2 September 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, attending business in Henry's absence, transmits two letters from Lucy Knox (possibly GLC02437.03976 and GLC02437.03979). Notes that Congress recently addressed the question of its permanent location. Six states were in favor of New York, while four were in favor of Philadelphia, "so the question was lost as seven states are necessary for the decision." Discusses military matters: Royal Flint's clothing contract with [the War Department?]; Joseph Howell's appointment as Commissioner of Army Accounts; correspondence with Arthur St. Clair and Josiah Harmar; business with William…

GLC02437.03980

21 October 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports War Office business. Discusses Lieutenant Pratt's recruits and his orders to march to Fort Pitt. Refers to matters in the Northwest Territory, clothing inspection and packing, and a [Congressional] committee's inspection of the War Department. Of the inspection and resulting report, writes, "I do not think it looks unfavorably to you- but which with defference [sic] to their great wisdom might I think as well have been left undone, as it acquaints the world with secrets, which should have been less extensively known." Reports that Robert Morris is in town, and the "Old Congress"…

GLC02437.04010

28 October 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, managing War Office business in Henry's absence, reports on gathering clothing for an impending march to Fort Pitt: Captain Price arrived in the morning; Mr. Stagg has begun inspecting and packing 400 uniforms; Samuel Hodgdon organized wagons for transporting the clothing, etc. Refers to Lieutenant John Pratt (who will lead troops to Fort Pitt). Comments on his illness: "...I had a face like a pudding- and more pain than I know what to do with... my face is swelling while I am writing-"

GLC02437.04017

30 October 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, managing the War Office in Henry's absence, discusses military business. Comments on transporting clothing in preparation for a march to Fort Pitt. Transmits news from Generals Josiah Harmar and Arthur St. Clair. Reports on St. Clair's news: "No treaty yet things look doubtful." Also remarks that [John] Sevier "is outlaw'd in N. Carolina." Notes that Mr. Martin (possibly General Joseph Martin), defeated the Chickamaugas in a recent battle. In closing, complains of a cold, writing "I am closely confined physicking fomenting and politicing."

GLC02437.04020

5 November 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses military preparations for John Pratt's march to Fort Pitt. Notes that Pratt passed through New York on his way to New Brunswick, where he will depart with troops to Fort Pitt. John Stagg, assisting William in the War Office, gave Pratt a fife and drum. William promised Pratt another month's pay. Mentions Samuel Ogden's procurement of wagons for transporting supplies to Fort Pitt. Notes that [Pratt?] is accompanied by Solomon Jennings, a deserter who was tried and punished at West Point. Mentions General Josiah Harmar and Ensign Luce. Comments on his recent illness, which was…

GLC02437.04026

circa 1867-1870

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Object

Title: [hat and epaulets in a tin box]

Tin box was crafted specifically to hold the hat and epaulets. It is 20.5 cm high, 45.5 cm long, and 20.75 cm in width. Inside, the hat lays on its side while two folding platforms hold the epaulets for easy storage. Below the epaulets are two spaces to hold unknown items. Both spaces are now empty. The inside of the box is lined with a purple-colored felt and has a felt pocket on the inside lid. The box has a half-dozen labels pasted on its outside. The labels were for a man named G.M. Wheadon of the Royal Navy, who appears to have taken a round trip between Britain and China. One label…

GLC08877

October 20, 1781-December 19, 1781

Autograph manuscript

Title: [1781 military orderly book]

Mentions regiments from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Entries relate to daily orders, court martials, troop duties and movement, equipment and supplies, arms, and clothing. Assigns the officers for each day. Entry on 29 October 1781 discusses British General Charles Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown which occurred 19 October 1781. Entry on 9 November 1781 reports on a raid launched by British, Loyalist, and Indian forces in the Mohawk Valley, New York, led by Major John Ross, who was met by American Colonel Marinus Willett and defeated. This occurred 20-30…

GLC01450.015

1781

Header Record

Title: [Collection pertaining to the 10th Massachusetts Regiment [Decimalized .01- .02]

GLC01450.016

19 October 1775

Gordon, John, fl. 1775-1791

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for money from Gordon Hutchins]

States one pound, four shillings was received of Captain Gordon Hutchins in lieu of a coat for a uniform promised by the New Hampshire Congress. Winter Hill was the next fortification after the troops left the field of after the Battle of Bunker Hill.

