8 August 1862

Belden, Josephine S., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Libby Kessler

Informs her she did not receive her letter in time to meet her. Inquires if she will be attending the excursion next week. Mentions she would like to room together if they attend school. Letter has an embossed seal in the upper corner.

GLC03523.52.02

1 February 1858

Broadside

Title: [Slave sale broadside]

"Administrator's Sale! …at public auction, to the highest and best bidder…a likely young Negro Woman, Named Mary, and her child.…J. M. M'Cutchen, Administrator." Posted in Boonville, Missouri-rare slave sale broadsides from west of the Mississippi.

GLC09236

28 April 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to General Howard

Asking General Howard to protect the wife of Confederate General Robert Ransom: "I take great pleasure in committing this lady and her family to the care & protection of Gen. Howard, and beg he will let one of his staff officers see the family and assure Mrs. Ransom of the deep interest we feel in her safety and happiness." Written on verso of Minnie Hunt Ransom's ALS, 4-24-1865, to Sherman, asking for protection in occupied North Carolina.

GLC09264

1848-1858

Boomer, Susan B., fl. 1848-1858

Diary

Title: Susan B. Boomer Diary 1848-1858

Diary of a young woman who left Massachusetts to settle in Bristol, Illinois, with opinions on slavery, patriotism, the Compromise of 1850, and the Fugitive Slave Act. "I spent the night at Uncle James's. During the evening a fugitive slave was introduced to the family. He was entertained with more sympathy than is common for strangers. And indeed his situation demanded it. A man bearing the image of his God & equally deserving to enjoy equal freedom.… I never saw a man fleeing for his freedom before.… I am reading Sewards life of J. Q. Adams. It arouses in my soul the spirit of…

GLC09292

1856

Pickard, Kate E.R., fl. 1856

Book

Title: The Kidnapped and The Ransomed

Story told to Pickard by Peter Still, a black slave who after 40 years was freed with the help of two Jewish brothers. [The only 19th-century slave narrative depicting Jews helping a kidnapped slave.]

GLC09301

1820s-1864

Johnson, Woodson, fl. 1820-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Woodson Johnson] [Decimalized .01- .65]

Materials including 1850s ledger book, dozens of letters, and slave bills of sale from tobacco planter and slave dealer in Pittsylvania Co., Va., and Rockingham Co., N.C. Archive includes: Johnson's ledger book from the 1850s, recording debts for various plantation items as well as household goods, sales of tobacco and brandy, and dozens of entries re hiring of negro slaves, expenses, recording labor usage, etc.; Watson, F.W. ALS, dated 5-31-1850: "I sold Bob the day after you started…for $750, believing it was better to take that price than to risk his going back to Guilford where he might…

GLC09302

1861-1864 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Half length bust portrait. Wearing a black dress.

GLC09192.01

1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a dark pattern dress.

GLC09192.02

1861-1864 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress. Same image as GLC09192.04.

GLC09192.03

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress. Same image as GLC09192.03.

GLC09192.04

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress.

GLC09192.05

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress.

GLC09192.06

25 October 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Object

Title: to Alice Egerton

An engraved portrait of Jackson with lock of his white hair.

GLC00548.02

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

22 May 1864

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written from "Lakeport, La." to a friend. Talks of the visit of the wife of his friend, William Hoyt, whom he will be sad to see leave as he enjoys having a "respectable female friend to chat with." Talks of how he wants to leave the army--"what a happy man I should be if I was permitted to live, to get out of this service, to know and feel that I am free, that I need not go to a place without I felt like it. But I am glad that I can say and feel that... I am in the hands of a just God that doeth all things well, we[re] it not for this faith I should feel miserable enough. Pray for me my dear…

GLC02165.17

30 October 1861

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that their father has been sick and their mother has the chills. He would like to visit his sister in Somerville but claims to be too bashful of coming within fifty yards of a female academy. Updates his sister on family and friends. Writes that he is having a hard time financially and will have to join the army for want of clothes. Complains that Memphis is boring and dull.

