December 9, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook is replying to his sister's letter from the 2nd. "I am not well at this time." Had a difficult march starting the night of the 7th. The marched started at night and continued until 12:00 AM in the middle of a rainstorm. Returned to camp the next day and does not know where they were marching to. Has heard they were going to Petersburg, but has also heard that they were going to Georgia. Would like to go to Georgia; it is warmer there. Last night was as cold of a night as any that the soldiers have experienced. Asks her to send him another box. All of the soldiers, including W.…

GLC00653.22.07

December 14, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to family

This letter is printed on half of a regimental attendance sheet, perhaps demonstrating the lack of paper in the Confederate camp. He is well and hopes these lines find them in a similar condition. "We are having some very [cold] weather here." It snowed last Friday night. Attacked Union picket lines on Saturday, charging through shoe-high mud to push them back to their breast works. Was not in the thick of the fight; was placed with the baggage train "though the balls whistled around me pretty thick." The meat they get is called beef but is clearly horse or mule meat. As dire as the food…

GLC00653.22.08

December 18, 1864

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

This letter is printed on the second half of the attendance sheet titled "Consolidated Morning Report." He is replying to his sister's letter from the 11th. He is glad to hear that his cousin Frank got home alright. He hopes they enjoy Christmas at home; wishes he could be there. He hopes he will be home for next year's Christmas, but "it is so far off it is all most out of sight." It has been over three months since he was drafted. "Everybody [says] there will be [peace] before spring." Peace "would be a very desirable thing to have at this time." He thinks that more men at home could be…

GLC00653.22.09

January 2, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

George B. Cook mistakenly writes on the letter that the year is 1864. He is camped about a mile northeast of Wilmington. He left Richmond on December 20, 1864 and arrived on Christmas Eve. He immediately saw action at Fort Fisher. He lost "three or four" out of his company. "I am so near run down that I can hardly go at all. We marched all day yesterday without any thing to eat." He got a letter from his family dated December 29th. He hears Mr. [Baley] has a box in town for him, but fears he will lose it. Weather is much warmer here.

GLC00653.22.10

January 4, 1865

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

George B. Cook is replying to his sister's letter dated December 25, 1864, which he received this evening. He can only enjoy Christmas so much when there are thousands of shells falling around him every hour. Fortunately, no one in the company was hurt. The shelling took place near where Cape Fear empties into the ocean, about 15 miles below Wilmington, where Fort Fisher is located. He sold one of his extra shirts today. "I can tell you that playing cards, getting drunk, cursing, quarreling, and fighting is a [thing] that Col. Brown don't allow." He claims people at home cannot know a thing…

GLC00653.22.11

16 March 1863

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to James Longstreet

To James Longstreet, ordering preparations to engage Union army when it crosses the Rappahannock, noting strategy of mobility to counter the union's greater numbers: "It is also reported that it is Genl. Hooker's intention to cross the river & advance as soon as the State of the roads will permit, & that in fact he has received repeated orders to that effect.… we should be prepared to concentrate to meet him wherever he shd advance in force. From present indications it is fair to presume that we shall be called upon to engage him first on the Rappahannock, and I desire you to be…

GLC09249

20 December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations]

"…praise to the valor, endurance & patriotism of the noble band of troopers I had the honor to Comd. … they at least did their whole duty in the unsuccessful struggle in which we were engaged." Opening with the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battles, Fitz Lee provides a detailed account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations, fighting practically non-stop from May 4, 1864 to April 9, 1865. Fitz Lee's account is especially informative for the campaigns of the spring and summer of 1864, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the opening of the Petersburg siege, and Philip Sheridan's…

GLC09392

11 April 1865

Pickett, Charles F., fl. 1865

Manuscript document signed

Title: to George Pickett

"Last Return of Pickett's Division as surrendered on April 9, 1865." Grid shows troops, listed by brigade, with officers and enlisted men counted separately. Just 987 men appear on the return. Also signed secretarially for his brother General George Pickett.

GLC09156

9 April 1865

Armstrong, George A., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Civil war appreciation for soldiers from George A. Armstrong]

"Copy of Order / Head Qrs 3d Cavalry Division / Appomattox Court House April 9-1865 / Soldiers of the 3d Cavalry Division / With profound gratitude towards the god of battles by whose blessings our enemies have been humbled and our armis rendered triumphant Your commanding Genral...express[es] to you his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the Series of battles which to day resulted in the surrender of the enemys entire army - the record established by your indomitable courage is unparralelled in the annals of war. your prowess has won for you the respect and…

GLC09160

10 April 1865

Mahone, William, 1826-1895

Manuscript document

Title: [Special Order providing for safe passage of Confederate troops through Union lines]

Personal copy. "All officers and men of the Confederate service paroled at Appomattox C. Ho. Va. who to reach their homes are compelled to pass through the lines of the Union Armies will be allowed to do so and to pass free on all Government Transports and Military Rail Roads."

GLC09183

4 April 1864

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

Newspaper

Title: Daily dispatch. [Vol. 26, no. 81 (April 4, 1864)]

Report of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Lee's army - including news that Grant has recently been on the front, Conspiracy in Kentucky brewing to deliver her to the Confederacy, General Schofield pushes to East Tenn. and on to Morristown, General Forrest's raid and capture of prisoners in Union City and his repuls at Padacah, Union victory at Fort DeRussey, Louisiana, expected rebel invasion of Kentucky by General Breckinridge, Telegraphic dispatch from Atlanta, Alexandria surrendered to Porter's Fleet without opposition.

GLC05959.56.154

1862/05/16

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Johnston re: defense of Richmond, troop positions, etc.

Written as commander in chief of the Army of Northern Virginia.

GLC02348

1863/06/19

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Written as Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Describes his forces advancing across the Potomac towards Pennsylvania. Lee mentions problems procuring supplies; Harpers Ferry. Was written near Millwood, Virginia.

GLC02948

1865/04/10

Lee, William Henry Fitzhugh, 1837-1891

Document signed

Title: [Parole for Capt. J. S. James]

Certifies Captain James of the 24th regiment of Virginia cavalry as a paroled prisoner of the Army of Northern Virginia and gives him permission to go home safely and undisturbed.

GLC03988.01

1865/03/17

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Taylor

GLC04517

1863/06/05

Jeffery, Richard W., fl. 1855-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Jeffery

Positive analysis on the ability of General Pemberton to command at Vicksburg, the defense of which is, maintains Richard , "...a defence of the obstinacy of the President..." He consequently tears into the newspaper editors and the gulible, ignorant masses. Robert heatedly discusses Yankee foraging and destruction of Southern property and finishes with speculating on the how much longer the war will last. He believes that the war will continue unabated until it is brought onto Northern soil, and is accompanied by the destruction of Northern property. He forecasts an invasion by Gen. Lee's…

GLC01896.053