June 1, 1863

Semmes, Emily J., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Writes to her "dearest husband" as he is on his way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was mortally wounded in battle. Hopes that he is over his cold and fatigue. Asks if he would be able to come home if one of the family got sick because knowing this would put her at ease. Gives thanks that he made it through battles. Comments on their children and their schooling. Criticizes their daughters for their excessive pride, "...they do look down upon these poor people with such contempt I think it is so wicked I pray that they may see their sin." States that she has been very frugal, they…

GLC00715.10

July 13, 1863

Hill, J.H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes and her daughters

Writes to the widow and daughters of Confederate General Paul J. Semmes, who was mortally wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. Informs them of the difficulties he is running into concerning the transportation of Semmes's body home. Advises her that his remains may not arrive until late next week. Says he will do all that he can to speed up the transport and "will be at the Depot with my negroes to move the remains to any place your many desire." Mentions other Georgia soldiers killed at Gettysburg. Writes to the ladies in Opelika, Alabama.

GLC00715.11

1784

Continental Congress, 1774-1789

Pamphlet

Title: The Articles of Confederation; the Declaration of Rights; The Constitution of this Commonwealth, and the Articles of the Definitive Treaty Between Great-Britian and the United States of America.

First Virginia printing. Swem 7430. Stab stitched. Not fully opened

GLC00716

June 24, 1831

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Susan Decatur

Rejects her request and dismisses her complaints firmly but politely. Decatur had asked the President to install an acquaintance of hers in a governmental position. He refuses to do so, saying he needs the best man to do the job.

GLC00762

July 20, 1854

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Capt. John Lestor

Written on blue lined paper.

GLC00760

May 20, 1863

Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah B. Seddon

Sends news home to his wife from wartime Richmond. Comments on working with Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Laments recent military engagements in Mississippi under generals John Pemberton and Joseph E. Johnston. Notes his anxiety about "our affairs in Miss." after the loss of Jackson, Mississippi to the Union Army. Comments that "Virginia is the sacred soil still."

GLC00761

1865 ca.

Photograph signed

Title: Cabinet photograph of Andrew Johnson, signed on mount

Background and clothing have been painted. Seated portrait.

GLC00763

May 22, 1836

Fiske, E.G., fl. 1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss S. H. Fiske

Writes to his sister concerning Indian problems. Discusses Texas and the capture of Santa Anna.

GLC00765

February 12, 1761

Peters, Richard, 1704-1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Johnson

Writes to the British commissioner about Northern Indian Affairs in upper New York. Discusses Indian tribes and Connecticut's attempt to get a new grant from the King. He concludes: "I most heartily congratulate You in the Surrender of Canada and on the most favourable Solution of all our Affairs." Richard Peters, Provincial Secretary, superintended Indian affairs and attended the Albany Congress, 1754.

GLC00766

1814

Hall, John E., fl. 1814

Book signed

Title: American Law Journal : vol. V. : being the second in a new series

Signed by John Marshall three times. Once on the main title page and once on the title page of each pamphlet. Includes printings of Thomas Jefferson's, "The Proceedings of the Government of the United States, in Maintaining the Public to the Beach of the Mississippi, Adjacent to New Orleans," and Edward Livingston's reply, "An Answer to Mr. Jefferson's Justification of His Conduct in the Case of the New Orleans Batture." The rest of the volume is synopses of important state cases. Edited by Hall, a counselor at law in the Supreme Court. Printed by William Fry. Entire cover of the book…

GLC00767

1866-1892

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891

Header Record

Title: [Collection of 2 documents pertaining to Herman Melville.] [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00768

1866

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891

Book signed

Title: Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.

First edition of Melville's only book of poetry. Inscribed on inital blank facing the titlepage: "Major Edward Y. Lansing from H. Melville. As a souvenir of his soldier hospitality at the cavalry camp in the Virginia woods, April 1864." Also inscriped by Lansing in pencil on page 187 above the peom "The Scout toward Aldis": "Major Edwin Y. Lansing's cavalry camp in the Virginia woods, April 1864." In April, 1864 Melville and his brother obtained a pass to visit the front to search for their cousin, Colonel Henry Gansevoort. Melville met Lansing in a scouting party he and his brother…

GLC00768.01

1862-1863

Smalley, Herbert L., fl. 1862-1863

Diary

Title: [Diary of Herbert L. Smalley]

Autograph manuscript. Smalley served in Company A of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Consists of a small black pocketbook. A note inside the diary says it was found on a battlefield by another soldier. Includes entries Second Bull Run and Antietam.

GLC00653.14

1863-1864

Wilber, Eseck G., fl. 1862-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Eseck G. Wilber] [Decimalized .01- .05]

Consists of one signed diary (136 pages) and 4 photographs. Wilber served in the 120th New York Volunteer infantry and fought at Gettysburg (which he describes). Diary was kept irregularly but mentions his capture, Libby Prison, Richmond, and Andersonville. Wilber died at Andersonville 15 September 1864. Includes 4 faded photos (cartes de visite) of an older man, an older woman, a young girl, and a young boy. Photos were taken by H. B. Aldrich of Catskill, New York.

