20 May 1818

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of David Vinton to West Point]

Document signed by Calhoun as Secretary of War in the Monroe Administration. Official document appoints David Hammond Vinton of Providence, Rhode Island, as a cadet at West Point. Asks him to notify the Department of War of his acceptance or non-acceptance. If he accepts he has to report to West Point, New York, in September. Also prints qualifications for admission at the bottom. At the very bottom is a note in pencil that says "Care of Mrs. Mary Vinton." Vinton graduated in 1822 as an artillerist, but transferred to the infantry in 1823 and served most of his career in the quartermaster…

GLC03496

24 October 1864

Dennison, William, 1815-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Galloway

Writes as Postmaster General regarding a visit to President Lincoln to discuss sick and wounded Confederate prisoners of war. States Lincoln said, " ... that he couldn't see the wisdom of our Keeping and maintaining at the Expense of the Govt. prisoners when we dont Expect to Exchange with the Rebels, and while a certain per centage of all we release will be likely to take up arms against us, still he is not satisfied it would not be better to cure those sick than Keep all the prisoners of the class you refer to." Remarks that he was impressed with Lincoln's views and feels he is in…

GLC03500

14 February 1864

Francis, Joseph, 1801-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepont

Discusses the delay in the army for the order of his pontoon bridge. Mentions General John Adams Dix. Informs that Colonel Edward Serrell needs to go to Washington to see Francis's bridges but there is a problem getting the orders for Serrell to get there by train. Francis asks Pierrepont to write to Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, and ask him to allow Colonel Serrell to go stating, "It is merely to ask Mr. Stanton to allow Coln Serrell (who is the best & most popular Engineer officer in the Army) to examine my system. He cannot object to this, and I should think he would be glad…

GLC03502

02 February 1887

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Grover Cleveland re: passage of a railroad grant bill

Written as Senator from Louisiana.

GLC03505

1860 ca.

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph signed

Title: [Carte de visite by of Ira Harris]

Signed Ira Harris, New York on mount.

GLC03506

24 December 1799

North, William, 1755-1836

Broadside signed

Title: [President John Adams' annoucement to the army regarding the death of George Washington]

Issued by North, Adjutant General, from the Adjutant General's Office in New York on 24 December 1799. Cites a previous issue 21 December 1799 in Philadelphia. Declares "The impressing terms in which this great national calamity is announced by the President, could receive no new force from any thing that might be added: the voice of praise would in vain endeavor to exalt a character, unrivalled on the lists of true glory: words would in vain attempt to give expression to that profound and reverential grief, which will penetrate every American bosom, and engage the sympathy of an admiring…

GLC03515

1861-1862 circa

Whiting, William H., 1824-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wade Hampton

Forwards information to Hampton that was obtained from a spy of General Holmes'. The spy, "Dr Vauchamps," claims "65000 men are to land immediately below Mathias point that Johnston is not to be attacked till after Fredericksburg is taken." Is not sure the report is accurate and advises Hampton "you had better not push your movement farther on the Occoquan but resume your position to be able to take advantage of circumstances." The letter is undated, but was most likely written at some point shortly before McClellan began his Peninsula campaign, in which case the report would be at least…

GLC03516

24 December 1781

Johnson, J., fl. 1782

Newspaper

Title: The Salisbury and Winchester Journal [Monday, December 24, 1781]

Includes news related to the Battle of Yorktown. Publishes a letter from Lord Cornwallis to Henry Clinton dated 20 October 1781, in which Cornwallis announced his defeat. Prints several items of correspondence between Cornwallis and George Washington (related to the British captiulation at Yorktown) from October 1781. Also includes news from the House of Commons and various announcements and advertisments.

GLC03517

2 May 1789

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. 6 (May 2, 1789)]

Includes a description of George Washington's 30 April 1789 inauguration as the first President of the United States, held in New York City, with a printing of his Inaugural Address (page 3). Contains a column on the political state of America, and a printed Congressional debate on a molasses tax. Includes a letter from Dennis Ramsay, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, bidding President Washington farewell from his Mount Vernon estate, followed by Washington's reply (page 4).

GLC03518

March 1860

Medill, William, 1802-1865

Letterbook

Title: Letterpress copybook: [from the Treasury Department]

First Comptroller of the Treasury William Medill's letterbook for the month of March 1860. Letters are copied on tissue paper, the originals in various clerical hands, and those signed originally by Medill. Each has been signed by Medill, with the exception of one letter signed by Chief Clerk William Hemphill Jones. An alphabetical index of addressees is bound in to the front of the book. Addressees include: the secretaries of the U.S. Treasury and Interior; various senators and congressmen; U.S. ambassadors and consuls; U.S. marshals and district attorneys; and clerks in various federal…

GLC03519.01

1 June 1865-31 July 1865

Letterbook

Title: [Telegram book from the Treasury Department]

Contains a title page with the initials H. B. written in the bottom left corner. Includes some correspondence handwritten on tissue paper. This correspondence lists the date, name of the recipient(s), body of the message, and name of the sender(s). Other messages are handwritten on stationery of the American Telegraph Company, and are attached to thicker paper, bound within this volume. Company stationery contains the company address, terms and conditions of transmitting messages via telegraph, and the names of Cambridge Livingston as company Secretary, and Edward S. Sanford as company…

GLC03519.02

1 November 1865 - 31 December 1865

Letterbook

Title: [Telegram book from the Treasury Department]

Includes some correspondence handwritten on tissue paper. This correspondence lists the date, name of the recipient(s), body of the message, and name of the sender(s). Other messages are handwritten on stationery of the American Telegraph Company, and are attached to thicker paper, bound within this volume. Company stationery contains the company address, terms and conditions of transmitting messages via telegraph, and the names of Cambridge Livingston as company Secretary, and Edward S. Sanford as company President. On the stationery, handwritten telegraphs follow the printed portion,…

GLC03519.03

1862 -1895

Goold, Theodore, 1844-?

