18 March 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

mentions a cousin who was recently wounded and may lose his hand

GLC02618.002

18 September 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

Stafford describes a prayer meeting.

GLC02618.003

8 October 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

talks about sophomore year and roommate troubles

GLC02618.004

17 November 1860

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

complains that he receives hardly any letters, talks about war in general

GLC02618.005

8 June 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

talks about the war spirit and the company that they started at school "Ogletree Guards."

GLC02618.006

12 July 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sisters

describes initial days as a soldier, camping grounds, food, the company

GLC02618.007

20 September 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

describes the life of a soldier: sleeping in the rain, changing landscapes, the food, etc.

GLC02618.008

15 October 1861

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ma

He writes that he received the blanket and requests his shoes and suspenders. He will send his pistol along with some money home. Written at Camp Masked Battery

GLC02618.009

1861-1877

Envelope

Title: Lexington and Baltimore

features picture of Lexington battle in 1775 and the battle of Baltimore in 1861.

GLC08414.3

1861-1877

Envelope

Title: How Virginia Was Voted Out of the Union

shows polling booth with men holding guns

GLC08416.1

1 July 1861

Envelope

Title: Virginis Begins the War

features picture of woman with cannon that reads "secession"

GLC08482.2

14 September 1864

Wells, Edmund C., fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria

has sent her $150. bought a gum blanket. writes about his friend and complains about a clerk who is very lazy and pretends to cook. . rumored that if it had not been for the Harper Ferry's raid, Virginia would not have seceded.

GLC08311.20

circa 1880

Print

Title: Engraving of Louis T. Wigfall

Engraving is a torn out page from a book. Biographical note is adhered below the image.

GLC02459.63

February 7, 1861

Bennett, James Gordon, 1795-1872

Newspaper

Title: New York herald. [No. 8917 (February 7, 1861)]

Includes a report that the United States government refuses to comply with the propositions of South Carolina for the surrender of Fort Sumter. Reports on the recent secession of Texas from the Union. Discusses the proceedings of the Washington Peace Congress, called to enact a "speedy settlement of the political differences now distracting this country." Describes the activities of President-elect Abraham Lincoln in detail as he travels through the Midwest.

GLC08726.10

21 May 1861

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: To amend an act entitled: An act recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States...

GLC06745.004

February 26, 1861

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. B. Saunders

States that he can do nothing about Saunders land claims, due to secession. Because of Southern secession, Saunders must take his claims up with the state offices of the seceded states, and the petitions he filed before secession are no longer relevant. Benjamin also states "I am to leave to-morrow for Montgomery." Written the day after he was appointed Confederate Attorney General.

GLC03303

February 16, 1863

Hale, E.J., 1802-1880

Newspaper

Title: Fayetteville observer. [Vol. 43, no. 2385 (February 16, 1863)]

Proclamation by Governor Vance, Sovereignty of the States, Right of Secession, Report on Fight at Fort Donelson in the North.

GLC05959.34.11

1860

South Carolina. Convention, 1860-1862

Pamphlet

Title: Declaration of the immediate causes which induce and justify the secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union; and the ordinance of secession.

First Edition, later edition. Presented by C.G. Memminger, a South Carolina legislator and Confederate government official, as the report of the committee to draw up the Confederate declaration of independence.

GLC00725

February 1, 1865,

Burnett, Lawrence T., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The confederate states. [Vol. 4, no. 41 (July 11, 1863)]

Local responses to New York Tribune anti-secession arguments. Money promised to families of soldiers. List of escaped Confederate prisoners aboard the steamer Maple Leaf. Editorial on slaves. Lined blue, white, and gray floral pattern.

GLC06208.25

10 November 1861

Harlow, Charles D., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Asa Smith

Written by Harlow to his cousin Asa Smith in the Union Army. Harlow and Smith were not close before Smith joined the army, but Harlow hopes they will get to know each other through writing. Harlow claims he heard Smith was in good health through Homer. Says the family is well and that 2 regiments will soon leave the area for Washington. Reports that there are 800 soldiers at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Claims "They have come from most all parts of the Union; they are men of Secession principles, who have said and done to[o] much, but they are in safe quarters now." Says a severe storm last…

GLC03742.03

21 November 1860

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. References receiving Henry's letter the day before. Says he is in negotiations with John Janney(?) to purchase his farm "as you were so anxious I should buy land." Claims "The affairs in the South look very threatening - But when action comes they will find more difficulties in the way than they expect." Thinks they will reconsider and not break from the Union. Is worried he has too many temptations to spend his money where he is and will not send it home. Letter is fragile and has a partial tear along a fold.

GLC03523.21.02

28 November 1860

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. References receiving his letter. Gives him investment advice. Tells him Tom is getting married tomorrow, Anna is writing him again, and that Dr. McGary will stop and call on him before going to Europe. Reports that two hogs were killed, giving them 659 pounds of meat. Says he has not settled on a contract to buy John Janney's(?) farm and will not "unless the southern difficulty is settled."

GLC03523.21.05

December 1860

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was in the U.S. Navy. Says the family was wondering what he was doing at the breakfast table this morning. Wants to know if he wants the "Intelligencer" or the "Mirror," or some other newspaper. Says she will still send the "Republican." Says Bishop McGill will be in Harper's Ferry next Sunday. Reports that their father made an offer on the Patterson land of John Janney(?) and says "he asks Pa 32. it is 1.50 more in the acre than he gave but Pa said Mr Janney would have $100 interest to pay. he said there were 129 acres. Pa said he would write to…

GLC03523.21.07

1 January 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

Lysander recounts how they surrounded and ambushed a suspected secessionist's house during the night, only to find nothing. The secessionist claimed to be a Unionist but admitted his brother is in the Confederate Army and that there were things hidden on the plantation. Reports Lieut. Timothy Wells and Capt. Alexander Warner have been petitioned to resign by all of the officers. Wheeler explains that he signed the petition for Warner because Warner wanted Darius, Wheeler's brother-in-law, to sleep with his negro servant.

GLC07460.010

18 March 1862

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. References Henry's letter of 21 February. Says he heard of him through Mrs. Miller's brother. Reports that "The Balt & Ohio R.R. will probably be open to Wheeling in the course of a week, so that our communication will be [improved] with home." Says he is busy and doing well considering the "general business prostration" in Baltimore (Richard was a physician as well). Reports that "Southern sympathy is as rife as ever here, but the Union party is perhaps on the increase. If Virginia should come in again there would be no more secession spirit…

GLC03523.21.16