GLC01450.028

August 25, 1781

Steward, William, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Seymour

Discusses business relating to the exchange and sale of nails and board. Postscript informs Seymour about information he has learned from men aboard a sloop of his that arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. Discusses a ship or fleet that sailed with a French fleet and was bound for Havana to meet some Spanish ships. States that it was reported that they have 10,000 troops, 300 heads of cattle, and clothing. He cannot guess their destination.

GLC01450.126

14 July 1774

Carleton, Guy, 1724-1808

Document signed

Title: [Document to supply clothing for troops]

Witnessed by Doubleday and another illegible signature. Carleton appoints Alexander Adair and Henry Bullock of Charing Cross as his attorneys to contract for the clothing provided for Carleton's 47th Regiment of Foot. Document sealed with Carleton's signet. Bears Carleton's red, wax official seal.

GLC01412.36

May 10, 1777

Ridges, R., fl. 1777

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Samuel Purveyance

Requests a portion of shirts purchased by Purveyance for the Continental troops.

GLC01412.64.06

May 3, 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ewing

Sherman writes about the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862. He discusses his experiences in it, the strategy of the battle, the officers' uniforms, and various Union generals. He explains his daring position at Shiloh, "I do not think I exposed myself at Shiloh more than was necessary from the shape of the ground and the nature of my men." He writes that he had to give orders that usually would have been left to officers of a lower rank and therefore had to be out in the open. From the experiences of that day, he relays that he thinks officers should wear uniforms that differ from the…

GLC01203

September 22, 1861

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wallace J. Ford

Garfield discusses mustering the men under his command in the 42nd Ohio Volunteers into service. Indicates he will contact the governor about an appointment for Ford. Comments on a horse and sending measurements for uniforms. Letter written at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, with stamped and docketed envelope.

GLC01112

April 19, 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel and Robert Purviance

Morris, chairman of a Congressional secret committee, acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the Purviance brothers, merchants in Baltimore, Maryland. Transmits inventories (not included) of two prize vessels, discusses a recent purchase of flour (possibly for military use) conducted by the Purviances, and relates that the committee will not purchase the prize vessels. Refers the Purviances' previous request regarding military clothing to James Mease, appointed in 1776 as clothier general. Referring to Captain James Nicholson, in command of the ship Virginia, states "It would give us…

GLC01135

1776

Simmons, Peleg, fl. 1776

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Orderly book of Peleg Simmons]

Daily orders for troops at Middletown and Newport, Rhode Island. Reports on soldiers' and officers' duties, troop movements, court martials, provisions, uniforms, armaments, soldiers' appearance, and general announcements to the troops at camp. Includes orders on preparing arms and establishing regimental colors. Assigns captains for each day. On 17 April 1776, mentions Commander Henry Babcock's arrest and removal from office due to insanity. 20 July 1776 describes a celebration of the Declaration of Independence, noting parade and canon fire. Briefly mentions smallpox in an entry for…

GLC01450.003

July 1776 - December 9,1777

Tilden, Ezra, 1751-1819

Diary

Title: [Diary of Ezra Tilden]

Provides a detailed day by day account of Tilden's march through New York during the Revolutionary War. Writes extensively about daily duties, poor rations, hunger, hardships along the march, sickness and death amongst the soldiers, and the demoralized spirit of the men. Possibly writes something about the cruelty of the officers in code on p. 34 by mixing the letters of the words. Includes lists of towns he passed through (p. 12, 49, 107, 141), an item by item list of contents of his pack (p. 9), a list of the monthly wages for each military rank (p. 54), rations for each soldier (p. 55…

GLC01450.004

October 1864

Howell & Brown, fl. 1864

Photograph

Title: [Carte de visite of George H. Muzzey]

Photographed seated, in uniform by Howell & Brown Photographers, Savannah, Georgia. Most likely taken before being captured in October 1864 and detained in the confederate Libby Prison.

GLC01942.03

circa July 1863

Sparks, Thomas, fl. 1863

Broadside

Title: Fall in Men! Fall in Promptly! To the Rescue of the State!

