circa 1783-1788

Pemberton, Robert, ?-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for monetary help as he is currently in dire straits due to weather losses and having a suit filed against him.

GLC02437.08184

January 31, 1793

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that bad weather prevented them from going to sea yesterday. It is now fair and they will sail in an hour. Received Knox's letter of 28 January and says "you will herewith receive a packet from me."

GLC02437.05801

11 November 1900

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter

Title: to Owen Horsfall [incomplete]

Writes to his son about a blizzard "4º below zero, wind blowing from N.E. at the rate of 60 miles an hour, and sand and snow cutting the skin off one's face in going against it." Comments on the brilliant northern lights. Plans to mush with Jim Reed and the dogteam to stake ground. Supposes McKinley was elected President, but it will be a long time before he knows for sure. Written on stationary from the Alaska Gold Mining Company, Cape Nome, Alaska. Last page or pages missing.

GLC05245.04

30 November 1900

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Owen Horsfall

Writes to his son stating that many men lost their lives from starvation or exposure as they were stuck with their dogteams on the trail to Teller, Alaska. He was talking to a friend, who told him that last summer at the local saloon and gambling house "they got all of their claims from parties who did not think much of them and would sell them for $10 or perhaps a hundred dollars each, or perhaps wanted a few dollars for a gambling stake…" Written on stationary from the Alaska Gold Mining Company, Cape Nome, Alaska.

GLC05245.05

circa November 11, 1907

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [children] [incomplete]

The snow and storm have made it quite dark. Reports that he periodically gets up to make a fire while Ben tends to the horses and together they bought and share a cross cut saw. The ice stretched 500 feet out from the shore. Says he intended to send them a gold nugget but forgot. Written on Alaska Goldmining Company stationary.

GLC05245.39

January 25, 1865

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Has been sick for about 10 days and has a boil on his neck. Heavy rain has turned everything to mud. "Elbridge and J.F. Whiting (Will's partner,) have become my sureties for the sum of ten thousand dollars" so he can "give bonds."

GLC04663.57

29 July 1865

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Notes that the temperature has been over 100 for several days. Notes he was promoted to Colonel. Says that he has decided to remain in the army another two or three months. Encloses a recipe for "tomato wine" [not in the collection]. Mentions he has a bad eye and a boil on his right eyebrow.

GLC04663.66

17 July 1862

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

He estimates the Confederate army at 200,000. There have been thunderstorms every night for several days, yet the days have been sunny.

GLC04663.05

17 July 1792

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes about an earthquake that hit Quebec "By a letter from Quebec of the 5th Instant - I find they had a most violent Earthquake on the 6th Decr - a vulcano [sic] broke out about 70 miles north - the light so great as to be seem at Quebec in the night." Mentions that the shakes continued for a day and a town 40 miles from the volcano received damage. Comments on an Indian raid, "The Indian Acct (very untrue) 1000 Indians engaged - Killed & wounded of our people, left on the field upwards of 1000!" Noted as written at "D Works," which is most likely Delaware Works, located in what is…

GLC02437.05543

20 July 1863-15 May 1864

Simpson, Edward, 1824-1888

Diary

Title: Diary of Lt. Commander Edward Simpson

Diary of captaincy of the "Submarine Battery 'Passaic'". Details attacks upon Charleston, Fort Moultrie and Battery Gregg; inner workings of a Monitor and intraservice rivalries. Quarter calf, marbled boards, pencil loops. The USS Passaic, one of a series of single-turret ironclad gunships designed by John Ericsson, was commissioned in November of 1862 and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She saw action at Fort McAllister in March of 1863 and at Fort Sumter in April of that year. Following the latter engagement, she was sent to New York for repairs and command was…

GLC05911.04

February 3, 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Has written a letter to Mr. Earnest and wants Eliza to read it. In this letter he has recounted the terrible weather. He is very glad that Eliza is writing him letters and takes "great pleasure in correcting any spelling errors you may make so far as I am capable." Discusses how there are certain words with three meanings (No, Know and Now). Reminds her to work on her penmanship. Written at Camp Hardee.

GLC02570.16

10 December 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Writes how the ink is freezing in his pen's point and it is visible in the letter. Reports on possible campaigns. Is frustrated with the mail which he calls "uncertain" and he "must learn to endure although I am inpatient when I do not get letters from my little wife. My own sweet one must think of me often, as I am very jealous of her love. I dream of you often darling Lizzie and oh! how sweet are my dreams. I see you, fold you to my heart of hearts and you look into my eyes with love and confidence." Cook is unsure of his wife's intentions and wonders if she dreams about him, thinks…

GLC02570.36

29 May 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses payment for services rendered. Wants Jackson to keep men "supplied so that no unnessary expence [is made] for idle workmen [due to] want of materials ... " Mentions installing lightning rods and "keeping an attentive eye upon the house and keeping up the number of the workmen. Continues with plans for the house and grounds. One of the pages is a note glued to the rest. Watermarked "J Watt & C Patent Copying/Sold by J Woodmason/London." Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10300

19 November 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter from Washington to Knox, discussing an expedition against the Wabash Indians. Expresses disappointment in General [Josiah] Harmer. Expected little from Harmer, after hearing he was a drunkard. Instructs Knox to present other important matters before Congress, as they occur to him, preceding Washington's arrival. Notes that recent heavy rains may hinder his progress to Philadelphia. Marked private at the top of page one. Copy made 3 March 1854.

