feels that the Battle of Yorktown will be the greatest to day with 100,000 men on each army. Written in Camp Hamilton, first named…

GLC02016.011

20 April 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Ella]

Reprimands his sister for not answering all his letters and tells her that composition is a very important part of her education. Asks his sister to remember him to a certain Mollie M. whom he feels would make an interesting correspondent for him. Reports that his captain is suffering from boils and is unfit for duty but will be fine in a few days. Also reports that the Merrimac has not reappeared and that the troops at Newport News have been sent on to Yorktown. Wishes that the Merrimac were out of the way so that the Monitor could get to Yorktown and McClellan could storm the rebel…

GLC02016.012

30 April 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister [Kate]

Commends her on her improvement in school under a new teacher. Feels strongly about having his sister properly educated and encourages her to persevere in her studies. Writes that no furloughs for illness or business are being granted for the men in his division. Anticipates a third appearance from the Merrimac when the weather improves. Reports that the steamer Vanderbilt will cooperate with the Monitor to capture the Merrimac and that he will remain at camp until the Merrimac is taken. Complains of the contents of his sister Ella's letters stating that, "there is nothing worth reading…

GLC02016.013

4 May 1862

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rebecca Frick

Writes from Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe, Virginia (present day, Hampton, Virginia). Letter addressed to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick or Rebecca Frick. Writes that he received an interesting issue of the Danville Democrat. Reports that McClellan was in possession of Yorktown though he feels that the capture could have been more effectively carried out. Also reports that the Merrimac made another appearance but no fighting took place. Says that the body of a captain from the 1st Delaware regiment, was found a quarter of a mile from the picket station with two bullets in his head.

GLC02016.014

March 24, 1862

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter

Title: to: Mr. & Mrs. John Morris.

Wilmor describes leaving Camp Johnston on 17 March and arriving at Fortress Monroe the next day. They are "encamped at the mouth of James River [with]in about 200 yards of ex President Tyler['s] mansion." Fourteen vessels brought the men up the bay and the scenery along the river was "the pritest [prettiest] sight I ever saw." He saw the Monitor, which at first glance looked "about sunk it is all under water only a steel tur[r]et [is not]," and describes how it defeated the Confederate gunboat Merrimac. It was pouring when they arrived and they "would have drowned" if the 16th…

GLC06451.044

March 23, 1863

Gorsuch, Joseph B., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Curtis and his wife, Mary Gorsuch Curtis

Written in camp near Vicksburg, Mississippi (possibly in Louisiana). Gorsuch, Captain of the 83rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, replies to a letter from his aunt and uncle. Expects the Battle of Vicksburg to commence soon. Has heard rumors that Admiral David G. Farragut's fleet is ready to cooperate with ground troops against Vicksburg. Doubts whether the Union army will perform as well at Vicksburg as they did at the Battle of Arkansas Post (January 9-11, 1863). Discusses his wages and savings. Discusses money he owes to George Wood, of Delta, Ohio. States "Alphonso wants me in his…

GLC00653.09.08

9 May 1862

Hanleiter & Adair (publishers), fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper

Title: Southern Confederacy. [Vol. 2, no. 72, (May 9, 1862)]

Subjects include the Georgia Military Institute, The Confederate Ironclad Virginia, and a Defense of President Davis Against Objections. There are miscellaneous advertisements throughout the issue, including a recruitment ad for partizan rangers. Print is fading.

GLC05959.09.015

1865

Mansfield, John W., fl. 1865

Sketchbook

Title: Book of Military Scraps by John W. Mansfield

Includes watercolor and pencil and ink drawings of: Sibley tents; Zouaves; shoulder straps by rank (in color); Fort Independence; Fort Winthrop; 'Instrument of Torture for Negroes;' several canon, mortars, and guns, including Winan's steam gun, 'Lincoln Gun at Fortress Monroe,' and Parrott Gun; flag of the Cumberland; a Berdan sharpshooter's rifle; Whitney Battery [Keokuk] 'sunk at the bombardment of Fort Sumpter'; Mississippi River gun boat; Privateer Savannah; 'Gun bent double by a cannon ball at Big Bethel'; U.S. Volunteer & Rebel; 'Field of Antietam'; 'A Skirmish at Yorktown'; Monitor…

GLC09041

23 May 1864

Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879

Manuscript

Title: [Soldiers of the Army of Western Louisiana!]

