2 April 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Godfrey Weitzel

Grant telegraphs instructions for what he thought might be the final assault on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. "You need not assault in the morning unless you have good reason for believing the enemy are leaving. We have a good thing of it now and in a day or two I think I will be able to send you all the troops necessary." Weitzel, who commanded the XXV Corps of the Army of the James, comprising several brigades of U.S. Colored Troops, led the occupation of Richmond on the following day. Also addressed to A. James. Written in pencil on stationery of the Head Quarters Armies…

GLC03868

1862-1902

Kessler, Thomas J., fl. 1843-1868

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Thomas J. Kessler, G company, 1st regiment, Michigan, sharpshooters] [decimalized]

Collection includes several writers. Topics include camp news, the battle before Petersburg, the surrender of Richmond, and the siege at Petersburg. There are extra envelopes that could not be matched up to the letters. Partially cataloged.

GLC03523.52

5 April 1865

Header Record

Title: Letter and printed document related to the fall of Richmond during the Civil War [Decimalized .01-.02]

See descriptions in GLC03744.01-02

GLC03744

14 October 1880

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter

Title: to Marcus Wright

Written and signed by Varina Davis, for her husband. Responds at length to General Wright's questions concerning the conduct of General Joseph E. Johnston's defense of Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. With references to numerous letters, Davis explains his own decisions, comments on problems with supplies, and discusses the role of records in building, maintaining, and defending personal reputations. Many of Davis's official letters had scattered since the war, and so-called supporters of Davis had stolen quite a few, including much of the correspondence between Davis and…

GLC04269

June-November 1863

Gifford, Haviland, fl. 1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Haviland Gifford, field and staff, 93rd regiment, New York, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .12]

Haviland Gifford served as a Lieutenant in charge of guarding Union General George Gordon Meade and his staff. Provides information he learned about strategy from being in close proximity to high command. Highlights include letter #1, written on 20 June 1863, about opposing strategies of different generals; #3, of 28 July 1863, an eight-page letter concerning the draft and movements of the Army, with mentions of Generals Lee, Grant and Banks; and #4, written 10 September 1863 and containing a long analysis of how to take Richmond. In that letter he also discusses Fort Wagner's hold-out, as…

GLC04560

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

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Smokestack from the CSS Virginia II

The image is the smokestack of the destroyed CSS Virginia II. It was photographed after the capture of Richmond by the Union. Numeric notation on recto: "264." Inscription on verso: "Smokestack of the Rebel ram "Virginia." Numeric notations on verso: "80" "264" and "75."

GLC05111.01.0987

3 July 1862

Cochrane, John, 1813-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Says the Union army "is inadequate to the capture of Richmond. I have at no time thought that it was" able to do so. Written just after the Seven Days, as the Union forces begin to withdraw and the Peninsula campaign comes to an unsuccessful close. McClellan's attempt to take Richmond from the South has failed, even though his force greatly outnumbered the Confederates. Many historians argue that it was the trepidation of McClellan and some of his officers that caused the Union failure at Richmond. Cochrane's view is similar to those expressed by McClellan. Of the president, says "The…

GLC05028

1856-1870 ca.

Header Record

Title: Civil War photograph collection: Brady, Gardner; Lincoln [separate inventory]

Word processed inventory available. Approximately 2000 photographs, mostly period, from the Civil War era. Includes battles, portraits, group portraits of regiments and officers, medical photographs (3), retouched original prints or photographs with the prints made, salt prints, photographers proof prints, and 6 negatives (Lee, Longstreet, Porter, the Capitol). Places include Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Bull Run, Petersburg, Richmond, Port Hudson (La.), Edisto Island and Fort Sumter, among other military areas, and Washington, Springfield, New York, and others. Important images…

GLC05111

April 1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Ruins of Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge, Richmond, Va., April, 1865

A print of a photograph of the destroyed Richmond & Petersburg Railroad Bridge which crossed the James River in Richmond, VA. The R & P railroad stretched 22 miles from Richmond to Petersburg, VA, though today it has been connected to and is administered as part of CSX. The bridge was destroyed by the Confederate Army during the Fall of Richmond as they retreated from the Confederate capital. The brick piers that supported the many spans of the bridge can clearly be seen standing at equal intervals across the river. These piers, as of 2017, still stand and can be seen from Richmond's…

GLC05111.01.0198

1865

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: Fall of Richmond, Va. on the night of April 2nd 1865

One print entitled Fall of Richmond from Currier and Ives dated 1865.

