21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams

A detailed account of the siege of Yorktown. Affirms the correctness of Adams' ideas about a need to conduct a major attack against the British in the southern states. Announces the recent surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown. Explains the "harmonious concurrence of circumstances" that made the victory possible, mentioning the fleet from the West Indies commanded by Admiral Comte de Grasse, the American and French troops marching down from the Hudson River, and a fleet from Rhode Island under the command of Compte de Barras. Provides a chronological explanation of the…

GLC02437.01252

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Jay

Later copy of GLC02437.01253. Indicates that French ships are about to dispatch with official accounts of the Battle of Yorktown. Knox feels he should tell Jay what has occurred because an official account from Congress may not be immediately forthcoming. Although the British had less forces in America than in 1776 or 1777, the Continental Army was compelled to attack Yorktown or consider the southern states lost. The Comte de Grasse was of similar opinion, and plans to attack New York were abandoned in favor of a siege of Yorktown. A detailed, chronological explanation of the Allied…

GLC02437.01254

6 August 1781

Barras, Paul, vicomte de, 1755-1829

Printed document signed

Title: [Certificate of pay] [In French]

Certificate to pay Mr. De Valnais, possibly Joseph Dupas de Valnais, a French consul in America. Signed by the Comte de Barras, and [Graucheau], major of the squadron under Barras. On verso, Valnais signs a note, transferring the money to William Knox. Possibly serves as payment for provisions and supplies.

GLC02437.01122

9 October 1781

Hunter, James, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Contemporary copy of GLC02437.01216. In response to Knox's letter ordering Hunter to send iron and ordnance to James River (GLC02437.01193), Hunter explains how he has complied and what problems he has encountered. Also mentions naval engagements involving Dutch ships. The Continental Army was then executing the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01217

2 April 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from City Point Hospital, City Point, Virginia. Discusses helping to care for the wounded soldiers after a brief illness: "...I am very grateful that I was afflicted in that way. I think it is a great deal better than to have a bullet put through you..." Makes reference to the taking of Petersburg and the possible surrender of the South. Gives advice regarding one of their sick children, the children's schooling and management of household chores. Describes food rations. The letter is slightly faded, especially at the creases. On letterhead of the "United States…

GLC03523.06.05

30 October 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from camp "right in front of Petersburg," Virginia. Writes about heavy fighting; "our boys mowed the Rebels down like wheat" and took two thousand prisoners. Reports that one hundred volunteers charged and captured a Rebel fort. Comments that the cannon fire intense, noise deafened him for two days. States they are cutting off road and railroad access. Offers his opinion on domestic matters, including the purchase of new chairs and a set of china.

GLC03523.06.08

8 December 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from City Point, Virginia says the siege is progressing slowly. Informs that General William T. Sherman captured Savannah. Discusses his wife joining a sewing society to make clothing for the soldiers and he questions what type of clothes they will make. He misses home and tells his daughters, Eunice and Ally, to work very hard on their writing skills, and promises buy his son Charlie a horse when he returns from the war.

GLC03523.06.09

8 December 1864

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sephronia Fairchild

Fairchild writes to his wife from a camp near City Point, Virginia. Reports that he has been in the hospital with rheumatism and is pleased with his care. Informs he is doing picket duty on the Appomattox River and mentions seeing Rebels. Wishes for a furlough, but knows only wounded men will get one. Advises his daughter Eunice to stay home to study and help her mother. In a postscript, writes he is sending his badge in the letter, "so in case we are wounded or killed they will know to what corps we belong to." A double sided page of the letter is in three pieces. A few lines are missing.

GLC03523.06.10

1783-1815

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Possibly created by Colonel Henry Jackson (1747-1809) from Massachusetts. Asks the recipient to mention to an unspecified General any matters pertaining to him. Requests several orders by the next post. Threatens that if these orders are not sent, the recipient "shall have no part in the ship at Newberg, this you may depend on-" GLC02437.00591 and GLC02437.09451 were originally one document.

GLC02437.09451

26 May 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister from Camp Shiloh. States they have nothing to do, but expects to meet the Rebels in a few days. Mentions that 30 Rebels surrender every day. Complains that the apples she sent him did not arrive, but all her letters do. Informs her he sent her a letter with a gold dollar in it. Envelope includes patriotic imagery.

GLC03523.03.07

19 August 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp in Battle Creek. Reports they are waiting for more men to arrive and help guard the railroad. Informs him that a Lieutenant from the Rebel army deserted and stated the Confederate force in Chattanooga is 80,000. Mentions they are building a fort for protection. Expresses pleasure at the return of Colonel William Gibson. Says there is plenty of food and he is living well.

GLC03523.03.09

25 October 1862

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp outside of Green River. Says they will go to Nashville next. Mentions that many soldiers from the Ohio 49th Infantry have deserted. Comments that there has been no fighting for him since Shiloh. Doesn't know where Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his troops are, but states that "...if they give us a chance at bragg we can whip them." Discusses the arrival of tents, and mentions the general good health of the 49th. Envelope has image and the slogan "Remember Ellsworth," who was a Union Colonel and the first casualty of the Civil War.

GLC03523.03.10

2 October 1863

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp outside Chattanooga after a fierce battle with Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his troops for control of Chattanooga. Praises the bravery of the Union soldiers despite being outnumbered. Describes the battle in detail. Discusses the upcoming election in Ohio.

