25 April 1863

Birney, David Bell, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Seymour

Recommending to the Governor's attention Captain I. G. Smith, attached to Birney's command, who has had to resign due to circumstances of a domestic nature. States he would welcome the return of Captain Smith at the conclusion of his personal business.

GLC02457.01

23 July 1862

Davidson, John Wynn, 1825-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Recommending Captain Edward Martindale for promotion. States Martindale, who served in the Subsistence Department, acted with distinction in the recent battles before Richmond, Virginia.

GLC02457.04

27 December 1864

Kilpatrick, Hugh J., 1836-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Willard W. Glazier

Writes to Glazier, a Lieutenant who had just escaped from a Confederate prison, to express his "high appreciation of" his "many soldierly qualities". Remembers that in his old regiment Glazier was a private. Two bust engravings of Kilpatrick included as collateral.

GLC02457.10

10 August 1862

Newton, John, 1823-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Recommending a promotion for Captain W. H. Robinson of the Thirty Second New York Volunteers. Written at "Camp on James River." One bust engraving of Newton included as collateral.

GLC02457.13

February 21, 1862

Lovejoy, Owen, 1811-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Lovejoy, a United States Representative from Illinois, writes to Morgan, Governor of New York. Recommends J. H. Bolles for a position in the 53rd New York Regiment of D'Epineuil Zouaves. Notes that Bolles is a citizen of New York City, and is "a very worthy young gentleman & in every respect well qualified for the position."

GLC02448.09

12 March 1783

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Boudinot

Adams introduces Joshua Grigby, Jr. to President of Congress Boudinot. Adams describes Grigby as the wealthy son of a Suffolk gentleman, who "wishes to settle and be happy in America." Adams notes that Grigby will be able to tell Boudinot about English politics.

GLC02449

16 July 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Declares that it is in vain "to look for ease & happiness in a world of trouble," noting that the call of his country has persuaded him to participate in public service (Washington accepted command of the army in 1798, but did not assume an active role). Indicates that he does not want to jeopardize his good reputation by a poor performance at his post. Indicates he placed Knox among the people "on whom I wish to lean," with Alexander Hamilton and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Notes that Hamilton will be second in command of the new army. Commends Pinckney's character as an "active,…

GLC02437.09432

23 October 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions the return of General Benjamin Lincoln. Hopes the transition to a peacetime military establishment will commence without further delay. Does not think Congress intends to abolish the Office of Secretary at War (which Lincoln held from 1781-1783). Notes that Lincoln has helped devise a plan for making the office more economical. Intends to recommend Knox for the position of Secretary at War if Knox wishes. Comments that many members of Congress object to the terms of the peace establishment. Lincoln and Washington disagree on predicted expenses the office of Secretary at War will…

GLC02437.09402

23 October 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "Duplicate" at the top by George Washington. Mentions the return of General Benjamin Lincoln. Hopes the transition to a peacetime military establishment will commence without further delay. Does not think Congress intends to abolish the Office of Secretary at War (which Lincoln held from 1781-1783). Notes that Lincoln has helped devise a plan for making the office more economical. Intends to recommend Knox for the position of Secretary at War if Knox wishes. Comments that many members of Congress object to the terms of the peace establishment. Lincoln and Washington disagree on…

GLC02437.09403

20 July circa 1803-1804

Breck, Anna, fl. 1803-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Introduces Knox to a Mr. Thornby. Notes Thornby will be in Knox's neighborhood and wishes them to meet.

GLC02437.09901

8 November 1862

Holt, Joseph, 1807-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Recommends Donn Piatt as a Judge Advocate to a particular military commission at Cincinnati.

GLC02490.10

January 27, 1862

Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood), 1808-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gideon Welles

Recommends Alex H. Brown for an appointment in the Department of the Interior.

GLC02490.15

20 April 1838

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James W. Abert

Memorandum regarding increasing the Corps of Topographical Engineers written to Colonel Abert as Secretary of War Joel Poinsett is in poor health. Also includes an introduction and recommendation for Charles Dimmock, a retired soldier looking to re-enlist.

GLC02494.09

29 December 1864

Hamlin, Hannibal, 1809-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Letter of introduction for a Mr. Peniston.

