May 29, 1811

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Law

Robert Fulton, writing to economist Thomas Law, discusses steamboats, Benjamin Latrobe, and a "western Canal," and attacks John Armstrong for his criticism of Joel Barlow, Fulton, the Smiths, the Clintons, and Fulwar Skipwith. With integral address leaf. Fulton begins by lamenting the difficulty in hiring captains, presumably for his growing steamboat business: "I have taken much pains to find a captain with the qualifications you mention Honesty, activity, intelligence and capital, all such and whom we call smart fellows appear to be already engaged in some established trade." He goes on to…

GLC01067

June 26, 1834

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John MacKay

Written to his friend "Jack," in a lighthearted and comfortable manner. Lee arrived in Fort Monroe as an engineer in 1831 to improve works and build Fort Calhoun. Many of Lee and MacKay's mutual friends were there and Lee updates MacKay on their lives. He wishes MacKay could be there to enjoy "fine times." Lee mentions the ladies in the area, "As for the daughters of Eve, in this country they are framed in the very poetry of nature & would make your lips water & fingers tingle. They are beginning to assemble to put their beautiful limbs in this salt water . . . " Lee remarks briefly…

GLC01070

circa August 1776

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Manuscript document

Title: A Journal of a Scout from Crown Point to St. John's Chamblee by Lieut Benjamin Whitcomb and four men

Clerical copy of a report of Whitcomb's spying mission in Canada 14-27 July 1776. Details their progress, the weather, attempts to get prisoners, and sightings of British troops moving supplies, etc. Notes that Whitcomb fired on a British officer [Brigadier General Patrick Gordon], whom he ended up killing though he was not aware of Gordon's identity at the time. Includes a three-line autograph note signed by Continental Major General Horatio Gates to Richard Varick, who was serving as military secretary to General Philip Schuyler, advising that the report be forwarded to Schuyler.

GLC01072

1863

United States. Navy

Manuscript document

Title: [Ordnance used by ships during siege of Vicksburg]

Ordnance book listing supplies used by Union ships Pensacola, Sportsman, Fearnot and Storehouse. Documents ordnance issued and ordnance used. Dated March 31- August 1863.

GLC01009

23 August 1864

Granger, Gordon, 1822-1876

Printed document signed

Title: [General Orders acknowledging soldiers' bravery in the capture of Forts Morgan and Gaines, Alabama]

General Granger relates his appreciation to officers and soldiers. Writes "In the midst of danger you have been brave; under the severest exposure and fatigue you have been patient... continue to cherish all those virtues of discipline and courage so necessary to the success of a soldier, which you have so signally displayed and which aided in producing the result that has fulfilled our most sanguine expectations. By your efforts, united to those of our gallant Navy, the strongholds of the enemy at the entrance of Mobile Bay have been captured..."

GLC01010

1861-1931

Lay, Creed A., fl. 1861-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Creed A. Lay, A company, 40th regiment, Illinois, infantry] [decimalized]

Lay was served in the 40th Regiment, Ill. volunteers. Collection includes 64 items including 32 letters, 25 envelopes, 2 metal lapel pins, and 5 miscellaneous items. Letters include many original envelopes, some with patriotic designs, a cut-out valentine to his wife Sarah Lay, and a steamboat pass for her to meet him at Memphis. Also includes correspondence from other family members, such as Sarah's sister Marget.

GLC01013

05 November 1862 - 09 July 1865

Winegar, Daniel G., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of Daniel G. Winegar, B company, 95th regiment, Illinois, infantry [Decimalized .001-.189]

This collection consists exclusively of correspondence from Daniel G. Winegar, to his wife Elvira in Belvidere, Ill. Winegar enlisted as a private in August 1862, and was mustered into Co. "B" of the 95th Illinois infantry in September of that year. As these letters indicate, his service took him to Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, with the largest concentration being in Vicksburg. These letters bear witness to the siege of that city, as well as the Battle of Franklin, and capture of Mobile. The letter dated 2 May 1865 mentions the official announcement of Lincoln's assassination. In…

GLC01014

2 July 1863 - 3 July 1863

Manuscript document

Title: List of killed & wounded at the battle of Gettysburg Pa. July 2nd & 3rd 63

Manuscript field report of killed, wounded, and missing from the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Most likely written while at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Includes comments such as "coward" and "d-d good soldier" after a few names.

