30 April 1780

Lee, Charles, 1731-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Written by disgraced General Charles Lee to Rush, the former Pennsylvania Continental Congressman, as a doctor in private practice. Is upset that Congress published his letter of apology. Claims that "Most people I have conversd with on the subject are of opinion that they have done al in triumph over me, considering the state of my apology as an instance of their having succeeded in breaking my spirit." Wants to know how his "few" friends and enemies in Philadelphia are interpreting the letter. If it is detrimental to his character he wants the enclosed letter to be published (letter not…

GLC04700

1849

Revere, Joseph Warren, 1812-1880

Book

Title: A tour of duty in California; including a description of the gold region: and an account of the voyage around cape Horn...

Title continues "with notices of lower California, the Gulf and Pacific coasts, and the principal events attending the conquest of the Californias." California scenes include a quicksilver mine, California capital Monterey, the Sacramento River, and a "Ranchero Feat" (tying a bear). Sketches are by Revere and lithographed by William Endicott & Co. Inscription from the editor, Joseph N. Balestier, reads "Mrs. Louisa C. Butler with the warmest regards of Caroline Balestier's Husband, Feb. 1849. 'Lord! keep our memory green.'" Includes folded map of San Francisco Harbor.

GLC04708

1902

Sherman, Edwin A. (Edwin Allen), 1829-1914

Book signed

Title: The life of the late Rear-Admiral John Drake Sloat, of the United States navy, who took possession of California and raised the American flag at Monterey on July 7th, 1846

Signed by Sherman and inscribed to Bryant D. Campbell. Enlarged monumental edition. Includes supplemental pamphlet.

GLC04712

circa 1847

Burnett, Ward Benjamin, 1811-1884

Manuscript signed

Title: For Brigadier Genl. Shields. Official Report of the part performed by the 1st Reg. U.S.V. of N.Y. in the investment and capture of the City of Mexico

Personal account of the battle and fall of Mexico City. Very detailed descriptions of military maneuvers and commands. Mentions a list of killed and wounded (not included). This includes a tie that was likely used in binding

GLC04715

1812

Object

Title: [War of 1812 lacquer snuffbox showing victory of United States over Macedonian]

Cylindrical, varnished snuff box from the War of 1812. Lid commemorates the 25 October 1812 capture of the British ship Macedonia by the USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur. Bottom depicts the bald eagle seal of the United States surrounded by patriotic sentiments such as "United We Stand. Divided We Fall." Probably made after December 1812, when knowledge of the fight became better known (per Henry Adams, Administration of James Monroe). Image on lid is damaged at center.

GLC04750

11 August 1777

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger Sherman

Written by Adams as a Contiental Congressman from Massachusetts to Sherman as a Contiental Congressman from Connecticut. References Sherman's letter of 11 July 1777. Says Sherman's rumor has turned into a fact as Fort Ticonderoga has fallen "shamefully." Adams castigates Schuyler for not properly defending the fort and for having no confidence in his troops. Adams is especially outraged by the general's report "a very great part of the army naked -- without blankets -- ill armed." Says General Horatio Gates has taken command of the North and says "I trust our Affairs in that Quarter will…

GLC04757

23 March 1778

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Patrick Henry

Co-signed by Banister and free franked in his name. Requests that Congress send new troops to camp without delay. Warns that the Continental army is weak and that it is likely the British will attempt an attack before reinforcements come. Also urgently requests supplies. Writes that he has heard that the British troops in Rhode Island have set out to join General William Howe. States that if this is true, " ... the Enemy will open the Campaign with great advantage over us." Post script advises that General George Washington has been notified by General William Smallwood that a fleet of…

GLC04807

28 May 1776

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ludwell Lee

Written by Richard Henry Lee as Continental Congressman from Virginia to his brother Thomas Lee. Says he is busy because he has a committee meeting with Generals Washington, Gates, and Mifflin on "the operations of their Campaign." Says he cannot write to many of his friends at this time and asks to be remembered to Colonel Mason. Mentions that Colonel Nelson has not arrived yet. Says he will leave for home in a day or two, rest up, and then attend the Convention at Williamsburg. Says "the sensible and spirited resolve of my Countrymen on the 15th has gladdened the heart of every friend to…

GLC04809

27 November 1775

Sayer, Robert, 1725-1794

Map

Title: A Plan of the Battle on Bunkers Hill fought on the 17th of June 1775.

