6 June 1860

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's and Mary's letters. Says he is finally in Shanghai "after one of the hardest passages I ever made, to, or from, the Indies." Says their sails froze to the mast in January and they could barely get them set. Goes on to describe the bad weather of the voyage in detail, including running into a hurricane after rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Says the voyage to China took 142 days and said "It is a relief to find other people worse off than yourself, so I was exceedingly pleased to learn that the, Magenta, a rival clipper, which sailed 8 days before us, was not yet arrived…

GLC03836.03

31 October 1862

Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Lewis West

Commodore Paulding orders Acting Master West to go to Philadelphia without delay and report to Commodore Pendergrast for duty aboard the USS "Juniata." Note signed by Navy Agent James S. Chambers says West was paid 9 dollars for travel from New York to Philadelphia. Docket signed by G. J. Pendergrast says West reported for duty on 1 November 1862. Pendergrast died of a paralytic stroke on 7 November 1862.

GLC03836.38

7 January 1867

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C[?] Van W[?]

Asks recipient to send money to England because his daughter is spending a year in Europe. Recipient's name is illegible.

GLC07483.23

January 16, 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 34, whole no. 554 (January 16, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Contains an article on the Southern press, an announcement for the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and resolutions from an anti-slavery convention held at Syracuse, New York. Entire fourth page contains "Travels in America," a lecture by George William Howard Carlisle, the seventh Earl of Carlisle. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.37

January 23, 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 35, whole no. 555 (January 23, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Contains articles on the "The Higher Law" (a Thanksgiving sermon of Reverend Richard Storrs), the Seventeenth National Anti-Slavery Bazaar, and miscellaneous other reports. Fourth page contains the conclusion of "Travels in America," a lecture by George William Howard Carlisle, the seventh Earl of Carlisle. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.38

7 July 1869

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Porter as Superintendent of the Naval Academy to Commander Walker who was just given command of the USS "Sabine." Apologizes for being so busy. Says he has sent him all the orders he asked for and that he should have sailing directions enough to last him on a trip around the world. Hopes Walker got everything he wanted in Boston. Says that Walker probably wants to know his opinion of the new Naval Secretary, George M. Robeson. Porter says Robeson "has a good deal more 'snap' to him than Mr. Borie." Says the Navy will be "straight as a rams' horn" when he gets back. Written on…

GLC03804.13

circa October 1782

Darby, Samuel, 1737-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Date added later in pencil. Signed by Major Samuel Darby of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment and 28 other officers. Asks Henry Knox to consider the plight of a Mr. G. Smith, who had been a Sergeant in the 7th Massachusetts as well as the Quarter Master Sergeant for two years. He was discharged last spring, having found an able-bodied man to replace him, as he was not in good enough health to continue in the service. Since that time, he has opened a Public House in the West Point area to provide lodging, liquor, victuals, and entertainment to travelers. Major General [John] Paterson granted…

GLC02437.01687

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams

A detailed account of the siege of Yorktown. Affirms the correctness of Adams' ideas about a need to conduct a major attack against the British in the southern states. Announces the recent surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown. Explains the "harmonious concurrence of circumstances" that made the victory possible, mentioning the fleet from the West Indies commanded by Admiral Comte de Grasse, the American and French troops marching down from the Hudson River, and a fleet from Rhode Island under the command of Compte de Barras. Provides a chronological explanation of the…

GLC02437.01252

6 May 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Written by William Knox to his sister-in-law Lucy Knox. Inquires of her health and jokingly calls her newborn son [Marcus Camillus] "the little Roman Stranger." Goes on to say that "I have a good will to be offended that you did not think William a good name enough for him." Says he wrote to friends in England for news of the Fluckers, but has received no answer. Says he should have already been back in America, but that changes in politics has made him postpone his trip. Says his French has improved and that he has made better connections as well. Says he spent the winter in Paris and that "…

GLC02437.01410

16 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Written and initialed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "Capt. [Thomas] Machin is desirous of going to Philadelphia for a few days, to transact some business relative to the recruiting service for this State. If his absence for a short time will not interfere with his trial and your Excellency has no objection, I would recommend him for the indulgence requested."