GLC01015

1865

Header Record

Title: Diary and Photograph of Benjamin F. Thomas [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01016

8 October 1862

Hurlbut, Stephen A., 1815-1882

Broadside

Title: General orders, no. 112

Praises his men, the "Fighting Fourth" Division of the Army of the Tennessee, for their actions after the battle of Corinth. Hurlbut's men arrived after the Confederate assault on the city had been repulsed, but he praises their actions against the retreating Confederates. "When at last our victorious flag shall float over the national domain reconquered and united...you shall recite...how you swept the rebel hosts, with every advantage of position across the Hatchie." Also informs his men that he has been promoted and will no longer command them, but says "whatever I may have of military…

GLC01017

1765-1781 ( bulk: 1765-1766 )

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph manuscript

Title: Manuscript journal and letter book

Bulk, 1765-1769 on Stamp Act Congress; some pages cut out. In four sections: 1) Correspondence of CT and Philadelphia Merchant's Committee, re: Stamp Act, 1765-1766; 2) Resolves of colonies re: Stamp Act Congress, with minutes of the Congress from Oct. 1765; 3) Records of the Philadelphia Merchants' Committee for 1769 with CT's transcripts of letters sent to Benjamin Franklin and others; 4) Retained drafts of correspondence, 1780-1781, with two long letters to John Jay (10/12/1780 and 7/11/1781) on the Revolutionary War. Written in a reverse calf copybook with engraved label of bookbinder…

GLC01018

September 1779

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Colonel in the First Georgia Battalion who was severely wounded and captured during the Battle of Savannah in December 1778, to Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Walton sent Major Habersaw to British General Augustine Prevost to request relief for American prisoners in Sunbury, but Habershaw was denied entry into Savannah. In response, Major Lane was sent with this letter to Lincoln to request relief. Hopes the prisoners can be exchanged for British prisoners or made prisoners at large in America. Says that the…

GLC01019

1902-1903

MacKay, Clarence H., 1874-1938

Scrapbook

Title: [The laying and completion of the Pacific cable]

Two volume scrapbook covering the completion of the Pacific cable linking North America to Hawaii, Australia, and the South Pacific. Includes cablegrams charting progress of the cable and sending congratulations from officials in places along the route such as California, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc., photographs with captions, and press clippings, all inlaid or mounted in two scrapbooks. Also includes two congratulatory telegraphs from Theodore Roosevelt (vol. 2), one draft autograph telegram signed by Grover Cleveland (vol. 2). Volume 1 entitled, "The Laying of the Pacific Cable,…

GLC01020

23 - 28 September 1776

Pemberton, James, 1723-1809

Manuscript signed

Title: Extracts from minutes of our yearly meeting of Pennsylvania & New Jersey, held in Philadelphia by adjournments from the 23rd day of the ninth month.

One copy of a meeting minutes dated September 23-28, 1776. States that Quakers should not participate in governments active in war, or contribute to the promotion of war through business or other activity. Condemns all forms of slavery and indentured servitude, and requires all Quakers to free anyone so held. All need to support religious education for children. Clerical copy certified by James Moon. Extracted and prepared by James Pemberton, clerk to the yearly meeting.

GLC01021

3 April 1865

Eden, R.C., fl. 1865

Newspaper

Title: Grant's Petersburg progress. [Vol.1, no.1 (April 3, 1865)]

Union occupation newspaper announcing the capture of Petersburg: "Petersburg Ours! We are here! Hallelujah!" Prints the official surrender correspondence, describes Black celebrating as the "colored population." Brief report that Union forces had taken Richmond that same morning.