GLC10022

15 March 1865

Ewell, Richard Stoddert, 1817-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith

Warns Smith, Governor of Virginia, that "the enemy," (Union forces) gather for an immediate attack on Richmond. "Respectfully [urges]" Smith to create legislation calling all capable men in Richmond to arms to face the impending attack. Urges a joint resolution of the General Assembly to approve the call of men to arms. Received the warning from General Jubal Early who arrived in Richmond the previous night, passing enemy columns on his way. 1 black and white bust engraving of Ewell included.

GLC05815

3 September 1862

Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Battle report details Confederate victory outside Richmond, Kentucky. "The remnant of the Federal force in Kentucky, is making its way, utterly demoralized & scattered to the Ohio." Discusses future action. Hopes to soon take Cincinnati, says "all that is needed to accomplish the objects of the campaign, is to have our left in communication with your right. If I am supported, & can be supplied with arms, 25,000 Kentucky troops in a few days would be added to my command."

GLC05853

3 April 1865 after

Broadside

Title: Victory! Victory!! Victory!!! We celebrate the fall of Richmond April 3d, 1865.

Shows a triumphant elephant waving victory banner. Text printed in red with the elephant in blue. The end of the banner is drawn to look like a grinning face.

GLC05890

1861-1865 ca.

Header Record

Title: Stereocards, mostly Anthony War Views, O'Sullivan, etc. [decimalized]

271 stereocards primarily E. & H. T. Anthony's "War Views," and "Prominent Portraits." Other publishers include Timothy O'Sullivan, G.W. Pach and Taylor & Huntington. See separate database for a complete listing of images. Highlights include a "War Views" image entitled "Wounded Indians" (#1) "The Home Guard" (#2), Elmira Prison Camp (#3), "Colored Army Teamsters (#4), "Slave Pens at Alexandria" (#75-76), and various images from battles through-out the war. Portraits of various generals including U. S. Grant (#146-165, some Cold Harbor and presidential) and William T. Sherman (#135-…

GLC05137

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: The Grave of the Rebel Gen. Stuart, near Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Negative by Brady & Co., Washington

GLC05137.120

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: James River, Fort Darling, near Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Negative by Brady & Co., Washington. Caption: "Masked Battery and obstructions in the James River, Fort Darling, near Richmond, Va."

GLC05137.124

1865

Photograph

Title: Arsenal grounds, Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Caption: "View in the Arsenal grounds, Richmond, Va., showing all kinds of fixed ammunition and a portion of the Petersburgh Railroad Bridge."

GLC05137.123

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Captured Brass Guns, the Rocketts, Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Last two digits of original series number, 3175, crossed out and "93" handwritten in.

GLC05137.128

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Panorama of Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Caption: "Panoramic View of Richmond, Va., from Gamble Hill, looking east. Lynchburg Chapel and Ruins of City Armory in the foreground; in the distance Church Hill." With tax stamp. Copy of GLC05137.122

GLC05137.129

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Petersburgh Railroad Depot, Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Caption: "Ruins of a Locmotive in the Petersburgh Railroad Depot, Richmond, Va." Same image as 5137.271.

GLC05137.130

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: The Rocketts and James River from Libby Hill, Richmond, Va

E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Panorama looking southwest. A label pasted over the back appears to obscure the "War Views" series title. The word "War" is handwritten on the label.

GLC05137.133

11 April 1865

Newspaper

Title: Richmond Whig. [Vol. 1, no. 7 (April 11, 1865)]

Union-occupation issue, covering the fall of Richmond shortly before and the surrender of Robert E. Lee two days before. The front page contains biographical sketches of Confederate generals killed at Richmond or Petersburg, or who played an important role, including A.P. Hill, William H. Fitzhugh Lee, Gen. Pegram. On page 8 appears the correspondence between Lee and Grant, giving the terms of surrender at Appomatox. An article "The Duty of the North" by Henry Ward Beecher pleads pardon for the rebels. INK BLURRING from poor registry of the printer's forms. UNOPENED.

GLC06843

4 April 1865

Newspaper

Title: The New York herald. [ No. 10445 (April 4, 1865)]

One newspaper issue of The New York herald, dated April 4, 1865. Prints news of the capture of Richmond and various celebrations in the North, particularly in New York City. Other printed material includes auction sales, public notices, employment postings, and advertisements.

GLC08840

1946

Bill, Alfred Hoyt, 1879-1964

Book

Title: The Beleaguered city: Richmond, 1861-1865

II Nevins 212.

GLC00267.226