GLC02232.01

18 June 1862

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that he is unwell. Reports on some of the news at camp and home. His brother Sam, also known as "Marshall," is still detained in the hospital. Reports that it is likely that the men will be moving soon and has been assured by the officers that they will not move further South. Also reports that Samuel Lapsley of Company A is dead. Comments that he is going to quit his foolishness and find some nice pretty, smart, and rich girl that will marry him. Comments on how he's lost his good looks stating that he looks as "black as a negro." Writes that there is a good supply of turkey…

GLC02232.08

11 July 1862

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that some letters he sent to his father were confiscated and later returned to him by General Grant. He laments that General Clarke has been reassigned and writes that "there was never a general so beloved by his troops." Explains that his company has every Saturday to clean up camp, and do the wash and other chores "like negroes" do. He jokingly admits that the men are better at playing poker on Saturdays. Ward is anxious to see girls again and is still resolved to marry. Discusses his feelings on women and marrying and warns his sister to never be "green enough" to let someone…

GLC02232.09

17 December 1862

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that he has been on furlough for two months. The 4th and 5th Tennessee regiments have been consolidated and he is hopeful that he will be decommissioned as a result. He's sorry to learn that Mrs. Champlin and her daughters, are abolitionists and is particularly concerned about Miss Ettie Champlin's abolitionist inclinations. Regarding Miss Ettie, he writes: "and there goes one of my Memphis sweethearts for I can't marry a yankee girl." Mentions a girl he's met in Murfreesboro by the name of Midora Henson who meets his "pretty, smart, and rich" critera. His health has improved and…

GLC02232.10

23 December 1862

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that spending Christmas away from home will be difficult for him and he will miss his family. Discusses his celebration plans for the holidays. Explains that despite being away from home, he is able to visit his lady friends. Reports on news of various men that serve with Ward including Charly Locke whom he believes was been taken prisoner. Describes an incident where a shot hit his canteen and he mistook the water running down his leg for blood. When he determined he was not injured, he continued until shortly after, he was shot in the foot. Asks his sister to remember him to…

GLC02232.11

12 January 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes the events leading up to and including his involvement in the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro). He reports that he and Marshall (his brother, also known as Sam) are alright but Captain [Thomas H.] Francis of company A suffered a foot injury and was left behind after the battle. After his experience he writes: "I never would have thought that human man could have suffered the exposure we were subject to." Ward is quite confident that the battle was a Confederate victory and gives details on the numbers of men killed, wounded and taken prisoner on each side. He writes that…

GLC02232.12

26 January 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

He describes the interior of his tent in detail including some of the books and newspapers sitting on his table. Ward tells his sister that he and his tent mate, Webber, have hired an old hotel cook at $40 per month to cook for them. Writes that he usually visits the ladies of the town he is in, but hasn't been to town this time because he has boils on his neck. In an effort to get rid of the boils, he has stopped eating meat and is taking a dash of salt every morning. He updates his sister on camp news and news of other soldiers. Ward closes the letter by stating that he has lost "many…

GLC02232.13

17 February 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Ward writes that he's heard from a member of his company, Dave Poston, who was wounded in Perryville. Also writes that he has gotten fatter and has never enjoyed better health. He reports that federal troops are constantly getting secesh families out of Shelbyville and escorting them inside confederate lines. Writes that the men have learned to not get their hopes up for peace any time soon and states that "now we have concluded to place the limit of our trials to the end of Lincoln's administration." However, he writes "our boys are willing to suffer this and more, sooner than give up…

GLC02232.14

5 March 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that he is very disappointed that a "fat letter" from home has been lost. Also writes that his brigade has been on outpost for over a month and he is anxious to leave. He asks his sister to deliver the enclosed notes to Miss Ettie (his ex-fiancee) and Miss Mollie. Writes that he's concerned that Miss Ettie has not been receiving his correspondence, but is certain that despite his sister's dislike for Miss Ettie, she would never cease from forwarding his letters to her. Requests that his sister send him a fat letter whenever possible. In a postscript note, he informs her that he has…

GLC02232.15

19 April 1863

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that he is fat and healthy. He's been attending picnics and fishing parties with his lady friends. Reports that they have received orders to prepare for immediate service and advises his sister to keep posted for news of battles in the vicinity. Ward comments on the kindness of the ladies in the area. He writes that he's made many good friends and even has a sweetheart. Asks that his sister remember him to all the girls.

GLC02232.16