5 November 1780

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Hillsborough Board of War

Entreats the Board of War for a magazine of salted meats to sustain the Southern Army during the upcoming winter, which they have been tardy in getting done.

GLC04684

October 13, 1776-1782

Kościuszko, Tadeusz, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Kościuszko requests provisions promised by Quarter Master General Thomas Mifflin. Letter written on October 13.

GLC04630

16 September 1864

Kappes, Charles, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sim Van Winkel

Kappes, a Union soldier waiting for his discharge in the Annapolis United States General Hospital, relates the events of his capture to friends in New Jersey. Reports that while engaged in battle near Richmond, Virginia, his corps was surrounded by Confederate soldiers and forced to surrender, after which he was taken as a prisoner. Complains of poor conditions prisoners were exposed to while on Belle Island, near Richmond, stating "I was almost starved and then such rations as they do give why the farmers of the north would not be guilty of giving it to his hogs if he did the old Pig would…

GLC04635

2 September 1781

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph note signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Note written on the bottom of a signed printed circular letter that discusses the importance of meeting Cornwallis, the arrival of French fleet, and the need for supplies. Virginia Governor Nelson's note mentions the receipt of "Intelligence from the northward that requires very large supplies of Provisions, Forage, Liquors & Waggons to be placed on the Route from Alexandria to Fredericksburg." Comments on the urgency of this matter, which was part of the Yorktown campaign.

GLC04828

21 April 1781

Arbuthnot, Marriot, 1711-1794

Letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Admiral Arbuthnot as commander of British naval forces in America to Washington as commander of the Continental Army. References Washington's letter of 25 January 1781 where he expressed anger over the treatment of American naval prisoners of war. Arbuthnot claims an inquiry was held that vindicated their treatment and feeding, which he validates on "my honor." Claims Washington "must have seen" the testimonies of the inquiry. Retorts with accusations against British naval prisoners in Philadelphia by Commissary General of Prisoners Thomas Bradford. Claims prisoners are…

GLC04758

circa 1870-1880

Badeau, Adam, 1831-1895

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: The march to the sea

The title of the story is "The March to the Sea," but the heading for the series is "War Stories for Boys and Girls." Tells the history of the campaign in simple, straight-forward language for younger readers. Takes the reader from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia to the coast. Tells the history of the campaign in simple, straight-forward language for younger readers. Stops at various points in the text to explain various military issues to the reader, including supplies, food, and roads. This his working manuscript with corrections made throughout. Partially written in another hand…

GLC04983

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Officer sitting on box of "Army Bread from the Union Mechanic Baking Company."

There are several stacks of boxes of army bread or "hardtack" behind the officer. Inscription on verso: Ordway - Gardner Collection." Numeric notation: "241 XXXV"

GLC05111.01.0410

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Soldiers at mealtime

The image shows a group of soldiers eating near a small A-frame tent, in a field with scattered trees. Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notation on verso: "IV" and "645."

GLC05111.01.1006

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Union officers sitting for a meal with camp scene behind

The image shows 5 Union officers seated at a table drinking, with two young African-American men standing behind them and what appears to be a white cook with an apron. Various white and black soldiers stand in the background among the A-frame tents. Numeric notation on image: "220." Inscription on verso: "Ordway Gardner Coll." Numeric notations on verso: "VIII" and "220."

GLC05111.01.1040

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Bombproof restaurant, Petersburg

The image shows a man sitting in front of a bombproof restaurant with a sign: "Fruit & Oyster House" and scattered trees in the surrounding landscape. Numeric notation on recto: "180." Inscription on verso: "Bomb-proof restaurant on the Petersburg line." Numeric notations on verso: "180" "48" and "1051."

GLC05111.01.1043

1864

United States. Congress (38th, 1st session : 1864)

Book

Title: [House report no. 65 regarding the Fort Pillow massacre and no. 67 regarding returned prisoners of war]

Contains a full report of the April 1864 battle at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, based on an investigation of the battle itself, as well as the operations of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest "and his command immediately preceding and subsequent to that horrible transaction." Includes testimony from soldiers present at the battle, who witnessed Forrest's violations of the conduct of war, including shooting unarmed Union troops following their surrender. Contains the testimony of Lieutenant Mack J. Leaming, who wrote a detailed account of the events of Fort Pillow in 1893 (refer to…

GLC05080.06

February 1864

O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882

Photograph

Title: Commissary Department, Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac. [February 1864]

Negative by Timothy O'Sullivan. From Gardner's "Phot. Sketchbook of the Civil War," plate "No. 61" with text accompanying panel. Shows a group of soldiers standing outside two log cabins. The cabins logs run vertically, instead of horizontally and the cabins are roofed with tents. The chimney jutting out from in back of the cabin on the right is made up of logs. In front of the entrance to the cabin on the right, a butcher holds a saw as he cuts through a slab of meat.

GLC05111.01.0269

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: [Scene, dress parade and camp of a regiment of the Western Army, near Vicksburg. Miss. 1863.]

Title taken from inscription on recto. Troops are lined up for inspection in the distance. They face the camp, which is laid out in company rows. The enlisted men's tents are on the right, and officers' tents can be seen running perpendicular to these. There are also two rows of small open ovens with chimneys where small groups of soldiers (or "messes") prepare their own meals. The camp appears to be in an orchard of some kind--fruit trees visible in between the tents.

