10 March 1783

Manuscript letter

Title: to the Officers of the Army [The Newburgh Conspiracy]

Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, this is Henry Knox's copy, and is docketed by Knox. An anonymous address to the officers of the Army, along with a call for a general meeting of officers. This particular copy was sent to the officers at West Point. Gives high-minded praise to the troops, extolling their virtue, bravery, and patriotism -- but then transitions into an emotional-laden section about America's inability to provide for them after the war is over. Says "If this then be your treatment, while the swords you wear are necessary for the defence of America - what have you to expect…

GLC02437.01994

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

20 July 1813

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Jackson

Written by North in retirement in Major Jackson. Marked at address that the letter is "to be published as a private letter." Sees in the newspaper that General Hull is to be tried on the charge of treason and cowardice during the surrender of Detroit in August 1812. Says he does not believe the charges to be true. In emotional language he attacks the rumors against Hull and defends his Revolutionary War record. Is especially outraged over the rumors of compensation money the British allegedly gave Hull. Says if fear was part of the surrender, then it wasn't a selfish fear, but one based on…

GLC02542.20

19 December 1862

Birney, David Bell, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gross

Discussing the "terrible battle" of Fredericksburg, which had occurred six days earlier. States that "Our troops behaved well." Also "My old Division true to prestige drove back the enemy and retook the lost ground & held it under Artillery & rifles." Encloses a map (GLC02630.02) of the battle. Reports his "loss was 982 kill & missing," and has now returned to "same camps" as before the battle. Wishes to know if the division he now commands "Sustained Chantilly reputation." This refers to Chantilly, the last battle the division fought under its previous commander, General…

GLC02630.01

19 July 1862

Couch, Darius Nash, 1822-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Adjutant General for the State of New York

Brigadier General Couch writes to New York's Adjutant General (possibly John Titcomb Sprague or Thomas Hillhouse). Recommends Captain James Walsh of the 36th Regiment New York Volunteers for the position of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel to Sprague and the Governor of New York (Edwin D. Morgan). Writes, "It is almost presuming for me unknown as I am to the Governor to make this recommendation- but the regiment has been under my command nearly a year and therefor know something of its condition- At the battle of Fair Oak Capt Walsh was the ruling spirit in the regiment." Goes on to praise…

GLC02465.07

February 23, 1863

Doubleday, Abner, 1819-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to whom it may concern

Brigadier General Doubleday, commander of the 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, recommends Lieutenant Benjamin J. Marten, Aide-de-Camp, for promotion in his regiment. Notes that Marten has been "with me in the Battles of Gainesville Bull Run South Mountain Antietam and Fredericksburg. He is a brave and capable officer, fearless by nature and ready for any enterprise to which he may be called by the patriotic needs of the day." Written on Headquarters, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac stationery.

GLC02465.08

16 July 1779

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: General orders after action at Battle of Stony Point

This document is written in the third person and is signed in text. A hastily written draft conveying General Anthony Wayne's general orders lauding his troops directly after the Battle of Stony Point. Cites Colonel [Christian] Febiger as the field officer of the day. Says their perfect execution of orders reflects the highest honor on the troops engaged. Wants all captured military stores to collected, reported, and placed in charge of proper guards. Commends soldiers for confidence and bravery during battle. Instructs troops and generals on guard duty and moving supplies. The Battle of…

GLC00496.108

20 April 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph document

Title: [Commendation for service]

Describes a soldier's courage under fire and bravery in the face of the enemy. According to the Monroe Papers, these are remarks made by Monroe during the presentation of a sword to Richard M. Johnson for service during the War of 1812.

GLC00496.069

July 2, 1813

Wood, B.G., fl. 1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Wood

He writes to his sister about his activities in Canada at Fort George and elsewhere in the northern campaign during the War of 1812. Also discusses the heroism of their brother, Eleazor D. Wood, at Fort Meigs, as recounted by General William Henry Harrison. Notes that congress will be putting a heavy duty on all spirits, and mentions the naval fight on Lake Champlain.