GLC02490.07

30 April 1847

Worth, William Jenkins, 1749-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert J. Walker

Letter of introduction for Colonel Bohler, who, Worth promises, will have plenty of stories about Mexico to share with Secretary of the Treasury Walker.

GLC02494.11

circa December 1776

Thompson, William, 1736-1781

Autograph document signed

Title: to The Council of Safety of Pennsylvania

Signed by Brigadier General Thompson and co-signed by Samuel McKinley, Barnard Daugherty, and Thomas Smith. Certifies that Benjamin Burd [spelled "Bird" here] acted as a Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Battalion of Riflemen he formerly commanded (it was then commanded by Colonel Hand). Says he is still in the battalion and is deserving of a captain's commission. The co-signers all concure with the recommendation. Dated from Thompson's promotion to brigadier general 1 March 1776. He was captured at Trois Rivieres on 8 June 1776 and paroled two months later. He waited out most of the war in…

GLC02498.16

September 1822

Dale, Richard, 1756-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Porter

Dale, former United States Naval Commodore, recommends Captain Thomas Hays for a lieutenancy to Porter, the Navy Commissioner.

GLC02500.04

10 November 1801

Nicholson, James, 1737-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Recommends William Adamson for consul at Hamburg.

GLC02500.09

4 May 1776

Tucker, Samuel, 1747-1833

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Dayton

Written by Captain Tucker to Colonel Dayton. References Dayton's letter of 23 April 1776. Says he will lay his recommendations for promotions before the New Jersey Committee of Safety. Says he mentioned Captains Dickinson, Potter, and Bloomfield in his last letter and he hopes that Dayton has heard of the decision made by the committee respecting them. Heard that Dayton's men needed arms and that he could get them with money. Sends along 288 dollars to assist him.

GLC02500.11

18 March 1854

Hale, John P., 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Summer

Hale, a New Hampshire State Senator and noted abolitionist, introduces Mr. Vanderbilt (possibly William Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius) of New York City to Summer, a noted abolitionist. States that Vanderbilt will soon visit Washington, D.C.

GLC02504.21

2 June 1846

Thurman, Allen Granberry, 1813-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Bancroft

Ohio Representative Thurman recommends Thomas Henry Looker for the position of midshipman to Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy. This document also includes Ohio Senator Allen's recommendation and signature.

GLC02504.36

24 June 1820

Wirt, William, 1772-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Written by Wirt as Attorney General of the United States to Jefferson in retirement. Letter of introduction for Colonel Allen M. Lane, who was recently given a land bounty by Virginia for his services in the Revolution. Says the testimonials of his exploits in the war, as told by General George Washington, were recently before Jefferson. Says Chief Justice John Marshall's and Major Gibbon's praise make any further introduction superfluous, "since no one knows better how to value a soldier of the revolution." One bust engraving of Wirt included.

GLC02504.41

30 June 1870

Carpenter, Matthew Hale, 1824-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Signed by United States Senators Carpenter, Timothy Otis Howe, and Representative David Atwood, all from Wisconsin. Docketed by President Grant. The three Congressmen "earnestly recommend Hon James C. Hopkins, of Madison Wisconsin to be appointed District Judge of the United States for the Western Judicial District of Wisconsin, created by act approved June 29. 1870." They note that Hopkins is a fine lawyer, is familiar with the laws of the United States and the practice of Federal Courts, and is roughly 48 years old. Written on United States Senate Chamber stationery. With autograph…

GLC02505.05

19 April 1819

Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard H. Wilde

Written by Crawford as Secretary of Treasury in the Monroe Administration to Wilde, a famous scholar, poet and lawyer from Georgia. Wilde served as a Congressman 1815-1817. Crawford was writing a letter of introduction for Moses Young, one of the principal clerks in the State Department. Says he has pecuniary interests in Augusta and wishes to recommend him to Wilde's attention. Says he does not know Young, but has heard positive reports on his character.

GLC02505.12

19 June 1805

Cheves, Langdon, 1776-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Pickens

Introduces a friend, John Parker, Esquire who is visiting South Carolina for health reasons. Asks Pickens to please extend a welcome to Parker. With floral doodle in pencil on page three.

GLC02504.08