December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph manuscript

Title: [draft account of cavalry operations of Army of Northern Virginia]

Draft account of cavalry operations sent to Robert E. Lee, detailing actions of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division during May through June 1864, from Grant's crossing of the Rapidan River through the death of General J.E.B. Stuart. Details movement of his forces, battles fought, and general events during the time period. Laments the death General Stuart. Also discusses Union African American troops, whom he accuses of committing "outrages."

GLC03917

1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of two documents of Captain J. S. James] Decimalized

GLC03988

22 April 1865

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Walter Taylor

Submits a report of the operations of his command, the Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia from 28 March to 9 April 1865, the days leading up to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Detailed account of troop movements, skirmishes with Union forces, and the number of captured, wounded, and killed. Reports being joined by the divisions of Generals William Henry Fitz Lee and Thomas L. Rosser. Indicates that they attacked Sheridan's cavalry at Five Forks. Describes events leading up to the army withdrawing from Petersburg. Praises commanding generals W. H. F. Lee, Rosser, Thomas T. Munford,…

GLC04019

April 6, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore S. Bowers

Ulysses S. Grant writes to his aide at City Point, Virginia regarding the last few days of fighting during the Appomattox campaign. He reports that the Confederate troops left their position at the Amelia Court House to make a break for Danville last night. He states that the Union cavalry lay in position to attack near Jetersville had the Confederates not moved. He details the movements of his troops as they trailed the Confederates and informs that they picked up many stragglers and burned their wagons. He admits they did not capture as many prisoners as he had hoped although they destroyed…

GLC00082

March 24, 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Marked "Cipher" at top. Grant sends Halleck this telegram in response to a false alarm speculating that Lee might retreat south, and indicates the priority of providing his army with more horses for operations against Lee. Gives instructions on disposition of Hancock's force in western Virginia, and any reinforcements soon to come, depending on where Lee heads next. Tells Halleck to "Direct all the Cavalry horses to be sent to [General Edward] Canby that can be. His Cavalry ought however to remount itself in the Country where it is operating. Canby should be supplied from the West and by the…

GLC00325

1947

Blackford, Susan L., 1835-?

Book

Title: Letters from Lee's army...

Dornbusch 1194

GLC00267.343

18 August 1863

Stuart, Jeb, 1833-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Flora Cooke Stuart

Stuart, commander of a cavalry division in the Army of Northern Virginia, writes to his wife. Mentions General John Bell Hood. Expresses confidence that General Lee (possibly Robert E. Lee) has recommended him (Stuart) for the position of Lieutenant General of Cavalry. Writes that newspaper reports (on the topic on the subject of who will assume the post of Lieutenant General of Cavalry) are false attempts "to manufacture public opinion in favor of Hood." Predicts that Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Secretary (possibly James Seddon, Secretary of War) will favor him for the…

GLC02334.01

9 May 1865

Dow, John L., fl. 1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Parole pass of A. J. Brane]

Document reads in full: "This is to certify that A. J. Brane of Rockingham County, and State of N. C. a Private of the Army of Northern Virginia, has this day given his parole in accordance with the terms agreed upon by Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, commanding U. S. Army, and General ROBT. E. LEE, commanding C. S. Army." The parole is signed by J. L. Dow.

GLC02385.01

10 April 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Elihu B. Washburne]

Souvenir document presented by Grant to loyal supporter and fellow Galena townsman, Elihu B. Washburne, who served as Secretary of State and Ambassador to France during Grant's presidency. Informs that Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia on the previous day. Recipient inferred from provenance. Possibly Grant's retained copy of the telegram.

GLC02084.01

July 13, 1863

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to John Daniel Imboden

Lee outlines his plans for the safe retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia 10 days after their defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg. He gives instructions to Brigadier General Imboden to cross the Potamac and proceed to Cherry Creek to ascertain whether or not the enemy troops are waiting. He instructs him to do all in his power to repress the advances of the enemy and defend the Confederate trains nearby so the army could retreat. Imboden did as he was told and Lee safely crossed the Potomac River the same night this letter was written. He was able to retreat because Union General George…

GLC01566

24 November 1864

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Rawlins

Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, writes to General Rawlins. Recently received intelligence from an officer of Confederate Nathaniel Harrison Harris's Brigade, William Mahone's Division. Reports that the officer was in Petersburg the previous day, and heard nothing of a Confederate Brigade being moved, or of troops being detached from Robert E. Lee's army. Relates that this information is supported by others. Mentions a newspaper report regarding William T. Sherman's operations in Georgia (Sherman's March to the Sea commenced mid-November 1864). Written on Headquarters, Army of…

GLC02455.09

1864-1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George B. Cook, E company, 42nd regiment, North Carolina, infantry] [decimalized]

This collection consists of a series of letters from Private George B. Cook of the 42nd North Carolina infantry regiment to members of his family. Cook was drafted into the army of the Confederate States of America on September 11, 1864. He was 19 years old at the time. He was mustered into E Company of the 42nd infantry regiment as a private on the same day. The date and method of his discharge is unknown, but he was paroled on June 7, 1865 in Mocksville, North Carolina. At the time of Cook's enlistment, the 42nd North Carolina was part of the Army of Northern Virginia. Cook fought at the…

GLC00653.22

22 March 1884

O'Brien, Thomas B., fl. 1884

Manuscript signed

Title: to John William Flinn

Notification that he has been elected as an honorary member of the association. Written on stationery of the "Army of Northern Virginia Benevolent Association, Louisiana Division."