GLC01022

4 July 1852

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Document signed

Title: [Virginia Military Institute diploma for W. O. Yager]

Printed diploma signed by several future Confederate Generals, including Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, who taught at the Virginia Military Institute as a professor of natural philosophy. Tied with blue ribbon with blue embossed paper seal. Also signed by the Governor of Virginia, Joseph Johnson.

GLC01023

June 9, 1864

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Written less than a week after the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1-3, 1864, where Union General Ulysses S. Grant defeated the Confederates. Lee attempts to anticipate Grant's next move and warns of another major engagement. Lee notifies Davis of his plans to check Grant's advances by sending General Jubal Early to deal with Union General David Hunter, and General Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee to handle Union General Philip Sheridan. These moves forced the Union generals to abandon the valley. Lee seeks information through captured prisoners and newspaper reports about union troop strength and…

GLC01026

December 15, 1810

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Howell

Jefferson attacks the Federalists as favoring hereditary rule. Free franked. He mentions that public news draws him from reading Tacitus and Horace, which he calls "more agreeable reading." He also mentions Gov. Fenner of Rhode Island. Jefferson praises Fenner, who controlled state politics for many years. Jefferson writes that he wants to avoid writing things that will be quoted. Apparently Howell asked Jefferson's opinion of his successors. Letter also mentions Republican principles, Federalists, and Jefferson's reading. Letter written in Monticello.

GLC01027

July 2, 1862

Stuart, James Ewell Brown, 1833-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fitzhugh Lee

As brigadier general, from the headquarters of the Army of Observation. Tells Col. Fitzhugh Lee to hold his position until his column passes him en route to join Robert E. Lee on the south side of the Chickahominy River. Letter written in pencil.

GLC01029

August 3, 1857

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Capt. Nathan G. Evans

A humorous letter to his friend from West Point. Also concerns fighting Indians and paying for a gun. Lee remained in Texas by order of General Twiggs. The letter also mentions A.S. Sydney going to Utah to fight Mormons, army news, debt settlement, and a keg of water.

GLC01031

3 October 1778

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Broadside

Title: Manifesto and proclamation to the members of the Congress

Double-column format. Issued by the British Peace Commissioners Lord Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton and William Eden after the failure of their peace initiative. Offered a general amnesty and pardon with internal self-government and the repeal of Parliamentary taxation. Bibliographic reference: Evans 15832.

GLC01032

1790

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Pamphlet

Title: General post-office, New-York [postmaster's first report]

First report of the Post Office, by Postmaster general Samuel Osgood. Evans 22978. Folio.

GLC01033

1784

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: Notes on the establishment of a money unit....

Printed by Pierres in Paris. Copies of this work were bound into the private edition of Notes on the State of Virginia (GLC 5096). A rare work by Jefferson, one with important consequences for the United States. Jefferson Papers 8: 295 and 7: 150-203. Sowerby, Jefferson's Library 3755; Malone, Jefferson The Virginian, pp.416-18; C. Doris Heilman, "Jefferson's Efforts towards the Decimalization of United States Weights and Measures," in ISIS, 16 (Nov.1931): 266-314; Verner, "Mr. Jefferson Distributes his Notes," New York. 1952.

GLC01034

[1791]

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the Attorney-General. Read in the House of Representatives,

A2-H2 I2(-I2) ($1 signed). Submitted by Edmund Randolph as Attorney General on the U.S. judicial system and revising the Judiciary Act of 1789. Randolph was helped in drafting this report by Justice James Wilson. Sabin 67816. Evans 23909

GLC01035

[1790]

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Pamphlet

Title: The Secretary of the Treasury [...], relatively to [...] a Mint

A-E2 F2(-F2) ($1 signed). Regarding establishment of a Mint. Submitted by Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury as an appendix to his report on the Public Credit. Evans 23920.

GLC01036