5 December 1782

Swan, J., fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

To General Weedon at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Major Swan discusses affairs at Charleston, South Carolina: "We have all been in the utmost state of suspense with respect to Charles Town. I believe it will not any longer admit of a doubt and a few days will give us the long wished for possession of that place." Discussing General Nathanael Greene, notes that he has great merit, but "the majority of the army here are not so fond of him as they were Eighteen months ago..." Updates Weedon on military affairs among his troops. Notes that he will remain in the area for the winter. Recently…

GLC06498.03

7 January 1783

Burnett, J., fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Recipient inferred from content. Encloses a letter, which he formerly intended to deliver, to congratulate Weedon following the British evacuation of Charleston. Major Edwards will deliver the letter. Notes that General Anthony Wayne took Charleston, and that "The enemy carried off most of the negroes in their possession but left the place in as good order as could be expected." Relates that the British have sailed for the West Indies, New York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Notes the location of American troops. Asks Weedon to ignore information he may hear regarding a mercantile exchange…

GLC06498.04

18 June 1861

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Messrs Walker and Wise

Letter of introduction for a Mr. F.M. Adlington of Weymouth. Garrison calls him "a very worthy citizen, possessing a talent for versification, and using it for many years past in the service of freedom, temperance, and other good causes." Informs that Adlington would like to publish a volume of his pieces and wonders if Walker and Wise could assist in any way.

GLC07483.05

February 5, 1864

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Editor of the Tribune

Complains that the Tribune misused a statement made by him to Wendell Phillips at the recent meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. The statement concerned John C. Fremont, who was active in the Radical Republicans, a group of hard-line abolitionists upset with Lincoln's position toward slavery. Demands that the Tribune insert a correction and print what was said as per the official report of the proceedings of the Society. Signed on first page but one line written on verso, "Mr. Garrison said - I wish to propose, &c."

GLC07483.06

January 31, 1882

Garrison, Wendell Phillips, 1840-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Northend

Discusses advertisements in The Nation, a liberal periodical devoted to politics and culture of which he was editor from 1865-1906. Recalls an excursion he took with his father, William Lloyd Garrison toward the end of his life. Talks of his fear of giving speeches "Like my father, to his latest day, when called upon to speak I always feel like fumbling for a manuscript. An habitual writer allows his tongue to become atrophied for want of use..." States that despite this, he will consider an invitation to speak.

GLC07483.07

January 10, 1900

Garrison, William Lloyd, Jr., 1838-1909

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. C.D. Blackhall

Garrison Jr., the son of the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, thanks Blackhall for the copy of Reverend L. M. Powers discourse, "The Spiritual Needs of the Universalist Church." Offers a different title for the piece, "A plan for the Church Universal." Wishes more sermons on the same subject would be preached. On stationary of Carrison & Howe Commercial Paper and Investment Securities, Boston.

GLC07483.08

1861-1865

Garrison, Francis Jackson, 1848-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Morse

Francis J. Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison's son and biographer informs Morse that he has found a room in a boarding house for him on Highland St. for $10 a week. Describes the room in detail. Asks if he would like to arrange to see it and to notify him soon. Writes that he will be in town at the Anti-Slavery office tomorrow. States of the landlady, "I understand that she sets a very good table, if that is any inducement to you." Written from Rockledge, the Garrison home in Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC07483.09

1861

Sketch

Title: William Lloyd Garrison

Original india ink sketch of Garrison from the shoulders up, framed in an oval.