GLC02437.01617

4 October 1782

Simonds, J., fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Request to Samuel Shaw from Captain J. Simonds, and Samuel Shaw's reply]

Written by a Captain J. Simonds, possibly James or Jonas (both were apparently members of the 4th Continental Artillery). Document contains a letter to Samuel Shaw from Captain Simonds, dated 4 October, as well as Shaw's autograph signed reply, dated 9 November, from West Point, New York. Simonds mentions that he understands "the officers are to Continue in service from the oldest agreable to the Proportion of men, if so I now stand the fifth in our Regiment. And believe we shall not be able to muster more than four companys compleat, In consequence of which I expect I must go." Comments…

GLC02437.01641

February 23, 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Lyon to a friend. Laments camp accommodations ("you are at Church listening to a good sermon while I am seated on a wash basin and writing on a Camp Kettle") and not being able to spend "the last Sunday in Brookfield that perhaps I shall ever spend in Ct. with you." Talks of writing letters for soldiers in his company who are ill with measles or in the hospital. Jokes with some hints of jealousy that his friend went sleighing with a man named John. Then, describes part of the journey his company will take by railroad and steamboat, stopping at Fort Monroe (in Virginia).…

GLC02165.03

22 August 1863

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written at camp near Stevenson, Alabama. When the mail came he was busy cutting up some green corn-on-the-cob for dinner. He explains that he has been unable to write because of the constant marching and change of locations. Writes that they had to ascend a road into the mountains which took them quite a while. The troops had to help the wagons and artillery climb the mountain. At night after climbing the mountain they camped on an abandoned plantation called Peach Orchard. The next day they marched through 24 miles of "wilderness destitute of inhabitants." The heat was intense and the 24…

GLC03523.42.28

5 September 1863

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written at camp in Wills Valley, Alabama. He thanks her for remembering him in his "soldier life" and for writing him as much as she can. Explains that her letters arrive every four or five days while his take as long as two weeks to be delivered. This is because of the large number of letters leaving camp. He has time to write as they have stopped their march to wait for a train of supplies. He explains that since the troops are unsure of when the mail will leave they must have the letters written and ready to go whenever the mail arrives. Writes of the hardships of marching and being away…

GLC03523.42.30

1 March 1864

Stark, Lydia, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother

Letter is signed by his sister Lydia. Writes that they have had a very unpleasant winter. The roads were so muddy that they were nearly impassable and her family remained at home for most of the winter. The weather changed so suddenly and frequently that someone in the family almost always had a cold. Writes about the family members who visited her. She is sad to think of how their family seems to become separated further and further each year. His sister Cordelia visited and they read some of his old letters together. States that several more of his family members have written to him. She…

GLC03523.42.40

25 May 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Signed by Sarah Le Van Valkenburgh [?]. Written at Council Bluffs, Iowa [?]. Writes that they are camping with some of the "local folks" and their children are playing as the author writes. The weather has been very dry since they have been on the road. Writes that "the whole place looks like a soldier camp." There are a large number of people waiting to cross the river, including the author. The dirt has been the worst here. Wishes that Mary could write to them more often and that they could see their "dear old home." Asks her to keep a "corner" of her heart warm for them. They only have…

GLC03523.42.46

22 August 1864

Fuller, James W., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his uncle

Writes that his family is doing well and apologizes for not writing for such a long time. States that his father is so busy he has not had time to have his picture taken. He did go down to the picture gallery and have his photograph taken. The picture did not "suit" his mother and father. Wishes that he could be with his uncle as he thinks he would like the sound of the artillery. His father is running a grocery store where he works as a clerk. Writes that he has kept the domino and rebel script his uncle gave him. Writes that because his family moved around during the summer he was unable to…

GLC03523.42.52

6 April 1865

Jacobs, J.E., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to head quartermaster 2nd Division 4th Alabama

Franklin Fuller, Ordnance Sergeant, will proceed to Knoxville, Tennessee by rail.