This document is a printed map of the Battle of Bunker Hill, designating the positions of American and British forces. Printed by R. Sayer and J. Bennet. Underneath the map is a written description of the Battle taken from a letter written by General Burgoyne to his nephew Lord Stanley.

GLC04760.01

11 September 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friedrich Riedesel [in French]

Written by British General Burgoyne as he is marching southward through New York to General Baron Riedesel commander of the German troops with Burgoyne. Letter is in French with partial translation in seller's description in collateral file. Updates Riedesel on various troops' movements and the arrival of transports to cross the Hudson River before the Battle of Saratoga. Advises there might be a strong detachment at Skeneborough. Also included in the file is a color print titled "Genl. Burgoyne Addressing the Indians." Dimensions are 15.7 x 24.1 cm. Depicts a red coated Burgoyne with arm…

GLC04761

7 October 1777

Dumas, Charles Guillaume Frédéric, 1721-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Lee [in French]

Report from a French agent on French and Dutch politics.

GLC04778

16 October 1777

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Articles of Convention between Lt. Gen. Burgoyne & Majr. Gen. Gates

Two clerical signatures for Gates, once to affirm the document and again to confirm that Burgoyne's name is understood to be used throughout. Treaty documents the terms of surrender of Burgoyne's army after its defeat at the Battle of Saratoga by Gates. Negotiations started on 13 October 1777 and Burgoyne attempted to draw them out as long as possible to see if Sir Henry Clinton's expedition from New York would be able to save him. On 16 October 1777 Burgoyne again tried to stall by claiming militia leaving Gates's army made the initial conditions of his surrender void. Burgoyne was…

GLC04782

7 October 1775

Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Eden

Written a month before Germain became Secretary of State for the Colonies to Eden as Deputy Secretary of State for the Northern Department. Recipeint was a inferred by Donald Londahl-Smidt. See collateral file for full explanation. References Eden's letter (collateral file says it was 3 October 1775). Says he is happy with the draft of a speech Eden has prepared. Says New York might have been kept as Loyalist if it was attended to properly. States "I always wish'd that the whole power of the State should be Exerted, that one campaign might decide whether the American provinces were to be…

GLC04783

16 December 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from Saratoga campaign to General Burgoyne as prisoner of war. Says that he received word from Congress on 1 December 1777 that Burgoyne's troops are not to leave through any port except Boston, the one stipulated in the Convention treaty. Wants Burgoyne to have the earliest notice of this news.

GLC04787

February 11, 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Letter signed

Title: to William R. Lee

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign to Lee as commandant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where many of the troops were located. Complains to Lee that many British soldiers are disguising themselves as sailors and peasants and joining the Continental Army in order to receive a bounty, clothing, and arms and then returning to the British barracks. Orders Lee to go to Burgoyne immediately and to retrieve several persons who names are enclosed (not included here). If Burgoyne will not give them up, he is…

GLC04788

31 October 1777

Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Williams

Huntington as a General of Connecticut forces in the Continental Army to a Colonel Williams, whose larger identity could not be ascertained. Says that Williams might have money that was sent to help his father. Sends along information of General Gates's defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. Mocks the "haughty boasting Chief with all his Titles - Pride goeth before a Fall - it has pleased God to confound the wise & mighty by the weak & foolish." Praises militia of General John Stark who defeated a detachment of Burgoyne's troops at the Battle of Bennington. Says he is sure Congress…

