16 December 1856

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Silas Ketchum

Senator Sumner informs Ketchum, "Of course, I cannot identify the child to which you refer. There was a little girl quite white, a slave in Washington, whose freedom was purchased through my agency, & afterwards sent to Boston, where I presume she now is. She was sometimes called Ida May, & was about 10 years of age." In a post script, writes, "Of course, the proslavery democratic papers deny everything that tells against Slavery. They deny the wrongs of Kansas!"

GLC03980

17 July 1860

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Jacob Smith for mail tampering].

Pardon is countersigned by Acting Secretary of State William Henry Trescot. After serving his sentence, Jacob Smith continued to be imprisoned in Philadelphia for nonpayment of his $500 fine. He was pardoned by Buchanan after this was petitioned by citizens of Dauphin County (where the offenses took place) and by Pennsylvania Senator William Bigler.

GLC03984

28 May 1782

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Lee

Reports on intelligence received from the arrival of USS Alliance and a French cutter ship, commenting on British attempts to weaken the American-French alliance. Discusses the diplomatic efforts of John Adams, Francis Dana, Robert Livingston, and John Jay in Europe. Mentions the capitulation of Yorktown and the good acquired. Comments on conflicting reports of activities in the West Indies. Ventures the opinion that "every triumph of enemy on the ocean is rather a new argument to all of Europe in favor of our independence." Closes with comments about the need for greater representation…

GLC03930

24 July 1790

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the change of capital city from New York to Philadelphia and having to move his family into a house that is unacceptable, but has no other choice. Asks the recipient how the changes will affect his intentions regarding Jack and lists the reasons why Pennsylvania will help Jack's career. Hopes that the capital will one day be upon the banks of the Potomac. No explanation as to who Jack is.

GLC03932

18 February 1969

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1926-2022

Document signed

Title: Pardon for Brian L. Butcher convicted of uninsured use of motor vehicle

GLC03934

1 January 1808

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.D. Petit de Villers

Written by Butler in retirement. Reference de Villers letter of 29 December 1807. Expresses sympathy for the illness of Mrs. de Villers. Wishes them to live for many years more, but says they probably need a better climate than the one found in Savannah. Wants de Villers to dispose of the rice for the most it will bring and to transmit the net proceeds to his daughter Frances. Wants him to lose no time doing this. Hopes to see him and Judge Jones at Hampton. Postscript asks if he has heard from Mr. Seagrove?

GLC03936

August 1777

Hopkinson, Francis, 1737-1791

Autograph document signed

Title: to John Hancock and Robert Morris

Possibly written at Philadelphia. Hopkinson, John Nixon, and John Wharton submit a Continental Navy Board report to Congress. The Board designates a sum paid to "officers and Men on Board every Fire Ship in the River Delaware & Co the officers and Crew of any Chain of Fire Rafts which shall actually set on Fire & destroy any one of the Enemy's Ships of War ... " States that $2000 shall be divided in the following manner: $500 to the captain, $300 to the lieutenant, and the remainder equally divided among the crew.

GLC03939

18 November 1775

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Assessment of value of the Prosper, a British ship]

Laurens, Roger Smith, and Edward Blake obey orders of the South Carolina Provincial Congress in assessing the value the Prosper, which had been seized for service by the colonies. The men state that the ship is worth 2,000 pounds and recommend that government pay the sum and procure a ship register from Captain Smith, former commander of the Prosper.

GLC03942

May 4, 1757

Livingston, Philip, 1716-1778

Document signed

Title: [Witnessing 200 pound bond for manumission of slave]

Legal document for the posting of a bond for the manumission of the slave Ann. Signed as witnesses by the Aldermen and Justices of the Peace for the City and County of New York: John Cruger, Simon Johnson, Francis Gilpin, Philip Livingston (the Declaration of Independence signer), Leonard Lispenard, and William Coventry. Ann was previously owned by Eve Scurlock, a tavern keeper, who had recently died. Her will freed Ann. John Vanduersen, a cordswain, and Peter Burger, a cooper, paid the bond necessary to manumit her. Posting a bond was a condition of freedom for slaves after the revolt in…

GLC03943

7 September 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Davis Townsend

Major General Meade requests information regarding "the organization of the Division of Colored troops formerly belonging to the 28th Corps" from Townsend, the Assistant Adjutant General. Inquires regarding the status of the command of Brigadier General Payne (possibly Charles Jackson Paine). Instructs Townsend to send his reply to Major General [Thomas Howard] Ruger. Written in ink with several pencil notations.

GLC03946

1865

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: Jeff's Last Shift

Cartoon depicting the capture of Jefferson Davis. Depicts his rumored attempt to escape in women's clothing. Davis had actually thrown his wife's overcoat over his shoulders prior to making an unsuccessful dash to elude the soldiers pursing him. Printed by Currier & Ives in the "Clerks Office of the District Court of the Unite States for the Southern District of NY." Originally folded down the center.

GLC03949

1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Photograph

Title: Tintype photograph taken by Cole in 1858, in later case; campaign image

Tintype, apparently based on Ostendorf 14 (the tintype reverses the image). Hamilton & Ostendorf, Lincoln in Photographs, p. 28 suggests that Roderick M. Cole of Peoria made the image about 1858. (See GLC 590.)