GLC00653.15

1863-1866

Macgowan, Ed, fl. 1863-1866

Manuscript

Title: [List of deceased soldiers for New York State Soldiers' Depot]

Book lists soldiers who died in New York State Soldiers' Depot. Entries on first thirteen pages include possessions for the deceased. These entries list name of deceased, their unit and residence, any effects they had, and whom these effects were given to. Some entries also include notes. Most soldiers left clothing and cash, generally sent to their families. The remainder of the book lists chronologically those that died in the hospital. This section begins "The N.Y.S. Soldiers Depot for Reception of Soldiers 20th May, 1863. The first case received in hospital was on that date...Was…

GLC00653.16

1865

Wilson, William L., 1843-1900

Diary

Title: [Diary of William L. Wilson, B company, 12th regiment, Virginia, cavalry]

Diary of a Confederate private in the 12th Virginia cavalry which includes detailed entries on the Appomattox campaign leading up to General Robert E. Lee's surrender. Begins entries for 1865 by saying that the end of the war seems farther away than ever. Entries for early January describe the movements of his regiment through the Alleghany Mountains, Cheat Mountain, and the Tygarts Valley in Virginia. Reports a skirmish with Union forces near Beverly, West Virginia, 9 January. Often mentions the arduous journey, the weather, prisoners of war, plunder, and his horses. On 28 January he…

GLC00653.17

1857

Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The political economy of slavery

First edition of Ruffin's pro-slavery pamphlet, signed by Andrew Johnson. Johnson writes on the cover "Send this to my room with my mail." The pamphlet was published in 1857, Johnson most likely signed it in 1858. Untrimmed edges. Lacking wrappers. Printed by Lemuel Towers. Likely signed in Washington D.C. Reads in part: "Judging from the early existence and continued duration of the institution of domestic slavery-its almost universal extension-its beneficial influence in subduing barbarism and savage indolence and ignorance-in inducing the culture and improvement of the earth, and…

GLC00774

30 August 1862

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Petition to President Lincoln recommending "the immediate removal of George B. McClellan from the Command of any army of the United States," signed by Chase, Stanton, and Smith. These three members of Lincoln's cabinet feel "constrained to urge this by conviction that after a sad and humiliating trial of twelve months and by the frightful and useless sacrifice of the lives of many thousands of brave men and the waste of many millions of national means he has proved to be incompetent for any important military command." Also cites "recent disobedience" and a failure to aid General Pope at…

GLC00776

18 March 1859

United States War Department

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Thomas Ward as cadet at West Point with instructions

Signed on front by John Floyd as Secretary of War. Blue paper. With instructions for qualification for admissions, exercises and extract of regulations.

GLC00778.01

21 January 1860

United States War Department

Document signed

Title: Appointment no. 47 of Thomas Ward Cadet

Blue sheet folded, signed by Floyd as Secretary of War.

GLC00778.02

01 April 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Thomas Ward, Second Lieutenant in 1st Regiment Artillery]

Commission of Thomas Ward as a Second Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Artillery, beginning on June 11, 1863. Signed by Abraham Lincoln, countersigned by E. M. Stanton as Secretary of War. Docketed at top by Edward D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General, note reads "Recorded Volume 18 page 38 - Adjutant General's office, April 4, 1864". Features a paper seal from the Office of War and two patriotic scenes.

GLC00778.04

01 June 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Thomas Ward as First Lieutenant in 1st Regt Art.]

Commission of Thomas Ward as First Lieutenant in the First Regimental Artillery. beginning on June 18, 1864. Signed by Andrew Johnson as President and countersigned by Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War. Docketed at top by Edward D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General, note reads "Recorded Volume 18 page 122 - Adjutant General's Office June 1, 1865". Features a paper seal from the Office of War and two detailed patriotic scenes.

GLC00778.05

20 August 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Thomas Ward as First Lieutenant, brevet]

Commission of Thomas Ward as First Lieutenant by brevet, beginning on June 3, 1864. Stamped signature by Andrew Johnson as President, countersigned by Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War. Awarded for "gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Cool Arbor [sic], Virginia." Mistake for Cold Harbor. Docketed at top by Edward D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General, note reads "Recorded Volume 5 page 34 Adjutant General's Office August 20, 1866". Features a paper seal from the Office of War and two detailed patriotic scenes.

GLC00778.06

20 August 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Thomas Ward, Second Lieutenant in 1st Regt Artillery]

Commission of Thomas Ward as Second Lieutenant in First Regiment Artillery, beginning on March 13, 1865. Stamped signature by Andrew Johnson as President, countersigned by Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War. Given "for good conduct and gallant services during the war." Docketed at top by Edward D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General, note reads "Recorded Volume 5 page 34. Adjutant General's Office August 20, 1866". Features a paper seal from the Office of War and two detailed patriotic scenes.

GLC00778.07

20 December 1876

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

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Thomas Ward, Captain in the First Regt. Artillery]

Appointment of Thomas Ward as Captain in the first Regiment of Artillery, beginning on November 1, 1876. Signed by Ulysses S. Grant as President, countersigned by James D. Cameron ("J.D. Cameron") as Secretary of War. No reason given for promotion. Docketed at top by Edward D. Townsend as Adjutant General, reads "Recorded Volume 21 page 260. Adjutant General's Office December 21, 1876". Features a paper seal from the Office of War, and two detailed patriotic scenes.

GLC00778.08