GLC04791

3 November 1779

Jenkinson, Charles, 1727-1808

Letter signed

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Jenkinson as Secretary of War in Lord North's ministry in London to Major General Phillips as the ranking officer of the Convention Army, which consisted of prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign. The army was being barracked in Massachusetts. Marked duplicate. References Phillips's letters of 20 March 1779, 30 May 1779, and 3 June 1779. Tries to alleviate the worry that Convention Army officers have about being passed over in rank. Says Phillips must have gotten the idea from the newspapers. At issue was a resolution by the House of Commons that each regiment was to have two…

GLC04796

13 November 1778

Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Jones, Captain of the U.S.S. Ranger, informs Morris, a Continental Congressman, of recent events in France. Reports that in June, a highly esteemed gentleman (who Jones does not name) wrote him a secret letter promising him command of a large ship; the gentleman also indicated that the Ranger was to sail to the United States under another captain. Mentions the involvement of the Prince of Nassau (possibly Prince Charles Otton), and Monsieur de Sartine, head of the French Navy, in procuring the ship. Relates that Sartine promised him the command of several French vessels, but Sartine's…

GLC04797

9 November 1797

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Written by King as American Ambassador to Britain to Secretary of State Pickering. Written in numeric cipher, probably concerning the implications of XYZ Affair. Letter was unable to be uncoded at this time. Cipher could possibly be in the Rufus King Papers at New-York Historical Society.

GLC04798

1786

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Armand-Charles-Augustin de La Croix de Castries [in French]

Memorandum written to de Castries. Manuscript concerning efforts to strengthen the alliance between the United States and France through trade and more substantial means. It was probably written after 15 June 1786, the date Jefferson wrote a letter to Lafayette about making Honfleur a free port. The contents fit in with Lafayette's other commercial initiatives during early summer 1786. Date inferred from Lafayette Papers, Robert Crout.

GLC04799

July 9, 1803

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles James Fox [in French]

Lafayette writes to English politician and friend, Charles Fox, regarding his own health. Lafayette had recently broken several bones and torn tendons in a fall, but reports that he is on that mend and will soon be back at La Grange, his country estate outside of Paris. He commends Fox on his attempts to forge peaceful relations with France. He also believes that all will soon agree that the acquisition of the Louisiana territory from the French by the United States is for the best. He notes that the letter will be brought to Fox by James Monroe, then American Ambassador to England. He asks…

GLC04800

November 10, 1828

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremy Bentham

Lafayette confirms that he has settled on his farm at La Grange and indicates that he is studying Bentham's philosophy. He discusses standing armies and the role of the militia in defending the United States. Also discusses "the impeachment of ministers" and labels himself "a disciple of the American School," and includes commentary on the French Revolution.

GLC04801

16 October 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution denying the flag of truce to British Peace Commissioners]

Denies the use of flags of truce to "nefarious" British peace commissioners who abused the privilege to disseminate "under the sanction of a Flag certain seditious Papers under the name and title of Manifestoes...with a view to stir up dissentious animosities and Rebellions among the goode Popele of these States."

GLC04805

January 30, 1776

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Autograph letter

Title: to John Page

Lee, a Virginia delegate to the first Continental Congress, reports on the reception and failure of the Olive Branch Petition (an attempt to broker peace with England after the outbreak of the American Revolution but prior to the Declaration of Independence). Also discusses raising an army, sending newspapers, and a potential military appointment. Page was a Virginia politician and military officer.

GLC04806

24 November 1777

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger Sherman

Discusses the surrender of John Burgoyne, Cornwallis' movements, and the loss of Red Bank, among other activities in the Revolutionary War. Also mentions international relations and naval activities. Supports the Articles of Confederation, comments on the need for the states to compromise with each other, and discusses other issues pertaining to the formation of the United States. With a long signed postscript that updates his comments on the war.

GLC04808