GLC03523.03.13

25 June 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

The top edge of the letter has been cut resulting in the loss of some text. Wheeler writes that there has been some conflict amongst the officers of Co. C, primarily between Captain Fields and Lieut. Burst. As a result of this conflict, Colonel Dustin has been keeping a close eye on the officers and given them a warning. Relates that some fighting has been reported and it is said that Rosecrans has gathered 35,000 cavalry to attack the enemy. He writes however, that the truth of the event will be heard of in the newspapers. The company has received word that Morgan is seventy miles…

GLC07460.036

28 June 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

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

Thanks his family for the food they sent him and requests that they send him some emery paper (for filing his gun), tea, and pepper. Reports that Rosecrans has taken five or six hundred rebel prisoners to Nashville. Writes that rebels planted two underground shells on the railroad tracks which caused severe damage to the tracks but resulted in no casualties to either army. Discusses spending the fourth of July in Dixie land. He also reports that furloughs will only be granted with a recommendation from a doctor. Pages five and six differ in size from pages one to four.

GLC07460.037

17 May 1864

Goold, Theodore, 1844-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John S. and Abby Goold

Writes to his parents from Emory Hospital informing them that he is not very sick and will probably be well in two weeks. He has not heard anything from his brother James, but speculates that he has been taken prisoner. Tells them that he has received a pass to "fall to the rear on account of his sickness," which he says is "slight, it is a touch of the Rhumatism..."

GLC03523.05.22

February 2, 1863

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Writes to his brother (possibly Johnny, based on content) about his tent and the people he shares it with: "They are both good natured, and willing to do their share towards making the tent comfortable, but neither of them are such men as I should choose for companions any where else, they both swear, and they are both very vulgar, and in fact these are the two most common vices in the army, there is hardly a man, that I have any acquaintance with, at all, in the army, who is not wholly given up to them." Tells his brother that he prays for "strength to enable me to resist every temptation…

GLC03523.05.10

12 November 1863

Goold, James, 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Johny

Writes to his brother that part of his division has been engaged in a skirmish at Rappahannock station, and lost four men. Notes that "the second brigade of our division has the credit of helping take the forts near the river..." Informs his brother about the picket, "I was not detailed this time before, Theodore was detailed, but one of the men who was to remain in camp, and had to go on guard that day, wanted Theodore to exchange with him, and he did so, that is Theodore remained in camp, and did the guard duty for this man, and he went out on picket in Theodore's place, and perhaps it was…

GLC03523.05.19

24 September 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Parapet to a friend. Mentions rumors that Stonewall Jackson has been taken prisoner in Washington or that he has conquered Washington. Talks of gifts sent from home (one especially exciting was a piece of cheese.) In return, he sends a paper, Sunday Delta, home. Then, talks of the death of his fourth tent-mate, being paid again (now having saved up $100), and the resignation of General John Wolcott Phelps ("we all feel as if we had lost a friend.")

GLC02165.10

27 May 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Parapet to a friend. Describes his time in New Orleans in the beginning of May, including the abuse from the natives, such as threats of the Yellow Jack. Also describes in good detail his regiment's role in the taking of New Orleans upon his arrival on May 1st and their discovery of ammunition, cannon, and even money buried by the Rebels in their retreat.

GLC02165.04

29 July 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Parapet to a friend. First mentions a skirmish near Lake Pontchartrain. Visits a nearby plantation, visiting its sugar house, and conversing with former enslaved people who say they would rather be there than in the camp. Describes the situation of the Blacks in the camp and describes them as "independent and saucy." Talks of a funeral for two uncommisioned officers and a march through mud, then a Maine regiment that loses one or two men a day to disease.

GLC02165.07

16 August 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Hubbard to a friend. Talks of the departure of "Doctor" for whom Holly most likely works and whom Holly is sad to see go. A man comes along and asks for whiskey; describes his practices of "prescribing" whiskey. Comments that though his accommodations are fine, he wishes he were home with friends. Says he is glad he enlisted for three years instead of nine months, as the nine month enlistees have some disgrace attached to them. Anticipates news from Charleston, hoping that if Charleston falls, and they can take Mobile "the Rebs will have to cave."

GLC02165.08

28 August 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at an unkown location to a friend. First, he compares a soldier's occupation to a teacher's and observes that if he is paid no matter the amount of work he does, it is logical that he should be lazy. Is dubious whether they will defeat the rebels. Expresses dislike for Bethel Military Co., hoping they will have to fight in the front ranks. Talks of friends at home. Says furloughs are not being granted, but he would still not like to come home without being able to stay. Talks of Major General John C. Breckinridge's victory at Baton Rouge and gives a detailed description of their…

GLC02165.09

5 September 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Parapet to a friend. Expresses boredom at the monotony of life. Describes an incident in which Confederate soldiers escorted under a flag of truce the wife of General John Bullock Clark, who had been taken prisoner, so that she could nurse her husband. Contrasts treatment of Mrs. Clark to the treatment of the Union's General Robert Latimer McCook. Talks of letters received from friends, and the death of an L. Smith, who was "prepared [I] think for death" but laments the death of so many men in the "wicked war." Expresses hope that he and friend William will remain far from…

GLC02165.11

10 October 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Kearney to a friend. Talks in awe of a herd of 1500 cattle captured by forces to be eaten. Describes the quarters of Dr. Benedict, a friend, for whom Holley most likely works, in a former home of Confederates. Then, talks of the harsh drilling of the sargeant of his company and the cannon drills.

GLC02165.12