GLC03523.42.55

8 July 1872

Loke, Laura G., fl. 1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother and sister

Writes that they are starting for Cleveland, Ohio today and had a good visit. Their father's appetite is not as good as it was at home. Mother thinks that he is doing good business canning fruit. Mother has not been feeling well during the trip but she is not sick. She thinks that Mother will get better when they can find some good water. She has found Willie Stark and he expects to get home in four weeks. Does not think that they will leave Cleveland until Monday. They think that they will rest once they get to Cleveland.

GLC03523.42.61

August 23, 1863

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written at camp near Stephenson, Alabama. Thanks her for continuing to write to him while he is at war. Writes that Lieutenant Heuburt [?] returned but he has yet to see him. He has still not received some of her letters and is disappointed. He is sorry that she has so much to do and tells her not to worry about making pants for him. Hopes that Low has sent his boots. Captain Legne [?] has returned with 20 men from the regiment but none from the company. Writes about a few of the soldiers who came back with the captain that he knows. He has sent her father a paper from Nashville, Tennessee…

GLC03523.42.65

January 1, 1864-December 31, 1864

Fuller, Franklin W., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Franklin W. Fuller]

January: Writes of the cold weather. Perry received his discharge papers. The weather ranges from pleasant to rainy and cold. Has played in parades. February: Describes the weather and notes that they were ordered to be ready to march with eight days worth of rations. Gibbs has started for home and he has played in more parades. He has had a sore throat. Some of the men got drunk. Marched to Culpepper, Tennessee. Turns 23 on 29 February 1864. March: The roads are becoming soft because of the rain. Two years ago they left Camp Griffin. Some of the men got drunk. They had a dance that…

GLC03523.42.70

24 March 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

He is glad to hear that Emma is doing well. He writes that he is doing well also. Once he arrived in Washington, D.C. he is unsure of what the army's next move will be. On the march from Charlestown, Maryland to Berryville, Virginia there was a great amount of rain and the roads became extremely muddy. Once the Union Army arrived in Berryville they drove off the rebels there by firing their artillery. The troops had no tents and had to sleep on the cold ground while it rained. They also had no fires as the rebels were close by. The troops expected an attack at night but none came. In the…

GLC03523.42.09

22 August 1862

Clark, Hank S., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank

Apologizes for not writing to him in such a long time. He has had a long journey and recounts his travels through Chicago, Illinois and many other towns. Writes of the many "eager applicants" he found at the draft office of Captain Christopher. Says that many of them are "shoulder strapped gentry." Writes of the conversation between him and Captain Christopher about needing transportation to rejoin his regiment [15th Illinois Infantry]. Captain Christopher did not have his uniform on and he added his name to a list of other soldiers who had been waiting to rejoin their regiments. Some of the…

GLC03523.42.15

1 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that the army has finally stopped marching. He is very anxious to hear from her, and wonders how she and the baby are doing. States that if she does not get better soon he will come home to stay. Tells her not to borrow any money for him as he will be paid soon. Asks her to send his commission. Thinks that the army will be moving again shortly. The last journey was over "a thousand miles via cars and boats which took us about two weeks." Writes that the weather is worse here than in Michigan. States that the regiment was glad to get out of Virginia. Small piece of letter…

GLC03523.13.089

6 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry near Lebanon, Kentucky. He wishes that his wife could have come with him when the army left Newport News, Virginia as she could have seen a great deal of the country. Writes that he is unsure where the army will go next, perhaps to the "back part of the state." Writes that he is sorry to hear his grandfather is not doing well and that he will come home if their baby does not get better soon. He will send money home as soon as he gets paid but he must wait to get his commission which he has asked his wife to send to him. States that by the first of…

GLC03523.13.090