GLC05111.01.0083

April 1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Washington, District of Columbia. Government bakery

A print of a photograph of a building with the sign "Government Bakery." The bakers have come out and pose mostly in front of the bakery. Since the armies in the field baked their own bread mostly, this bakery serviced only those troops around the capital. Washington became a major center for army services during the war. Numerous government repair shops and support facilities [some massive in size] employing hundreds of skilled and unskilled workers were established to keep the armies running. Verso notations: "XXIX" "859" Blind stamp (?) "B. F. K. Rives No 74"

GLC05111.01.0170

February 1863

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Group at Commissary Depot, Acquia [i.e. Aquia] Creek Landing, Va., Feb. 1863

A print of a photograph of union officers and enlisted men. The men are posed in front of a large stack of boxes near a military railroad box car. There are three sailors, five soldiers [including two generals], and three men who appear to be in civilian clothes. The man seated at left is Brig. Gen. John Henry Hobart Ward. Painted on the box car are the initials U.S.M.R.R. [United States Military Rail Road]. Inscription on verso: "Ordway-Gardner VI (or IV) 40."

GLC05111.01.0210

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Grain mill, Port Hudson, LA

The image shows a one-storey grain mill with a horse and a cart near the building's entrance on the right edge of the photo. Inscription on verso: "Port Hudson mill in which the garrison ground their corn."

GLC05111.01.1294

December 17, 1864- January 31,1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of an unknown officer, 54th United States Colored Troops]

An unknown soldier writes from various encampments and locations, including Fort Smith, Arkansas. Contains entries discussing various aspects of the Civil War, fellow soldiers, weather, and location. States that on 20 December 1864, Samuel Perkins of Company F died of pleurisy. An entry for 25 December 1864 states, "Christmas sets in rainy. We cannot see a very merry Christmas today. Cannot get over the river today as the rations would be spoiled ... " A 29 December 1864 entry reports on the activities of Generals George Henry Thomas and William Tecumseh Sherman, stating "Heard of the…

GLC06270

10 May 1860

Majors, Alexander, 1814-1900

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt of military supplies]

Majors, notable Western pioneer and originator of the Pony Express, confirms receipt of sugar and molasses. States that the supplies were delivered to him on order from Major General Stewart Van Vliet, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Fort Butler, New Mexico, is written on this document, possibly indicating that the supplies are to be sent there.

GLC06342

11 April 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: Al pueblo sensato de Mexico. Proclama [in Spanish]

"To the sensible town of Mexico. A Proclamation." States that Americans are not enemies of peaceful Mexicans and respect their religion. Discusses martial law and the power of the army to prosecute offenders. Also mentions that all food and supplies needed by the soldiers will be paid for in full, as opposed to how guerillas have ransacked villages and stolen property. Adds that vendors will have the protection of the U.S. Army. Duplicate of GLC04070.

GLC06366.03

24 March 1864

Preston, John Smith, 1809-1881

Broadside

Title: [Circular no. 12, a blank application for exemption from service in the Confederate Army]

Unsigned. Application issued by the command of Preston, Superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription. Offers exemption from conscription for "agriculturalists" or "overseers," binding them to deliver meat and sell surplus crops at fixed prices to Confederate army agents.

GLC05987.42

6 January 1776-4 September 1777

Howe, William, 1729-1814

Manuscript document

Title: [British adjutant's orderly book]

Orderly book of British Commander-in-Chief William Howe, oblong quarto, in the handwriting of six or seven soldier-clerks. Details daily orders, official memoranda, court martials, provisions, directives on the control of civilians, embarkations and landings of troops, and more. Among the historic events described are the siege and evacuation of Boston (from 5 March 1776 for 20 pages) and the execution of Nathan Hale (22 September 1776) who is unnamed. "A Spy from the Enemy by his own full confession, apprehended last Night was this day Executed at 11 oClock in front of the Artillery Park…

GLC05983

11 October 1864

Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876

Document

Title: [General Order No. 78 concerning war correspondence and rations]

Cooper was Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General. The printed order has 6 parts. First part directs all military officers how to create correspondence with the War Department. Says any failure to follow orders will be subject to a court martial. Says endorsements should be carefully made so recipients can understand its contents at a glance and leave room for subsequent endorsements. Says writers must sign and date correspondence with full rank before they send it in to the War Department. Second part says commissioned officers drawing rations must have a certificate that they are for…

GLC05987.11

26 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Hichborn

Writes that he received a letter regarding Mr. [Stephen] Bruce's contracting to provide rations for the troops currently being raised. Would be happy to consider him for the contract, but his powers are constrained as the Board of Treasury has "agreed on the principles of an extensive contract for all the demands of the establishment." The Board is apparently planning to select one contractor to provide payment, clothing, and rations, and other supplies. Seems to suggest it might be possible for Mr. Bruce to contract with the one overarching contractor. Under these circumstances, the…

GLC02437.03393

January 20, 1787

Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses raising troops to fight against the insurgents, in particular to fight under Colonel [possibly Michael] Jackson. Mentions the drive to raise funds for recruiting troops and also procuring supplies, such as for the regiments of General [Henry] Jackson and General [Benjamin] Lincoln. Reports on preparations for the fight against the Shays insurgents, and describes the preparations in the nearby states, such as New York.

GLC02437.03418

14 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Grant

Writes in full to a Mr. Grant, "I beg you would come down to this post tomorrow to make some arrangements for supplying some troops who are to march the day after tomorrow towards New York."

GLC02437.02776