1858-1900

Wright, Family, fl. 1858-1900

Header Record

Title: Augustus R. & Miller Wright archive: Confederate turncoat [partially decimalized .01-.12]

This collection comprises personal and military correspondence relating to U.S., and later Confederate, congressman Augustus Wright and his son Miller, both Southerners with Unionist sympathies. Topics include battles (including First Manassas), conflicts between Jefferson Davis and Governor Joseph Brown, wounded soldiers and prisoners of war, conscription, peace negotiations, Confederate surrender, and Lincoln's assassination. The collection includes a number of orders by Robert E. Lee's son George Washington Custis Lee, Miller's commanding officer for much of the war. Augustus Romaldus…

GLC02691

16 August 1899

Hampton, Wade, 1818-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Wheeler

Writes to Wheeler, a former Confederate general, about an article Wheeler wrote and corrects some mistakes. Explains that he was asked to correct them by former Confederate soldiers under his command who are still loyal to the Confederacy and felt that Wheeler's intimation that they had deserted did not do them justice. Explains why a plan to take Confederate President Jefferson Davis across the Mississippi River failed and supplies extracts of correspondence from April 1865 to help explain his points. Discusses how he heard of the surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to…

GLC02662

6 May 1865

Upchurch, Burton, fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: C.S.A. soldier parole for Jerry Tate

GLC02674.02

10 August 1863

Dargan, Edmund Strother, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: probably to Jefferson Davis

States that there is strong public opposition to General John C. Pemberton. Informs Davis that both Pemberton's own troops and the citizens of Alabama and Mississippi have turned against Pemberton, following his recent surrender at Vicksburg. Believes this negative public opposition will decrease his ability to be an effective military commander. Expresses his personal opinion that he believes in Pemberton, but thinks he may have to be replaced to appease public opinion.

GLC03065

1845

Baillie, James S., fl. 1838-1855

Print

Title: Surrender of Cornwallis

Hand-colored lithograph showing Lord Cornwallis surrendering to George Washington at Yorktown on 19 October 1781. Several other American and British military leaders also appear. Names printed under lithrograph read: "Kosciuzko," "Steuben," "Laurens," "Hamilton," "Lincoln," "Knox," "Lafeyette," "Wayne," "Washington," "Cornwallis," "Tarleton," "Knyphausen," "Chewton," "Rawdon," and "O'hara."James S. Baillie was a lithographer active in New York City from 1838-1855.

GLC02918.02

9 April 1865

Broadside

Title: [Courant Extra! Glorious News! The End of the War]

Small newspaper broadside re-printing Grant's famous notice to Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, about Lee's surrender at Appomattox. "Let the People Rejoice. Surrender of Lee and His Whole Army. Ring the Bells and Shout Loud Huzzas." With a manuscript note "Printed At Midnight Sunday April 9. /65."

GLC02916

circa 20 April 1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: [General Robert E. Lee and staff]

Image showing General Robert E. Lee and two members of his staff. The staff members are identified as possibly Lee's son G.W. Custis Lee (on his right) and Aide Col. Walter H. Taylor (on his left). Brady photographed Lee after his return from Appomattox to his home in Richmond, April 1865. (Other copies: GLC00957 and GLC00579.)

GLC03088

circa 1867

Major, & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing, & Lithographic Co.

Print

Title: The Room in McLean House

Title continues, "at Appomattox C.H., in which Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant." Depicts 18 men present, mostly officers in uniform, including Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Published by the Major & Knapp. Eng. Mfg & Lith Co., 71 Broadway.

GLC02979.01

19 October 1868

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David D. Porter

Reminds Porter of a letter he wrote to Sherman last spring in which Porter described everything about a meeting in 1865 where Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Sherman, and Porter discussed the course to be taken when the Confederate forces were defeated. Porter had written up this description at the request of G.P.A. Healy, who painted a picture of the meeting. Asks Porter if he kept a copy of this letter since he sent his copy to Healy and if he could furnish him with one. If not, he requests that Porter recount his memory of the meeting again particularly those parts which were "likely…

GLC02984

1862

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: Bombardment of Fort Pulaski, Cockspur Island, Geo 10th & 11th of April 1862

Hand colored lithograph published by Currier & Ives at 152 Nassau Street, New York. Print is mounted. Caption under the title reads: "After a bombardment of 30 hours, the Fort surrendered unconditionally to the U.S. Forces, under the immediate command of Genl. Q. A. Gillmore. 360 Prisoners, 47 Cannon, 40,000 pounds of Powder, and a large quantity of provisions fell into the hands of the loyal North." Vivid depiction of orange explotions inside and around the fort that lighten up the night. Orange and black smoke dominates the image. The flagpole with a Confederate flag is snapped and…

GLC02881.08

1862

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: Storming of Fort Donelson, Tenn. Feby. 15th 1862

Hand colored lithograph published by Currier & Ives at 152 Nassau Street, New York. Print is mounted. Caption under the title says: "The attack on the Fort commenced on Tuesday Feby. 13th and was continued with varying success, until Saturday, when Genl. Grant ordered a charge up the steep-hill, on which was the outer redoubt; our troops gained the high breastworks and with hardly a pause, went over them, driving the Rebels back and planting the Stars and Stripes on the embankment. When night came, the Union-troops were victorious at every point, and the next morning the Fort was…

GLC02881.22

07 October 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Endorsement signed

Title: Directing Secretary of War to release records. On verso of ALS from Wm. Reid

Intended to exonerate President Buchanan from the charge of colluding with Gen. David Twiggs in surrendering Federal posts in Texas.

