1861-1865

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Gustave Cook, H company, 8th regiment, Texas, cavalry] [decimalized]

#3 mentions intention to attend the Jeff Davis inaugural. #8 mentions Union POW's from 1st Manassas arriving in New Orleans. #9 has good description of camp life. #10 has account of battle of Woodsonville, KY 12/17/1861 and death of Col. Terry. #18 Describes the evacuation of Nashville and retreat. #50 Is written left handed because of a wound. #54 refers to East Tenn. campaign as fearful one to the poor old Rangers. #55 warns his wife to be careful because all letters are exposed to capture. #58 16 pages long describing the imminent fall of Atlanta and expected fall of Richmond;…

GLC02570

1842/03/06

Hockley, George W., 1802-1851

Letter signed

Title: to Edward Burleson re: Vasquez expedition's approach

Written as Secretary of War and Navy of the Texas Republic one day after Vasquez occupied San Antonio. Burleson was Vice President of Texas. Vasquez led an unauthorized force in seizing San Antonio and proclaiming Mexican law. The Republic of Texas was too weak to repulse his expedition.

GLC02572

1836/03/30

Hall, Warren D., fl. 1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas J. Rusk re: Houston's retreat in the "runaway scrape"

Written as Colonel in the Texas Army. Written 3 weeks before Houston's victory at San Jancinto

GLC02573

1836/02/07

Holland, Benjamin G., fl. 1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister re: fighting for Texas with the "Louisiana Grays"

Written as an officer in the Texas Army in the Louisiana Grays. Mentions his new land ownership and his affection for a young woman.

GLC02574

1842/04/29

Gillespie, B., fl. 1842

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Burleson re: Vasquez expedition and archives war

GLC02575

1834/07/01

Williams, Samuel May, fl. 1834-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward C. Hanrick

Hanrick was an Alabama speculator in Texas lands. Williams held the lands in trust until colonists from Alabama were to arrive. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02576

1836/02/02

Smith, Henry W., 1836-1869

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Thomas R. Lucks re: demanding certain documents

Written as governor. Order written during the "Archives War." Smith is known as the first American Gov. of Texas.

GLC02577

February 19, 1841

Spier, R.P., fl. 1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph F. Spier re: hard times in city of Houston

A long and excellent description of Texas in 1841. Spier concludes by saying he planned to return home to the US. Written at Galveston

GLC02578

1841/06/16

Galpin, A. A., ?-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John D. Moore

Describes preparations and provisions for the Santa Fe Expedition. In case of his death or long absence, wants Moore to "protect the negros from sale," and keep them for himself.

GLC02579

1837/06/10

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Judge W. Hardin & Capt. William M. Logan re: mobilizing militia

Letter signed as President of Texas, countersigned by acting Secretary of War Jacob Snively.

GLC02580

1838

Texas Republic

Manuscript document signed

Title: Republic of Texas, Austin county election results

Listing returns from Austin County for the election of President, Vice President, Senator and Representatives for the Repubic.

GLC02581

1845

Texas Republic

Manuscript document signed

Title: Republic of Texas, Austin county election results re: annexation & constitution

Republic of Texas, Austin County election results on the question of annexation, sent to Edwin Waller as Chief Justice of the county.

GLC02582

January 18, 1760

Pownall, Thomas, 1722-1805

Document signed

Title: [French and Indian War privateer's commission of Captain Samuel Partridge]

Countersigned by Thomas Clarke, Deputy Secretary. Pownall, Governor of Massachusetts Bay, authorizes Captain Samuel Partridge to "set forth in warlike manner the said Ship Race Horse under his own Command and ... seize & take the Ships, Vessels, and Goods belonging to the French King or his Vassals & Subjects ... " Features paper seal.

GLC02587

29 December 1862

Meister, C., fl. 1862

Map signed

Title: [Manuscript Civil War map of Murfreesboro, Tennessee]

Shows Murfreesboro and the areas north and west of it, along with names of property owners. Drawn shortly before the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro), providing evidence that General Braxton Bragg originally planned to attack the Union forces from the left (the area north of Murfreesboro), but changed his mind on 30 December and attacked from the right the following day. Meister was assistant engineer and draftsman serving under Bragg. Accompanied by blank paper leaf.