GLC03950

1863

Pamphlet

Title: The United States Conscription Act of 1863

Published by J. J. Dyer & Co. Printed by S. O. Thayer. Sold for five cents. Advertisements on inside front and both sides of the back cover. Gives full text of the Conscription Act, which was also known as the National Militia Bill, which was passed 2 March 1863. Divided into 38 sections. Has 2 page index. The Union draft law caused angst since exemption and commutation clauses allowed propertied men to avoid service, thus laying the burden on immigrants and men with few resources. Occupational, only-son, and medical exemptions created many loopholes in the laws. Original stab stich…

GLC03951

29 August 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of William Samson for counterfeiting currency]

Signed by Paine as an attorney and also signed by John Bathes, Caleb Swan, and a Mr. Greenleaf as witnesses, and by Samuel Welles as foreman. Gives the details of the counterfeiting case against Samson. Paine is listed as an attorney.

GLC03952

1861-1865, ca. 1900

Sarsons, Eleazer L., 1836-?

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Eleazer L. Sarsons, C company, 4th regiment, New Hampshire, infantry] [decimalized]

Contains account of his capture and release from Andersonville; his exchange; Lee's surrender. Includes description and drawing of Fort Marion.

GLC03953

1862-1865

Kennedy, Ronald A., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Diaries of Ronald A. Kennedy of the Vermont Infantry]

Three volumes of diaries belonging to Ronald A. Kennedy dated 1862-1865 related to battles, and finances of I Company of the 3rd Vermont Infantry during the Civil War.

GLC03954

1864-1865

Phoenix, John W., fl. 1864-1865

Header Record

Title: [Diaries of John W. Phoenix, A company, 28th regiment, Wisconsin, infantry]

Diaries are decimalized.

GLC03956

1861-1865

Scurry, John G., fl. 1861-1871

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John G. Scurry, A company, 11th regiment, Virginia, infantry][Decimalized .01-.81]

Collection of letters belonging to John G. Scurry dated 1861-1865. Consists of 81 letters sent to various recipients, two of which are incomplete. The letters describe the battles of Chickahominy, McClellan's claim of victory in the Penninsula campaign, being wounded and captured at Gettysburg, service in North Carolina in 1864, and prospects for McClellan's election as president in 1864. Also includes 14 letters by other soldiers.

GLC03957

1862-1864

Cook, Henry, fl. 1862-1864

Header Record

Title: [Diaries of Henry Cook, K company, 9th regiment, New Jersey, infantry]

Henry Cook discusses his infantry and Signal Corps service at Roanoke Island, NC and New Bern, NC.

GLC03958

8 December 1879

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Letter signed

Title: to Franklin Hanford

Comments briefly on a lecture Hanford gave. Discusses an account of a torpedo experiment he published in the Army and Navy Journal. Expresses his reluctance to have foreigners transmit information overseas. Mentions that he left out information about how the torpedo entered the water in deference to Commodore Jeffers of the Navy Department and Ordnance Office. Since the results were unfavorable, they may try more experiments and would like to keep the information quiet for now. Adds an autograph postscript at the bottom of page three where he discusses sketches and a record of the…

GLC03959.01

25 August 1879

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Letter

Title: to Franklin Hanford

Clerical copy. Reports that he has recommended the Bureau to remove the Ordnance Scow from Sandy Hook because it cannot sustain heavy weather. Discusses the torpedo trials and states they have accomplished what was intended, "ascertaining if the explosive energy of powder gases can be substituted for compressed air in expelling submerged torpedoes. The result is more than successful, it is brilliant!" Explains the scientific and mechanical workings that have produced this result. Addressed to Hanford, Lieutenant Commander, Inspector of Ordnance, Navy Yard, New York.

GLC03959.03

13 August 1863

Thompson, Meriwether Jeff, 1826-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Ruggles

Discusses recruitment and organization of the militia, transport of supplies, and communication with New Orleans,

GLC03960

30 April 1864

Murdock, A.C., fl. 1864

Document signed

Title: [North Carolina arrest warrant for slave stealing food]

Partially printed. Murdock signs as Justice of the Peace for an unspecified county in North Carolina on an order for the arrest of Herbert Jackson, a slave. On the oath of Betsy Lott, it is declared that Jackson, a slave owned by [Ty Whited or Whitehead], obtained bacon from another slave. Apparently, "stole a bit of curd bacon" was previously struck and replaced with "bought and received one piece of bacon from Nelson, a slave in the service of Julia Minor." Other details of the purchase are also struck. On verso, Murdock signs several statements. In one statement, Murdock appears to…

GLC03961

7 January 1849

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. L. A. Arnold

"Stonewall" Jackson writes to his sister about his health, a foot injury, and a desire to return to the mountains. Mentions as Uncle Cummins in California. Would like to spend the summer with her. Addressed to Arnold in Beverly, Randolph County, Virginia.Written at Fort Hamilton

GLC03963

5 September 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Printed document signed

Title: to Captain Lever

Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, signs a circular outlining an Act of Congress passed 22 March 1794, "to prohibit the carrying on the Slave Trade from the United States to any foreign place or country..." The Act orders that no United States citizen or resident shall fit or prepare a ship for the purpose of engaging in the slave trade. In the same vein, no citizen is allowed to use a ship to procure inhabitants of a foreign country for sale in the slave trade abroad. Instructs Lever to inform the Department of the Navy of all vessels engaged in the slave trade.

GLC03964