20 April 1779

Massachusetts Bay Council

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Orders for the Sheriff of Dukes County to hold elections for representatives to Massachusetts General Court]

Signed by John Avery as deputy secretary. Also signed by members of the Massachusetts Bay Council: Jeremiah Powell, Artemas Ward, B. Greenleaf, Thomas Cushing, Moses Gill Benjamin Austin, Daniel Davis Timothy Danielson, Oliver Prescott, A. Fuller, Samuel Baker, Eleazer Brooks, John Pitts, O. Wendell. Provides some instructions for the election. Paper seal intact.

GLC04547

30 April 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Secretary of War Knox writes from the War Department instructing Hodgdon, superintendent of military stores, to transport mortars, shells, and fuzes to Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

GLC04552

1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Pamphlet

Title: A Plan for the General Arrangement of the Militia [1st ed of 1786 report]

In original gray paper wrappers. Very rare first edition printed for the members of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Evans 20076, Sabin 38161.

GLC04554

14 February 1844

Gilmore, Hiram Sandford, 1819-1849

Printed letter signed

Title: [Subscription letter for legal defense of John "Vansandt" (Van Zandt), who helped a fugitive slave]

Printed letter with blank subscription page summing up the case of Jones v. "Vansandt" (Van Zandt) and seeking contributions towards Van Zandt's defense. Van Zandt, a Cincinnati farmer, had transported an escaped Kentucky slave in his wagon, and was being held accountable in a Kentucky court for $1,700 for his actions. Trying to raise money for him to take his case to the Supreme Court and fight the "atrocious act of 1793" under which he was convicted. The act "renders any man liable to a fine of $500 for feeding, sheltering, or aiding a wayfarer." Says the suit is "one of the most…

GLC04555

11 January 1867

Barlow, Francis Channing, 1834-1896

Printed document signed

Title: [Certifying copy of New York resolution ratifying Fourteenth amendment]

A true copy certifying that New York State has ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, a copy of which is on the second page.

GLC04556

1861-1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Header Record

Title: [Collection of George W. Tillotson, H company, 89th regiment, New York, infantry] [Decimalized .01-.208]

Sergeant Tillotson served with the 89th NYS Vols (Dickinson Guards). He came from Greene, NY and left behind a wife and three children. His correspondence, mostly with his wife A. Elizabeth ("Libby") describe camp life, complains about the war, abolitionists, emancipation and his wish to return home. The inventory itemizes each document. Tillotson saw service on the Carolina coast and in the Penninsula campaign. He later saw service at Petersburg. The collection is particularly interesting because Tillotson started out an Unionist soon disillusioned by the war, and was won back to…

GLC04558

12 April 1866

Tillotson, Mary, fl. 1866

Autograph letter

Title: To her sister

Regarding spring planting, current prices and events. Mentions sending representatives to the "Woman's Rights Convention in N.Y. May 10th (possibly the First Women's National Loyal League Convention); opening correspondence with Mrs. Stanton, Lucy Stone; and women's suffrage.

GLC04558.173

circa 1870

unknown, fl. 1870

Photograph

Title: Battles and battleflags of the 89th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols.

One undated albumen print entitled, "Battles and Battleflags of the 89th Regiment, N.Y.S. Vols." Image is a collage composed of two separate images of printed lists of Civil War battles where the New York's 89th Regiment was present, the United States flag and the regiment's own flag. In the images of the flags, the United States flag is tattered at its ends and the regiment's flag has a large hole completely torn into the center, where the United States arms and motto formerly appeared.Battles include: Drury's Bluff, Suffolk, Swift Creek, Camden, Chapin's Farm, Kingsland Creek, Petersburgh…

GLC04558.208

1862-1865

Hackett, William C., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William C. Hackett, B company, 111th regiment, Ohio, infantry][Decimalized .01-.53]

Collection of letters belonging to William C. Hackett. Consists of 53 items dated approximately 1862-1865. Primarily corresponding with his wife Rebecca E. Hackett and their daughter Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen's death becomes a focus towards the end of the collection. Mentions fighting with William Tecumseh Sherman. Also includes description of fighting at Cedar Bluff, Alabama; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Kingston, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee.

GLC04559

June-November 1863

Gifford, Haviland, fl. 1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Haviland Gifford, field and staff, 93rd regiment, New York, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .12]

Haviland Gifford served as a Lieutenant in charge of guarding Union General George Gordon Meade and his staff. Provides information he learned about strategy from being in close proximity to high command. Highlights include letter #1, written on 20 June 1863, about opposing strategies of different generals; #3, of 28 July 1863, an eight-page letter concerning the draft and movements of the Army, with mentions of Generals Lee, Grant and Banks; and #4, written 10 September 1863 and containing a long analysis of how to take Richmond. In that letter he also discusses Fort Wagner's hold-out, as…

GLC04560

1 January 1865-13 Mayt 1865

Whipple, Milton, fl. 1865

Diary

Title: Diary of Milton Whipple

Early entries are brief and mostly record staff changes, troop movements, drills, and the weather but the entries lengthen as Whipple details the Appomattox campaign and the last few weeks leading up to General Robert E. Lee's surrender. On 24 January he writes that his regiment prepared for attack because the Confederate troops were near. States that he heard Fort Brady on the James River in Virginia was destroyed or captured by the Confederates. He reports word of the fall of Charleston, Columbia, Branchville, and Wilmington on 20 and 24 February. On 26 March he notes marching to meet…

GLC04561

1861-1864

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Header Record

Title: Diaries of Samuel G. Gottshall [decimalized]

Mentions battles of Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. First diary is loose.

GLC04564

1861

Object

Title: Cannon shell

Piece of a cannonball shell.