GLC07483.10

29 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says the scattered troops have been reorganized. Reports on conditions in town saying "I took a party of seamen on Saturday night as a reinforcement for those already in the trenches, and was painfully struck by the appearance of things in general. Not a soul was to be seen in the streets except soldiers, some of them off duty, lounging about, or drunk, and ready for any outrage." Says their naval brigade has done good work. Says they are led by a Lieutenant Parker, "who is true blue, although he has a brother on the secession side. How do you get on with all our secessionist connections, I…

GLC03836.13

8 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Received 2 letters from his mother and four from his sister Mary. Says he went up to Washington and got the box sent to him. Says Captain Parrott left and has been replaced with Captain Haggerty. Has not been able to form an opinion on his character. Also says their first lieutenant has left and their second lieutenant, Miller, has replaced him. Says the entrenchments in town are getting along well and that they are called Fort Dahlgren. Says "I am getting very impatient at our present occupation, which consists of doing nothing at all, just lying at anchor and looking at the town, and this…

GLC03836.14

26 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Tells his mother that he received an appointment as Acting Master in the U.S. Navy. Says he is now detached from the USS "Perry" and has been ordered to report to Flag Officer Stringham at Hampton Roads for duty on the USS "Wabash." Took the oath of allegience that morning and will start for Hampton Roads tomorrow. Says the "Wabash" is going to sea immediately with the "Minnesota" and the "Pawnee." Is afraid that he might not get there before the "Wabash" leaves because of "red tapeism."

GLC03836.18

23 August 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Lewis West

Two official orders on one page. First one signed by Secretary of the Navy Welles. Co-signed by Captain Samuel Mercer and Commander A.S. Glipan. Says he has been appointed as Acting Master. Tells him to proceed to Hampton Roads to meet with Flag Officer Stringham for duty on the USS "Wabash." Marked that he reported on 3 October 1861. Second a note in a secretarial hand and signed by Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham (1798 - 1876) and dated 7 September 1861. Stringham was commander of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Stringham ordered him to take the USS "Flag" down to Charleston and report to…

GLC03836.19

17 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Is at Hampton Roads for repairs. Gives an account of the collision. When on board the USS "Flag," he noticed the ship was not well disciplined. Describes the crew. Goes on to describe in detail how the frigate USS "Susquehanna" and the "Flag" came to collide. Says the "Flag" sustained damage to the "upper works" and "was in no danger, her elongated bow and cutwater having acted as a fender for her timbers and planking." Sums the situation up by saying "The rule for two steamers meeting to avoid collision is perfectly clear and simple, viz, both ships put their helms aport, the effect of…

GLC03836.22

20 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says there has been a major shuffling of commands. Commodore Stringham and Captains Nicholson of the USS "Roanoke," Mercer of the USS "Wabash," and Hull of the "Savannah," have all been detached. Says Goldsborough is to become flag officer and that the captains have been detached because they are all senior to him. Is happy that the navy is being innovative and taking on the "old officers." Says the blockade has been very inefficient up to this point. Says "Goldsborough is considered about the best officer in the service, among naval officers, and is said to be a man of great energy."…

GLC03836.23

19 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Written aboard the USS "Alabama." Encloses a one-page hand-drawn chart of the 7 November 1861 naval battle at Port Royal Harbor, which he had copied by "placing a sheet of thin paper" over the original. Reports that the original chart had been made by one of the officers of the 'Susquehanna' and was "said to be very accurate." Says he is at Charleston and that they are still blockading "this nest of secession." Duty has been dull; since "the stunning blow inflicted on them [Confederates in the area] by Dupont's splendid victory. We have seen no sign of the small steamers which were in the…

GLC03836.27

30 May 1853

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Hayden

He has been so busy getting his affairs in order to leave for Washington that he hasn't had time to reply to Hayden. Writes that Wendell Phillips properly named McLean when he called him the "Western Miscreant." Possibly refering to John McLean, an American jurist and politician who served in Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice on the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Courts. Wendell Phillips was an American abolitionist, Native American advocate, and orator.

GLC07483.18

circa 29 April 1858

Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879

Printed document signed

Title: Prospectus of "The North and South."

Transmitted by Burritt to Reverend Dr. Murray with a letter (GLC 2448.03.01). Advertises the publication of a weekly newspaper, "The North and South," with Burritt as editor. The paper's objective is to "unite the millions of all sections and parties who deprecate the existence of Slavery, from moral, political, or economical considerations, in a plan of co-operation for its peaceful and gradual extinction, by which the Southern States shall receive a fair and honorable compensation..."