GLC02437.09343

20 December 1800

Witherspoon, John, fl. 1800-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox they had a storm that caused considerable damage. Notes the tides had never been so high and several building were damaged. Inquires if he should stay on the island past next spring or not. Notes he would like to work part of the time on the island and the other part off. Written from Brigadiers Island, present day Sears Island, Maine.

GLC02437.07495

25 November 1857

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Kelly

Complains of deprivations on the Mormon trail during the Utah Expedition. Describes hardships due to frigid temperatures and supplies burned by Mormons. He has received no mail.

GLC04194.04

29 October 1862

Williams, George M., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Reasons that she may not be letter writing as much because she is staying at a "frontier place" where communication can be "occasional & uncertain." He informs her that Col. Taylor has heard from Col. Deas that George should have no trouble receiving the appointment as Judge Advocate. He explains that despite this good news he is still "not sanguine." However, if he does get the place, he will arrange for positions for Jero and Pen. He writes that if they only knew where her father was they would be able to invest in the Redwood Farm. He says that there was a heavy rain that flooded the…

GLC06582.47

January 12, 1821

Smith, Albert, 1793-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses matters related to the postal service in Massachusetts. Explains that the roads are blocked with snow and no post rider can deliver the mail through the towns. Referring to the Massachusetts constitutional convention of 1820, he notes that "the doing of the convention [is] the theme of conversation in every circle, nor will it subside (in my oppinion) without more noise."

GLC06313.04.092

1 August 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Left Hyattsville the day after he wrote that last letter. Marched to the Monocacy River, then crossed and proceeded 3 miles to their current location. Used a pontoon bridge to cross the Potomac River and go through Harpers Ferry to Bolivar Heights. Heard they are to move to Emmitsburg soon. It was so hot this afternoon that "the thermometer was 105 in the shade." Over 1,000 men suffered sun stroke. "I was not overcome by the heat, but don't think I could have gone over 4 or 5 miles farther." It has been this hot ever since the corps left Washington. Does not know how whatever army they have…

GLC09355.083

22 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter last night. "It is hot enough to roast a nigger alive out here." Everyone has sat down under a row of pine or cedar trees for shade or has created improvised shade with tree branches. It looks "like the town hall when they have it trimmed for a festival." Will use an undershirt as a shirt for now to cope with the heat. Heavy work in this heat is "no fun." Assumes they think Hooker was beaten "worse than Burnside," but "the corps was not whipped in the least." Sedgwick fought "nobly," and the 6th corps did the best of the entire army. The retreat after the battle "…

GLC09355.003

24 May 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother

Received a letter from him last week, and owes him a reply. Hopes he is staying cool because it is unbearably hot at camp. Has suffered "more from heat this past week than ever before." Seems as if the sun is "hotter here than anywhere else." Hopes he is fully healthy by the time he returns, and encourages him to "keep with good spirits," even though he has been through enough to kill "a half dozen common folks." Expects he will be quite a businessman, for Joe is an excellent tutor. Does not know how they will be able to keep the garden in shape without Uncle Williams. Hopes business is "…

GLC09355.004

2 October 1944

Weiner, Morris "Moe", 1909-1988

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvia Weiner

Moe explains the choices he made for the bouquet he had sent to Sylvia. He bets everyone in the city had a story relating to the storm. he also says he is looking forward to the next town but that it won't be Paris.

GLC09414.1217

3 October 1944

Weiner, Morris "Moe", 1909-1988

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvia Weiner

Moe thought Sylvia's description of the storm's aftermath were just terrific. He remarks that getting home from her mother's in the dark must have been scary.

GLC09414.1218

January 20, 1945

Weiner, Morris "Moe", 1909-1988

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvia Weiner

Moe mentions inaugural day for F.D.R. and notes the ongoing progress of the Russians. He mentions all the shoveling Sylvia will have to do because of the snow.

GLC09414.1314

February 25, 1945

Weiner, Morris "Moe", 1909-1988

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvia Weiner

Moe says he is sorry it has been so cold in New York. He writes at great length about strength and the stoics who believed we got stronger upon exposure to pain. He declares that she needed this separation to realize how strong she really was.

GLC09414.1336