GLC04564.02

circa 1920-1940

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. D. Cooper

Discusses his concern that an increase in milk prices will harm the health of poor in New York. Furthermore, he contends that the decrease in consumption will hurt the dairy industry. Desires the support of Cooper's committee.

GLC04568

1918/05/09

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed document signed

Title: [Acknowledging America's debt to Italy for help in World War I]

On the third anniversary of Italy's entrance into World War I, Hoover, who was then the U.S. Food Administrator under President Wilson, acknowledges "our indebtedness to the country to which we are bound, not only by ties historical, but also by the common ideals which now unite us."

GLC04569

12 August 1863

Soule, Pierre, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin DeLeon

Marked confidential at the top. Soule writes to DeLeon, Confederate Envoy to France 1862-1864. Relates, "I came to the confederacy by the way of Nassau & Charleston. Before leaving Nassau, we had the news of a great battle fought at Gettysburg, of a glorious victory won, and of fourty thousand prisoners taken from the enemy. Upon our landing at Charleston, we learned that the affair at Gettysburg had been a last reserve to our arms, and that Vicksburg & Port-hudson had fallen. The effect which these disasters had produced upon the country were visible in the dejected countenances…

GLC04570

1863-1878

Maury, William Lewis, 1813-1878

Header Record

Title: Maury papers including CSS Georgia list of prizes [Decimalized .01-.47]

The C.S.S. Georgia was supposedly the only Confederate cruiser which itself was captured as a prize. (In fact, it was captured in 1864 from a British merchant and claimed as a prize.) Collection includes 6 Maury documents signed regarding the CSS Georgia, 16 autograph letters signed to his wife, 4 letters from French naval officers to Maury and post-war materials such as a printed bill to "remove political disabilities imposed by the fourteenth amendment" on Maury. William Lewis Maury, who had commanded the U.S.S. Saratoga during Perry's expedition to Japan, joined the Confederacy at the…

GLC04572

1863-1893

Flinn, John William, fl. 1863-1893

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John William Flinn, 17th Mississippi] [Decimalized .01-.15]

Covers Flinn's capture at Gettysburg and life as a prisoner of war, as well as the Battle of Chickamauga. Flinn joined the 17th Mississippi as a 14-year old and served in Virginia and Tennessee. He later earned a Doctor of Divinity degree and taught at the University of South Carolina. The collection includes an ambrotype (.01), apparently from 1862, showing Flinn as a 14-year old recruit. A card originally inserted with string into the case reads: "No. 105 Dageuerreotype [sic] of Dr. J. W. Flinn. Member of Co. G. 17th Miss. Regt. Barksdale's Humphrey's) Brigade. McLaw's (Kershaw's)…

GLC04573

1859, 1864

Flinn, John William, fl. 1863-1893

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Bible given to Flinn at Point Lookout, Maryland]

A fellow inmate at Point Lookout gave this Bible to Flinn. Contains two inscriptions recording the gift: "C. R. Myers to J. W. Flinn Prison Camp 1864" and "From C. R. Myers to J. W. Flinn Prison Camp Point Lookout Maryland 1864."

GLC04573.15

1840

Barber, John Warner, 1798-1885

Pamphlet

Title: A history of the Amistad captives: being a circumstantial account of the capture of the Spanish schooner Amistad, by the Africans on board...

(title continues)... their voyage, and capture near Long Island, New York; with biographical sketches of each of the surviving Africans; also, an account of the trials had on their case, before the district and circuit courts of the United States, for the district of Connecticut. Published by E. L. & J. W. Barber. Compiled by Barber, member of the Connecticut Historical Society. Contains a fold-out wood cut depicting the death of Captain Ramon Ferrer on board the Amistad (refer to GLC04295 for the individual wood-cut). This book was reprinted in 1969 by Arno Press and is also…

GLC04574

1846

J.H., Colton, & Co. (publishers), fl. 1856

Map signed

Title: Map of the United States, Mexico, and the West Indies, with parts adjoining

This document is a map of the United States, Mexico, and Caribbean territories belonging to George Cadwalader. Includes original holding case with "Cadwalader" inscription, which resembles a small book with a white binding ribbon. Map folds to 11.2 x 7.1 cm. Currently mounted, dimensions including mounting are 45.3 x 60.7 cm.

GLC04577

December 21, 1848-3 January 1849

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph document signed

Title: [Copy of bank correspondence as Comptroller]

Retained copy of bank correspondence written to various correspondents from the Comptroller's office.

GLC04579

27 December 1863

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Manuscript document signed

Title: [General Orders Number 1]

Johnston informs General Wheeler, commanding cavalry division, Army of Tennessee, that he (Johnston) has assumed command of the Army of Tennessee.

GLC04583

1861 March

Charles D. Fredricks & Co., fl. 1865

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite portrait by C.D. Fredericks & Co. [O-55]

Ostendorf pp. 88-89 dates this somewhat unattractive portrait March-June 1861. This image, published by Fredericks, appears to be a variant of O-55. (See also GLB 477, a retouched variant of this same negative.)

GLC04584

13-14 September 1863

Slagle, Jacob, ?-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Writes in great detail about the battle of Gettysburg 1-3 July 1863, where he served as Union General Abner Doubleday's adjutant. Describes his duties during the fighting, which mainly consisted of delivering messages back and forth between generals and officers. Mentions General Thomas A. Rowley, General James S. Wadsworth, and General John F. Reynolds who was killed in battle, among others. On page eight, he remarks on the condition of the men during the battle, " it was a pitiable sight; the tired, worn out remnants of our five regiments, who had gone so proudly into the field in the…

GLC04585