Rallying speech written by Taylor's adjutant. Strongly exhorts his Confederate troops to repulse Union General Nathaniel P. Banks' army. Begins by stating that on 13 March 1864, Union forces of 30,000 men with ironclads and 150 mounted guns moved to conquer Texas and Louisiana. Extensively praises the Confederate troops of Texas and Louisiana for holding out for 70 days of fighting. Lists their accomplishments including how many they have killed, wounded or taken prisoner, and the destruction they have caused to the Union forces. "Soldiers! These are your great and noble deeds, and they…

GLC00825.01

January 20, 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Damuth's company is moving to Helena, Arkansas aboard a Union steamer called the Moderator. The 29th Wisconsin meets up with the 28th, and Damuth sends news of friends. Sitting on deck, he sees over thirty steam boats and two ironclads sailing for war. In St. Charles, the men find the remains of trenches and Damuth reflects that he and all the rest of his regiment probably would have been killed if the Rebels had not deserted the camp. Near Devil's Bluff, Arkansas, there is a brief fight with some fleeing Rebels, who have dragged their cannons to the railroad tracks in an escape attempt…

GLC03523.14.09

6 September 1863

Prentice, George Dennison, 1802-1870

Newspaper

Title: Louisville daily journal. [Vol. 33, no. 289 (September 6, 1863)]

John Morgan and His Followers, Latest from Charleston, Monitors Engage Fort Moultrie, Another Attack to be made on Fort Wagner, Secretary Chase's Proposition Accepted, General Carr in Command at Corinth. War events in Tennessee are outlined in a long article, followed by a report of the war from Cumberland. This issue prints a July 1863 letter from Lincoln to Grant with apologies. An editorial examines foreign events, particularly in France, Russia, and Austria. A historical note describes scenes from the Revolution. A lengthy sermon by C. Van Santvoord, U.S. chaplain of hospitals, is…

GLC05959.14.07

2 March 1863

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 43, no. 2387 (March 2, 1863)]

Capture of Yankee Ironclad Indianola, Proclamation by the President, Skirmish in Culpepper.

GLC05959.34.13

February 15, 1864

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 47, no. 2437 (February 15, 1864)]

Disturbance at Greesboro, Address of the President to the Army, The Fight at Kinston, Teh Alabama Destroyed the Yankee Ship Contest, Val. 1,000., The Florida Challenged the Kearsage to a Fair Fight at Sea.

GLC05959.34.25

11 July 1864

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 47, no. 2458 (July 11, 1864)]

Account of Defeat of Wilson's Raiders, The Alabama Sunk July 9, Report of the Sinking, The Burke Company Raid.

GLC05959.34.41

22 August 1864

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 47, no. 2464 (August 22, 1864)]

Fight Near Richmond, A Battle on the Peninsula, The Alabama & The Kearsage, Appeal by General Lee to Absentees From the Army of Northern Virginia, Grant's Virginia Campaign, President Lincoln Denounced by His Party.

GLC05959.34.43

27 March 1863

A.S. Willington & Co., fl. 1861-1864

Newspaper

Title: Charleston daily courier. [Vol. 61, no. 19,427 (March 27, 1863)]

Battle of Tallahatchie, National Fast - President Sanctified another Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, Yankee Iron-Clad Steam Ram "Chillicothe" Disabled, Another Advance on Fort Pemberton, High Price Paid for Negro Slaves at Auction, The "Alabama" and "Florida" in Southern Waters.

GLC05959.37.14