12 July 1861

Clark, Hank S., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his friend

Letter signed by "Henry." Written at Camp Pope. Writes that he is as mad as a "wet hen" because he was sitting in an uncomfortable position and when he stood up he knocked over his inkwell and it spilled all over the paper. He is glad to hear that Franklin is doing well and that he is doing well also and is still "as lazy as ever." Writes about the drills he goes through in the morning. Some of the men were sent out of the camp to look for "fancy women." They managed to capture a few boys and women. The boys were marched into the camp while the women were taken to Alton.

GLC03523.42.02

26 August 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses sending his ill wife away to convalesce, referencing an essay by Montaigne in which he mentions being fonder of his wife after they have been apart. She will be "Sea Bathing, which I believe to be the most powerful restorative we have." Praises a man named George Straham. Describes the business being opened, and problems encountered, by a man named Jonathan Gardiner. Mentions other news of friends and family, and describes a letter from "J: Robertson" as "a proof what powers the fair Sex have over us poor mortals." Partial seal intact.

GLC02549.13

29 November 1800

Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

Writes a poetic letter reflecting on her current mood. On 1 December 1800 she writes her spirits are once again in tact. Also discusses clothing and notes the current style as being indecent. States, "in short I think the ladies have become (many of them) almost as indecent as Miss Bingham..." Goes on to discuss the latest clothing and hairstyles being worn. Also discusses the cold weather and an encounter she had with one of Lucy Knox's old friends. Speaks of Lucy Knox's upcoming visit and the future balls she will be attending. Place written from is not listed. Based on the content, the…

GLC02437.07491

17 April 1884

Tibbits, A. W., fl. 1884-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. M. Maitland and family

Reports his nephew was also a candidate for clerk of the county. Expresses dismay at the outcome of the election; "...the only drinking gambling whoring man got it..." Mentions the poor health of one of the horses, "...I think at the next moon she will go blind..." Complains about the quality of the circulars he received. Letter is brown with small holes and fraying on the edges.

GLC03523.10.198

10 March 1865

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bell Wharton

Letter addressed "My Dear Bell." Expresses deep pleasure at receiving her letters. Reports he will not apply for a furlough and hopes to be home in five months. Encourages her to gain his mother's affections; "Perhaps you can see the object of this, if you can't maybe you will some day." Says he has rheumatism in his shoulder. Complains "This thing of sleeping alone don't pay."

GLC03523.10.169

24 March 1865

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bell Wharton

Joseph writes to Bell expressing his belief that she thinks it a task to write to him. Claims "...when surrounded with all kinds of the "Fair Sex" here, I remain true to one at home..." Reports he received a copy of the Urbana Union through the mail. Says the weather is clear and cool, but the streets are very dusty. Mentions there will be a "Ball" next week and asks her if "... there is any harm in dancing?"

GLC03523.10.173

11 October 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Reports that General Ward is back in Murfreesboro. Writes that he has sent his ambrotype with the letter (not included) and has framed his mother's likeness, commenting that he is always proud to show it off. Wheeler mentions that he has bought an overcoat and had his boots tapped and nailed in preparation for winter. Writes that he's been so busy mending his clothes that he hasn't had time to make his mother's ring. Reports that the men have inspection this afternoon and jokes that he wants to get the office of inspector general of his mother's pantry when he comes home. In a post…

GLC07460.054

4 October 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Return]

"Report of the Board appointed for examination of the invalids" of the army. Approximately 75 men listed by name, age, regiment, time of service and ailment. "Disease" column includes such ailments as dysentery, venereal disease, and lunacy. Thomas Smith's disease is cited as being "an useless Negro." "Cato Duce" is another African-American soldier on the roster.

GLC02437.10711

15 July 1797

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Hamilton

Proposing meeting to discuss fallout from Maria Reynolds Affair

GLC08097

August 4, 1778

Morris, Lewis, 1726-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Letter to his half brother praising the commissary general of supplies of the army, Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth, and asking him to support Wadsworth against his opposers in Congress. Remarks that accounts have reported that the British have "made almost every lady in the place of easy virtue" in Philadelphia. Expects to hear of a strike at Rhode Island any day and that General John Sullivan will have an army of 10,000 besides the forces of the French Admiral (Marquis de Lafayette). Written shortly after British forces evacuated Philadelphia in June 1778 and during the Newport Rhode Island…

GLC08174

February 25, 1862

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Complains that married women in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (where he was from) throw parties for and "walk the streets" with the Porter Guards.

GLC02155.036

6 June 1859

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Kelly

Gives graphic details of the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857. Is disgusted that the Mormons "claim remuneration" for maintaining and paying ransom to the Indians for the surviving children. Reports that the Indians claim Bishop John D. Lee raped and murdered a "beautiful girl of 18 or 19" who pleaded for her life. Decries that President James Buchanan forced a pardon on the Mormons when he could have crushed them. Written at Camp Floyd.

GLC04194.17

15 November 1859

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary [Kelly]

Reports that Judge Eckles and General Johnston had affidavits showing that the Mormons had purchased artillery pieces and placed them in Salt Lake City. Comments that he had dinner with the governor and declined an invitation from the governor's wife to meet Mormon women, as he considers them no better than "professional women in a bawdy house." Written at Camp Floyd.