GLC01043.02

23 August 1864

Granger, Gordon, 1822-1876

Printed document signed

Title: [General Orders acknowledging soldiers' bravery in the capture of Forts Morgan and Gaines, Alabama]

General Granger relates his appreciation to officers and soldiers. Writes "In the midst of danger you have been brave; under the severest exposure and fatigue you have been patient... continue to cherish all those virtues of discipline and courage so necessary to the success of a soldier, which you have so signally displayed and which aided in producing the result that has fulfilled our most sanguine expectations. By your efforts, united to those of our gallant Navy, the strongholds of the enemy at the entrance of Mobile Bay have been captured..."

GLC01010

2 July 1863 - 3 July 1863

Manuscript document

Title: List of killed & wounded at the battle of Gettysburg Pa. July 2nd & 3rd 63

Manuscript field report of killed, wounded, and missing from the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Most likely written while at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Includes comments such as "coward" and "d-d good soldier" after a few names.

GLC01015

8 October 1862

Hurlbut, Stephen A., 1815-1882

Broadside

Title: General orders, no. 112

Praises his men, the "Fighting Fourth" Division of the Army of the Tennessee, for their actions after the battle of Corinth. Hurlbut's men arrived after the Confederate assault on the city had been repulsed, but he praises their actions against the retreating Confederates. "When at last our victorious flag shall float over the national domain reconquered and united...you shall recite...how you swept the rebel hosts, with every advantage of position across the Hatchie." Also informs his men that he has been promoted and will no longer command them, but says "whatever I may have of military…

GLC01017

September 19, 1774

Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

Written by Rodney, an eventual signer of the Declaration of Independence, as Speaker of the Delaware Assembly to an unknown recipient, most likely Thomas Rodney. Says he wrote recipient on September 17, 1774. Says he was probably concerned about a report of the British firing on Boston. Says Philadelphia's bells rang all day when that news arrived, but that it proved to be false a few days later. When expresses were sent out from Boston to say it was false, the riders came upon 50,000 men in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Says if the men were not armed, they were carrying provisions for…

GLC00983

September 26, 1863

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Letter signed

Title: to James Wilson

Colonel Gibson writes from the Headquarters of General Daniel Weisiger Adams's Brigade. He informs Wilson, Assistant Adjutant General of John Cabell Breckinridge's Division, of the details of the recent Battle of Chickamauga. He reports that Adams's Brigade is composed of the 13th, 16th, 19th, 20th, and 25th Louisiana Volunteers, the 32nd Alabama Volunteers, Austin's Battalion Louisiana Sharpshooters, Captain S. H. Slocomb's Battery, and Washington's Artillery. Relates "I was engaged in reforming my Regiment when informed, that, Brig-Genl D. W. Adams having been disabled by a wound, the…

GLC00821

10 November 1792

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses land business as well as shipping and invoices. Writes that in his area, "mole hills may be magnified to mountains and the smallest mistakes that have relation to the war Department may judging from precedent be made use of to incriminate." Discusses some mistakes that were made in the shipment of military supplies. Writes, "Of Indian affairs I will say nothing - Genl Wilkinson will detail to you the militia rout of the 6th an 'Affair of Honour' but dishonourable in the main I believe to those people in every point of view the personal Bravery of their Commandant excepted."…

GLC02437.05695

circa July 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Describes a battle of the Army of the Cumberland, and his regiment's valiant behavior. Details the bravery of certain individuals, especially a sergeant whom he credits with keeping their line from breaking. He promises to send a list of the wounded in a week (possibly GLC05241.46). Includes a list of newspaper subscriptions for the Macomb Journal. He notes that he has received the Journal up to 1 July 1863. Date inferred from content.

GLC05241.45

26 September 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Celebrates Knox's "very surprizing deliverance from the hands of the Enemy." Criticizes the "Scandalous Flight of the Connecticut Militia," at the Battle of Long Island. Says that "General Washington himself has wrote to our [Council] & cast most severe reflections on their conduct." In response to Henry's letter from 19 September (see GLC02437.00447), he acknowledges that Henry's work and health have limited his writing and notes that he has obtained the epaulets Henry wanted but has not gotten the blue cloth yet.