GLC04573.12

January 11, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook is replying to his sister's letter from the 6th of this month, which he received yesterday. The letter found him well. He hopes Cousin Frank will recover soon from his "suffering condition." No news of interest. He heard that General Hoke might dock them all four months of pay for robbing a house. "If he does it will create a general buss up in his division though I don't think it will be done." He does not need any new clothing. He eats mostly corn bread and horse meat. "Horse meant went very rough for a while but it eats first rate now for its all… we get now." He asks his…

GLC00653.22.12

January 28, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook is replying to his sister's letter from the 19th. He is glad to hear all is well with her but sorry to hear about Frank's sickness. He hopes he will get home soon. "I think this war will soon end." He heard word of a 60-day armistice. Since arriving in North Carolina, his division has lost 2,800 men. There has been a lot of fighting near the Cape Fear River, but only two men in his company have been hurt: Jerry Wellman and W.M. Sain. He sends a pair of pants and boots home. "The sound is in front and the river in our rear, where the enemy can land either in front or rear of our…

GLC00653.22.13

February 1, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

George B. Cook is replying to his sister's letter from January 22, 1865. Not much news to report. There is "a heap" of talk about peace. Everyone believes the war is coming to an end. "The boys will all run away if they [aren't] fed a little better." He can read her letters just fine.

GLC00653.22.14

February 7, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

He is well. Got a letter from her and a letter from his sister. Mr. Bailey gave him $200 but he does not need it now. He will keep $60 of it. He cannot tell them if William McMehan had received the clothes he ordered. He asked the captain if he would send his remains home should he be killed. The captain responded that "all I can promise you is this: I will have your grave marked so your friends will know it." He does not know how much good he is doing by being here; would rather be home "killing [hogs]." The army has never been as demoralized as it is now. His parents can retrieve the pants…

GLC00653.22.15

February 16, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook is writing in reply to his sister's letter from the 9th. He is well; hopes she is too. He got the box they sent through Mr. Bailey. He did not need tobacco, as it "is an article I have quit using." He sends the box home; asks her to give the piece of grape shot to Brother Harrison. The box will be at the Mocksville depot. "We had a little fight on the 17… the yanks charged our works with negroes. We drove them back after killing nearly all of them." Lost about 25 men, none of whom were in his company. "I can tell you the soldiers are the worst… I ever saw them. They all have…

GLC00653.22.16

March 23, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

George B. Cook writes in response to his father's letter from March 13th. He is well and it was good to hear from them again. It has been a long time since he has received a letter. "We haven't had any mail for a month." Nothing new to write about. "We have had a heap of hard fighting" in the past two weeks. Losses were heavy. He lost a man in his own company named W. B. Sport. He had a hole shot in his coattail, but was not injured. He heard that the news at home was that "I had my thigh shot off," but this is not true. W.G. Brown and W.F. Anderson are both well.

GLC00653.22.17

October 30, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is well; hopes she is too. He has joined company E of the 42nd regiment. "I just got [here] in time to see a man shot… It was Fred Lammer's brother. He deserted and went to the [Yankee] lines." Another man deserted last night. Two more deserters are to be shot in a few days. Asks for a yarn shirt and a pair of socks as soon as possible. "We are camped 5 miles below Richmond in the woods along the breast works." Union soldiers charged their lines two days ago, but they were driven back with ease. "We can hear [the Yankees] all the time going on wit their music as if they have fine times."…

GLC00653.22.01

November 10, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He got his mother's letter this evening. He is sorry to hear of his brother's injury but glad to hear he is getting better. Also heard that "Pa" had to go to Concord to court, and wants to know why he did that. He got the shirt, socks, and gloves two days ago. He is well "considering the way things are now." He has been on picket duty for a night. W.G. Brown got here last Monday. "The boys are wearing clothes they have been wearing all summer without washing." He asks her to send a box of food as soon as she can by express mail to Richmond.

GLC00653.22.02

November 16, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father and mother

"We are faring badly [here] now," as they are not getting nearly enough to eat. The regiment might have to head home, for "we can't get neither clothes nor money nor provisions here." He does not know how much longer the troops can stand such poor conditions. "I believe we could gain our independence if we had provisions." Brown writes that he would love to be home to help him drink some of "that old Brandy."

GLC00653.22.03

November 20, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father and mother

He has written them several times since arriving here but has only received two letters. He will not write again until he receives another letter. "There was a fight on our lines last night." His comrades killed or captured about 300 enemy soldiers. "No one hurt on our side." The campaign will likely end soon on account of the bad weather. "Artillery can't be moved on neither side." Mud has gotten as deep as the tops of soldiers' shoes.

GLC00653.22.04

November 28, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

George B. Cook got his mother's letter from the 20th. He is happy to hear Frank [Frost] was as close to home as Raleigh, but is sorry to hear he was ill. They must tell Mr. Whitlocks to come visit him when he comes up to Richmond. His current quarters are very nice, but does not know if he will be staying there long, "for we have had marching orders every time it goes to raining." He has left Company E to join Company F. Captain Brown was promoted to Major.

GLC00653.22.05

December 5, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook got his sister's letter from Eli Howell, who brought the letter from Salisbury. He got marching orders at 11:00 PM last night to go to Richmond to bury General [Gracy], who was killed by Union artillery. He is currently in a very vulnerable position. "If the Yanks was to come over they would have us all safe and it wouldn't surprise me if they was to come." General [Hoak] says he is looking for a Union attack any day now. Always will remain her affectionate brother; asks her to write soon. Asks her to tell their father that he must write soon. Also asks her friends to write; "I…

GLC00653.22.06