GLC04194.25

11/03/1863

Bogart, Abram, fl. 1825-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary M. Bogart

Writes to wife expressing "much love" and hopes to speak "face to face" once again. Inquires about how she will live this winter and who will do things such as collect her wood. Asks her "who comes to se you now are a lone whether westys folks come to se you or any body or you aught to have some beau by this time to keep up with other folks while I am here for there is stores here as weel as fun and I must have a little of it for the boy are a laughing at me now about our wifes having beaus while we are a soldiering..." Requests that she write to him. Tells him that he was "mustered" for his…

GLC03523.11.17

18 October 1862

Hanleiter & Adair (publishers), fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper

Title: Southern confederacy. [Vol. 2, no. 208 (October 18, 1862)]

Prints a speech given by Jefferson Davis to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Confederate States, titled: "Incompetent Army Officers -- Message from the President Relative to Incompetent Officers in the Army and Skeleton Regiments." Also prints a police order, "Regulating the Conjugal Relations of Sambo," by order of Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, Federal Military Governor of South Carolina. Includes accounts of troop movements and battle reports, advertisements, and local news.

GLC05959.09.088

circa 1750-1820

Manuscript letter

Title: to Elizabeth

Writes about a village and states that "their awkward attempts to appear what they are not, and never can be is amusing enough. For instance what do you think of Old Squire Gleason enacting the Beau and not only this but apearing [sic] the gallant gay Lothario and winning hearts and cruelly leaving them to break-"

GLC02437.08132

20 November 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

References Lincoln's letter of 6 June 1819. Says he is sorry that Lincoln's hearing is so bad and goes on to explain his temporary problems with hearing. Says he put drops of oil in his ear and took a piece of smooth wood and used that to clean out the wax from his ears. Claims he pulled out two or three pea-sized balls of wax from his ear and that he repeats this every few years. Says he is writing this small script without the aid of glasses, which are in his wig. Claims he read a newspaper article about putting drops of spring water in your eyes daily and that has preserved his eyesight.…

GLC03849.06

14 April 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Loula Gibson]

The recipient is inferred from the content of the letter. Gibson completed an "unpleasant affair" (settled a contract) with the hands who will work on the plantation. He bitterly complains of being under the rule of the Provost Marshall and Federal occupation, "American ideas of liberty have totally changed since this Negro War began & education for them is soon to be the order of the Day by Regular Military order. Whilst as far as I know the white [2] Children are to grow up in ignorance or mix in the same cabin with the Negro with the same Yankee Marm for the teacher! How much…

GLC04501.095

6 April 1860

Coleman, George W., fl. 1857-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Informs his cousin that he has married "one of Ills' best virgins. It was said by many that she was the most beautiful bride that they had ever seen. She was dressed in Sky Blue Silk, her fair fell in beautiful curls down her neck... I love her. Yes I love her." Apologizes for not telling him about the marriage sooner, but proclaims "I was not certain I had her, and I did not wish to say anything to anyone for fear that false reports might be circulated..."

GLC03523.10.027

3 July 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Pope. Discusses his loneliness for the female sex, "You know it is not nature to be thus alone." Mentions shaving his whiskers close to his face and getting a severe cold. Comments on the constant rain, damp clothing, and difficult marches. Describes the tent structure of the camp, "... all arranged in beautiful order like streets in a city..." Remarks that two men had been shot, one very seriously. Describes the severely injured man's prayer, "... O Lord let me live this time." Reports the Lord must have heard the man's prayer because he lived. Says…

GLC03523.31.05

5 August 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elhanan M. Mast

Reports to his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Mast, that he received word from his son Joseph near in Jackson, Mississippi. Joseph informed him that Confederate General Joseph Johnston evacuated Jackson 17 July. Writes, "I see it stated in the papers that Grant was a going to grant [struck: parole] [inserted: furlough] to one fifth of his army, if such be the case, perhaps Joseph will have a chance to come home awhile." Notes that Benjamin P. Runkle purchased a home in Urbana, commenting that Runkle did not "gain many Laurels" in the pursuit of Confederate General John Morgan during…

GLC03523.10.089

26 July 1787

Morris, John, fl. 1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Morris

Writes a very long and detail letter to his wife about the news from the area and his application for half pay. Reports that "Doctor [Mr. Pendergass] had been playing the fool with one of his mades, the consiquances [sic] of which is by the help of malesious [sic] people he and his family is oblidged to leave the country." Mentions the doctor's wife could use a friendly face and asks his wife to call upon her. Says there has been no further news regarding the commissioners. Appears to be discussing a claim for payment he sent to the commissioners. States that if he does not receive…

GLC02437.03623

1747/01/09

Toby, Hannah, fl. 1747

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Indenture apprenticing Javin Toby to John Steadman]

Singed by Toby with an X, also signed by Samuel Swift and Thomas Hazard, both Justices of the Peace. States that "Hannah Toby Indian Woman" has indentured her son "Javin Toby a Molatto" to John Steadman and his wife for fifteen years and five months. The terms of the indenture specify that "He shall not use any unlawfull games, nor Contract Matrimony nor Commit Fornication during sd Term." He must faithfuly obey them, and they must provide food and clothing.

GLC03002.01

1725/07/11

Bayard. Stephen, fl. 1725-1731

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: news of Samuel Vetch

Bayard writes that he heard news that Samuel Vetch kissed the King's hand, and "was Coming over their Governour." He also mentions that Tunis Quick was taken into custody for the sin of sodom. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.01661

February 10, 1889

Bishop's Court. Weber Stake of Zion

Autograph document signed

Title: [Withdrawing "hand of fellowship" from G. R. Hardman for the crime of adultery.]

GLC05756.053