GLC02437.00455

26 September 1776

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Compliments Knox on the "generalship" of the evacuation of Long Island and New York. Offers his opinions of the activities in New York and the role of the British navy. Also mentions the loss at Long Island's negative effect on morale. Also comments on Knox's baggage stolen by the Hessians and the cowardice of some of the troops. Communicates that Mr. Spears wants Knox to pursue the exchange of Captain Lieutenant John Johnson, who was taken prisoner at Long Island (also see GLC02437.00440). Discusses correspondence problems. Reports that General Benjamin Lincoln is on his way to New…

GLC02437.00458

7 August 1862

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Relays rumors of Confederates in Maryland and the death of Kearny: "he was brave as a lion. The city is in mourning over the death tolls in recent battles. He used in battle to take his reins in his mouth, and with his sword in his right hand (he had no left) ride straight into the fight, cheering on his men."

GLC04663.06

1862

Simpson, Edward, 1824-1888

Autograph manuscript

Title: Captain's letter book. Reports, letters and orders, U.S. practice ship John Adams.

The John Adams was a training ship for midshipmen at the Naval Academy. As such, the daily orders have many references to extra duties and "watch" dealt out as punishment for minor ("smoking", "for not having hammocks up in time") and more serious ("throwing salt cellar at sevt", "kicking a servant") offenses. The John Adams returned to New York in January 1862 after operations in the Pacific and Far East. She was then sent to Newport, Rhode Island, the wartime location of the Naval Academy, to serve as a training ship midshipmen. In mid-1863, she joined the South Atlantic Blockading…

GLC05911.03

16 September 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Shares his distress over being one of the few people left in his family. With his brother Girard paralyzed, Gustave feels he must take his place as the beloved warrior in the family but feels like he would be usurping that position. Tells Eliza she must be a pillar of strength for the family. Wishes to change to a more cheerful subject but goes on to discuss the awful circumstances of the local people and writes, "The sight I see daily, almost hourly, would sicken your tender heart and fill you with compassion for our brave women and old men. Even the children [illegible] to the loss of…

GLC02570.61

13 November 1862

Churchill, Byron, 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Drazilla Churchill.

Churchill learns that Snook and Boughton are still at home awaiting orders to return to camp. His mother must have written of their unsuccessful efforts locate new recruits, and Churchill laments the cowardliness of those who continue to remain at home: "O I wish that all such cowards would be drafted and had to serve there life time in the army if they would all come out as brave men aught come I believe this rebellion could soon be put to an end .…" Churchill reports "heavy cannonading" in the direction of Hollow [Holly] Springs, though he has not been involved in any fighting. Written…

GLC03859.10

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see his wife and plans to in three weeks. Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that both his and William Knox's health has been good. Quips about his rotund figure. Discusses the "Bravery of America" and a growing awareness of it among the British prisoners he has seen: "Enemies who would not before this allow the Americans a Spark of Military virtue." Blesses America and Lucy. Links God watching over Americans to God…

GLC02437.00223

1 July 1783

Malcom, William, fl. 1776-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Malcom to Major General Knox. Says a Mr. Peacock will be presenting this letter and that he was formerly a subaltern in his regiment, who acquitted himself with courage. He is a refugee from New York, although he was one of the first to declare for independence. Says he served while his property could support himself and his family and that he is now reduced in circumstances. Wants to enter into a partnership with a Mr. Dunlap at the garrison (West Point?). As he will be a stranger there, he has requested a written recommendation to assist him in his new home. Would like…

GLC02437.02217

27 May 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Pulaski, Tennessee to his wife. Describes the situation of refugees (including African Americans) in the camp: "...and the darkies are here by thousands, by field fulls like cattle, they call these darky Camps corrals. The same that we call the lots where the broken down horses is put to be recruted." Talks of former bad health and the kindness of his officers who gave him easier duties. Mentions the tightness of his money situation. Expresses hope of victory and returning home soon: "Well as soon as you hear that Richmond and Atlanta is ours you may put on the tea kettle I will…

GLC02176.17