GLC03178

February 7, 1782

Houston, William C., fl. 1746-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Forwards an affidavit and other documents (not included), mentions his expectation that news of the American victory at Yorktown has reached London, and sends personal news related to a smallpox epidemic. One bust engraving of Robert R Livingston included.

GLC03147

1 July 1779 - 24 May 1780

Van Dyke, Cornelius, fl. 1775-1783

Manuscript signed

Title: [American Revolution orderly book of the 2nd New York with garrison orders for Fort Schuyler]

Orderly book with orders issued by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Van Dyke and Major John Graham, some signed and in their hand. Notable orders relate to a Fourth of July celebration and General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. Many others concern military preparations, court martials, Indian trade proscriptions, and other matters related to the protection from the Iroquois on the New York frontier. Most entries name day guards. Fort Schuyler, in Oneida County, New York, was an outpost exposed to British-Indian raiding, especially just west, in the Mohawk Valley. Raids in that…

GLC03158

9 January 1876

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Conness

Commander in Chief of the Army Sherman writes to Conness about the quarrel he had with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton over the terms of Confederate General Joseph Johnston's surrender in 1865. Sherman suggests that he may have acted wrongly. " ... I do not profess to be infallible, or more than mortal. I have made some fearful mistakes in life which in a retrospect would be corrected, among them in regard to Mr. Stanton." Admits that he felt Stanton was trying to destroy him, " ... because he supposed I was not acting in full harmony on the then policy with the Negros - And failing…

GLC03341.01

08 July 1863

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Apparently a telegram. Major General Banks, commander of the Department of the Gulf, sends word to Major General Grant, commander of the Department of the Tennessee, to announce the capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana. This letter marks the advent of unfettered Union control of the Mississippi River. The Vicksburg garrison had surrendered to Grant on July 4, four days prior to this note.

GLC03374

10 April 1865

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Johnston

Writes in a telegram, "A scout reports that Genl. Lee surrendered the remnant of his Army near to Appomatox [sic] C.H. yesterday. No official intelligence of the event, but there is little room for doubt, as to the result." Davis orders General Henry H. Walker to join Johnston at Greensboro, North Carolina, asks for news and notes that they will need "to confer as to future action." Labeled "Cypher."

GLC03233

13 November 1777

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Written by Gerry as delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress to Warren as a member of the Continental Navy Board. References Warren's letter of 23 October 1777, in which he found news of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga earlier that month. In that letter Warren expressed misgivings about the terms of surrender that General Horatio Gates gave to Burgoyne, known as the Articles of Convention. Gerry says he had the same misgivings, but says Gates was justified in giving generous terms because Sir Henry Clinton was making moves to reinforce Burgoyne. Says that they…

GLC03239

27 April 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Johnston

Written one day after General Johnston's surrender to Major General Sherman. Sherman's letter concerns repatriation of Confederate troops, providing supplies to Confederate troops, and Sherman's hope that the wounds of war can be healed. Informs of his orders to General John M. Schofield to facilitate the return of the men to their homes. Gives his view on the end of the war, "Now that the war is over I am willing to risk my person & reputation as heretofore, to heal the Wound made by the Past War. And I think my feeling is shared by the whole Army." Continues on to comment on some…

GLC03260

24 December 1781

Johnson, J., fl. 1782

Newspaper

Title: The Salisbury and Winchester Journal [Monday, December 24, 1781]

Includes news related to the Battle of Yorktown. Publishes a letter from Lord Cornwallis to Henry Clinton dated 20 October 1781, in which Cornwallis announced his defeat. Prints several items of correspondence between Cornwallis and George Washington (related to the British captiulation at Yorktown) from October 1781. Also includes news from the House of Commons and various announcements and advertisments.

GLC03517

14 April 1865

Newspaper

Title: The World. [Vol. V., no. 1501 (April 14, 1865)]

Covers the issues surrounding General Robert E. Lee's surrender and the end of the Civil War. Announces that drafting and recruiting has stopped, that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston will be urged to surrender, and details the pursuit of Lee's army up to the surrender, the Appomattox campaign. Prints articles on the news of various states, mostly related to the end of the war. Includes an item on the reconstruction movement in Virginia, and an article about Richmond in the aftermath. Other articles detail international, political, court, and ship news, advertisements, and public…

GLC03119

1862-1902

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Thomas J. Kessler, G company, 1st regiment, Michigan, sharpshooters] [decimalized]

Collection includes several writers. Topics include camp news, the battle before Petersburg, the surrender of Richmond, and the siege at Petersburg. There are extra envelopes that could not be matched up to the letters. Partially cataloged.

GLC03523.52

1863-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of three items related to Dighton Goddard [Decimalized]

GLC03608

12 April 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Manuscript document

Title: [Special Field Order no. 54]

Signed by Dodge, a Brigadier General as an official notice. Notifies the Union army that General Robert E. Lee has surrendered his entire army to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. Ends with, "Glory to God . . A little more labor, a little more toil on our part, the great race is won and our Government stands regenerated after its four long years of bloody war."

GLC03553

1852

Currier, Nathaniel, 1813-1888

Print

Title: Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga N.Y. Oct. 17th 1777

Created by Currier as a lithograph of the painting by John Trumbull, which hangs in the U.S. Capital Building. Signature in lower right corner of lithograph says "O. Knursch 1852." Fine print below the picture says "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1852 by N. Currier, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Southern District N.Y." Also says it is published by Currier and provides his address. Depicts the surrender of General John Burgoyne, in the left foreground, to General Horatio Gates, in the right foreground. Burgoyne is about to hand over his sword in a gesture of…

GLC03567