Pennsylvania recruitment broadside, published by recruiting officer Lieutenant Thomas Sparks probably asking for men to defend the state during Robert E. Lee's invasion in June-July 1863. Focal point is large depiction of a debonair soldier charging in battle against defeated Confederates. He is joined by other sword-wielding men in the background. Asks for recruits for the regiment of Gray Reserves, to serve for 3 months unless sooner discharged. They are to report to headquarters at 810 Market Street, 3rd Story, in Philadelphia. $10 bounty offered for each recruit brought in. Says each…

GLC02192

circa June 1863

Tinen, P.S., fl. 1863

Broadside

Title: Largest Bounties! Recruits Wanted for the Penn'a Volunteers

Pennsylvania recruitment broadside published by recruitment officer Captain P.S. Tinen of the 69th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Printed in blue and red ink by King & Baird at 607 Samson Street in Philadelphia. Dominated by the image of an American eagle holding a blank banner in its beak. Amounts of $650 and $750 are in the margins, advertising bounties. Says recruits are wanted for the Pennsylvania Volunteers of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's 2nd Corps or any Pennsylvania regiment. Volunteers to report to headquarters at 106 South Sixth Street. Says recruits for the 2nd…

GLC02193

1750-1820

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Header Record

Title: Henry Knox papers, including retained and received correspondence, &c. [Decimalized .00001 - .10737]

Letters and documents, written to or by Knox, who served as chief of Artillery during the Revolution, and then as Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation and in President Washington's first administration. The collection includes Knox's voluminous correspondence with luminaries like Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Benjamin Lincoln, Nathanael Greene, John and John Q. Adams, Hancock and Paine. It also includes his business and wartime correspondence, and the charming and affectionate letters between Knox and his wife, Lucy Flucker Knox. Much interesting business and personal…

GLC02437

23 December 1862

Maury, Dabney Herndon, 1822-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Walker

Remarks that he has been unable to fight any battles in his home state (Virginia), but has instead served in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Wishes that the French Emperor, Napoleon III, would speed mediation. Notes that his promotion has not altered him, as he still wears the same corduroy jacket, keeps his hair cut the same way, and shares the same feelings as before. Discusses his promotion, the Confederacy and fellow generals (including Earl Van Dorn, John Clifford Pemberton, William Loring, Franklin Gardner, Lloyd Tilghman, William Montague Browne, and Albert Rust). Says "...My…

GLC02215

1861-1864

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Edward Ward, 4th regiment, Tennessee, infantry] [decimalized]

The collection consists of thirty-four letters written by Edward K. Ward to his sister Elmira Ward. Edward enlisted in Company A of the 4th Tennessee as a Second Lieutenant. He writes of his experiences at Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Nashville, Chattanooga, Seminary Ridge, and Atlanta, where he was killed. The collection is accompanied by an oil painting of Ward and a collection of carte-de-visites of Ward family members and acquaintances. Also making a frequent appearance in the correspondence is Edward's brother Samuel Marshall Ward (often referred to as "Marshall"). Marshall Ward enlisted…

GLC02232

1861-1863

Blodgett, Hiram A., fl. 1861-1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Hiram A. Blodgett, I company, 76th regiment, New York, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .04]

Blodgett served as a Union Captain of the 76th NY Vols. Infantry. Collection contains 11 pieces of correspondence to Blodgett, who was serving as a recruiting officer. Includes four letters from recruiting officers and swatches of uniform cloth, sent by New York tailors.

GLC02248

1864

Sperry, Lyman Bell, 1838-1920

Diary

Title: [Diary of a Union soldier, Company B, 98th New York Volunteers, who participated in the Petersburg Campaign]

Pongo Bridge is noted on the inner front cover, but this diary was created in various places. Contains a meticulously records of the events of 1864. 8 January, records that General Butler (possibly Benjamin Franklin Butler), is to have entire charge of prisoners. On 12 January, discusses corresponding with a girl named Olive who he misses greatly. Mentions parades 17 January and 15 February. Mentions General James Hewett Ledlie, from Staten Island, New York 30 February, and on other occasions throughout the journal. Travels to New York in March, reaching Albany 3 March, and New York…

GLC02261