GLC02588

8 December 1875

Kemper, James Lawson, 1823-1895

Letter signed

Title: to Hugh McCulloch

Kemper, Governor of Virginia, discusses Virginia's repayment of post-Civil War debt with McCulloch, former Secretary of the Treasury and a member of the London banking firm Jay Cooke, McCulloch & Co. Offended that McCulloch did not respond to his previous correspondence, states " ... it must satisfy you that Virginia is honest and will in due time, that is as soon as she is able, perform all her promises ... No man or set of men can be so capable of knowing how much taxation the people of Virginia can stand, or how much of our revenues are necessary to preserve society and support our…

GLC02589

21 August 1865

Clay, Clement Claiborne, 1816-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Virginia Clay-Clopton

Clay, a former U.S. and Confederate Senator, writes to his wife while imprisoned at Fort Monroe. Informs her that, "The hardest part of my trial here has been my solicitude about you, my parents and other kindred, who, I feared, would be tortured by newspaper accounts of my condition, or bold assertations of my guilt, or possibly, reports of evidence establishing it." States that he is relieved to hear that she gives little faith to newspaper accounts. Comments on his health, which is fair. He has not had to use any of the medicinal remedies that frighten his wife, such as "prussic acid,…

GLC02590

1836/11/18

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: Authorization of Charles Harrison to borrow $50,000 on faith of Texas (c/s Rusk)

Countersigned by Thomas J. Rusk, as Secretary of State.

GLC02591

1787/09

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Magazine

Title: The American Museum. [Vol. II, no. 3 (September 1787)]

Contains the first magazine printing of the United States Constitution on p. 276-284. Also contains an essay by Benjamin Franklin on "Information for those who would wish to remove to America. Also features political sketches, an address to "friends of American Manufacturers," reflections encouraging commerce, articles on agriculture, political culture, and various prose and poetry. Provenance from the library of Henry Knox, although without ownership marks.

GLC02593.01

February 11, 1876

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamilton A. Hill

Urges that "the present is as favorable a time as we can expect for the agitation of the free trade question." Explains the importance of free trade and elimination of a protective tariff. Declares that "During the war the country went back to a state of ignorance and prejudice on the question of free exchange," and that a new generation "who know nothing of the subject [...] easily adopted the plausibilities of the protectionists." Argues that "the currency question" is "no doubt extremely important," but "who knows when it will be settled? By waiting for it, we may produce the…

GLC02595

November 1862-1865

Bettes, William H., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William H. Bettes, L company, 6th regiment, Ohio, cavalry] [decimalized]

This collection consists of fourteen letters written by William Henry Bettes. Eleven of these letters are written to Lodema Bettes, his wife, one letter is written to Charley Bettes, his son, one letter is written to Carrie Bettes, his daughter, and one letter is written to Lieutenant W. H. Betty. William H. Bettes enlisted on 5 October 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was commissioned into Company L 6th Regiment Ohio Cavalry on the same date. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 16 December 1861 and was discharged for disability on 23 March 1863. Selected highlights include: Bette's…

GLC02596

12 April 1861

Whiting, William H., 1824-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Memorandum of instructions for the troops tonight

Orders detailing preparations for a possible Union attack on Morris Island. Written at night on the same day the assault on Fort Sumter had begun. Part of the Confederate force for the assault on Fort Sumter was located on Morris Island.

GLC02600

13 April 1861

Whiting, William H., 1824-1865

Manuscript document

Title: to David R. Jones

Retained draft in secretarial hand for Whitings own files of a letter detailing the surrender of Fort Sumter. Describing attack on fort, says soon "Anderson's position will be untenable." Worries about a naval attack by Union forces, "more than probable that an attack will be made at night. States that at one p.m. "flagg staf shot away." At two p.m. reports the fort has "surrendered unconditionally to Brig. Gen. Beauregard," and again expresses worry about nearby Union ships. Though the Confederates at first believed that the surrender was unconditional, this was not the understanding of…

GLC02601

April 11, 1861

Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Manigault

Requesting artillery supplies in case while taking Fort Sumter "a desperate battle" ensues. Written the day before the fort is attacked. Written as Colonel of the First Regiment Rifles of South Carolina on the day before Fort Sumter surrendered.

GLC02602

14 November 1863

Longstreet, James, 1821-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Wheeler

Confederate General Longstreet informs General Wheeler "Your dispatch for Col Sorrel is received- I desire you to cross Little River in pursuit if you have a decided success at Marysville, or if you see the probabilities of ours by crossing. If the enemy is retreating pursue of course with the greatest vigor. If it is evident to your mind that you can assist us as much where you are as you could here, pursue, or push them- unless you can produce some consternation amongst them however it would be better to be with us." Written in pencil.

GLC02603

21 September 1864

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Printed document signed

Title: [Warrant to the Confederate Treasury Secretary to pay $4,850 in gold for "foreign intercourse"]

Partly printed document filled in by hand and signed by Benjamin as Confederate Secretary of State. Apparently intended for Confederate Agents in Europe.

GLC02604