GLC02448.03.02

13 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References her letter of 9 August. Also received a letter from Hill from 9 August. Sent documents to Jim Roosevelt (a merchant who employed West before the war) that Hill requested to be sent. Says there is no set timeframe for his ship going out to sea, as many of the crew are still serving at Fort Dahlgren. Says he likes the new captain and that "I begin to hope, that we have at last got the right man in the right place since McClellan has taken command; nobody knows what he is about, or how many troops he has here." Says the Fire Zouaves are going home and hopes they stay there "for a more…

GLC03836.15

17 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says their commander will be changed again. Says his ship has had 4 captains since he has been assigned to her. Reports that their first lieutenant will not leave as he is very young, but that he has improved discipline greatly. Wants a young commander to become captain, as their last 2 were in the service for 30 years before taking command. Says it "is a ruinous system truly, where [a] man loses the most energetic part of his life in subordinate positions, before he can command even a little vessel like this." Says the blockade is ineffective. Claims the commerce of the South to be shut down…

GLC03836.16

18 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Weir

Says he has little to tell him. Relates to him how he ended up in Alexandria in the aftermath of Bull Run. Says "I could not help thinking that if I was an inhabitant, I should prefer having an enemy to a friend to do the protecting; however as obedience to orders is a great military virtue, the men, doubtless with the utmost philanthropy towards the people, proceeded to select their targets among the various church steeples, buildings &c." Says half his crew of his brig is on shore manning guns. Says that the ship is not sent to sea because the commander does not like the vessel and "…

GLC03836.17

29 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Arrived at Fortress Monroe in the morning and discovered "to my disgust" that his expedition has already sailed. Reported to Captain Gleason of the USS "Mount Vernon" as the senior commander at the fort and was told he had to find quarters wherever he could. Says he must wait for the commodore to return, but to be ready for any special service he might be wanted for. Says he is now staying in the lighthouse close to fort and is comfortable with nothing to do. Second page has a quick note about procuring envelopes and stamps in a different hand and appears to be written by his sister Mary.

GLC03836.20

6 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he is still waiting for his ship to arrive. Describes the people he has met at the fort. References General John Wool -- "Old Wool" -- who works the troops in reviews and drills. Says "I never saw a more beautiful sight than a review of the 4th artillery (regulars) that we had the other day. I only wish that we had a hundred thousand such troops." Tells the story of a captain who took his ship oystering and was fired upon by Union pickets when he tried to return. The captain was so angry that he declared "Nothing would satisfy him but that an equal number of them should get into the…

GLC03836.21

22 October 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says they are going at least as far south as Charleston, as they will be dropping off officers there. Has heard they might attack Charleston and claims 18 transport ships will be joining them down to South Carolina, enough to hold 25,000 troops. Heard rumors of a Confederate attack at Newport News. Says a man fell over 100 feet while working on the sails during a recent gale. Says he is in command of a "fine rifled twelve pounder." Written was aboard the USS "Wabash"

GLC03836.24

25 October 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he was detached from the USS "Wabash," and ordered to take the place of a sick officer on the USS "Alabama." Claims "It is extremely irritating to be shifted about in this way, just as I get accustomed to one ship to be unceremoniously bundled into another." Says the top officers had a "pow wow" on board the "Wabash" last night, no doubt discussing their plans for the upcoming mission. Written while aboard the USS "Alabama".

GLC03836.25

5 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Sent this letter by a prize they took that morning. The prize was being sent back to Hampton Roads. Several hours after reporting for duty on the USS "Alabama," he was sent to Charleston to relieve the USS "Susquehanna," which was having engine troubles. Thinks the fleet that amassed in Hampton Roads is heading to Port Royal. Says Charleston is greatly effected by the presence of Union ships. Reports that "Some fugitive slaves who came off in the night, report that they had been employed throwing up entrenchments at Port Royal but had been obliged to leave as they were discovered by the…

GLC03836.26