Header Record

Title: Collection of brothers James and Theodore Goold [Decimalized .01-.23] Collection of letters to Albert Gillett [Decimalized .24- .31]

Theodore Goold enlisted in the army on 21 June 1861 in Rochester, New York, as a private. James Goold enlisted in the army on 29 August 1862 in Macedon, New York, as a private. They were both mustered into the "F" Co. New York 25th Infantry in August 1862 and transferred into "I" Co. New York 44th Infantry on 19 June 1863. Most of the correspondence is written to their parents and brother Johnny. The majority of the content describes daily activities and duties in their regiment, and their living conditions at camp. Theodore writes some letters from Emory Hospital in Washington D.C., where…

GLC03523.05

1861-1865

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Header Record

Title: Collection of Josiah E. Henry [decimalized]

Consists primarily of a collection of letters by Josiah E. Henry, a soldier in I company of the 5th Vermont Volunteer infantry. Included are letters from his brother George, a soldier in the Vermont 5th Infantry, and several from their cousin William Henry who was not a soldier. The correspondence mentions McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, Joseph Hooker in command, Chancellorsville (briefly), the Petersburg campaign, and the great Washington review at the end of the war.

GLC03523.07

1861-1864

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Robert S. Terry] [Decimalized .01-.98]

Collection contains 97 letters, plus an additional manuscript document. Terry served in the 7th Pennsylvania Reserves. His letters include descriptions of camp life, sickness, heat stroke, uniforms, guard duty around Washington, first Manassas (Bull Run), the Penninsula campaign, Gettysburg, and Kilpatrick's raid. Terry saw little battle service but provided much commentary on contemporary events, including the visit of the Russian fleet (12 November 1863), which was largely responsible for cordial relations and the purchase of Alaska in 1867. Mentions many Generals, including Nathaniel…

GLC03523.08

22 April 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William Grier Maitland]

Reports on the condition of his regiment, camped near Young's Point. Relates that they will travel to Vicksburg, Mississippi 23 April 1863. States that on 21 April, his division attended a parade to welcome General [Lorenzo] Thomas, "here for the purpose of organizing a couple of negro Regts. for the service. the officers to be selected from Each Regt of our Division." States that his fellow soldier Dan Coleman attempted to gain captaincy of an African American company and failed. Referring to the selection of captains for African American soldiers, states "for my part if I could not…

GLC03523.10.063

1862-1863

Logan, William, fl. 1862-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of Captain William Logan, "C" Co. PA 84th Infantry [Decimalized .01-.06]

A small collection of letters written by Captain William Logan to his wife, Sarah Logan (whom he often refers to as Sallie). They provide a detailed account of his brigade's journey, which is commanded by Generals Amiel Whipple and Samuel Carroll. There are letters written from Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The last letter is written from The Georgetown Seminary Hospital in Washington, D.C., when Logan fell ill and was unable to move forward with the rest of his brigade. Talks of having a "negro." Three of the letters are written on stationary with letterhead, and two of these…

GLC03523.12

1864

Park, Frank E., 1835-1904

Sketchbook

Title: Camp scenes and sketches of the Andrew Light Infantry

Civil War sketchbook containing thirty-four watercolors and eight black and white pencil sketches. Includes watercolor of Antietam battlefield with skulls and cannon balls. Also depicted are Washington, D.C., Fort Lee, New York, Arlington, Virginia, Fort Smith, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, as well as flowers, soldiers, a flag, among others. With two tintype photographs of Union buglers pasted into the covers. Park came from South Boston and served in the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, initially known as the Andrew Light Infantry, or A.L.I. He enlisted as a private and was discharged as…

GLC03537

24 September 1844

Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849

Letter signed

Title: to R. Opues

Writes to the Adjutant General of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. regarding the physical properties of the Mississippi River and how it has influenced the development and history of America. Discusses using the river for the defense of the southern and western frontier. This document is an appendix to the reports Gaines wrote from 1823 through 1842 on the military aspects of the Mississippi River. Simply bound with string. Impression in upper left corner reads "Owen & Hurlbut, So. Lee, Mass."

GLC03542

23 July 1864

Coverdale, Robert Todd, fl. 1861-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Denver

Coverdale, Lieutenant and Assistant Quartermaster for the Military Division of the Mississippi, replies to a letter from Union General Denver discussing the death of Frank Johns, a mutual acquaintance. Writes "The Army is a great school for finding out the faults and failings of Men much more so then it is in peaceful or private life. But I have never seen or heard of any man who questioned the integrity of ... Frank Johns..." In a lengthy post script, mentions the death of General James Birdseye McPherson in the 22 July 1864 Battle of Atlanta. Describes the Battle of Atlanta, stating "…

GLC03544

1860

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: "Uncle Sam" making new arrangements

Published by Currier & Ives at 152 Nassau Street, New York. Black and white political cartoon related to Abraham Lincoln's 1860 election. Uncle Sam holds a wanted sign which reads, "An honest upright and capable man to take charge of this house for four years. Undoubted testimonials will be required." Portrays Lincoln being hired by Uncle Sam, while John Bell, J.C. Breckinridge, and Stephen Douglas respond to the advertisement but are turned away. James Buchanan is seen inside the establishment packing up his "dirty linen". Lincoln wears plain working clothes and carries an axe, while the…

GLC03488

27 October 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel G. French re: coordinating Va. Govt. and militia with C.S.A. Govt.

GLC03491

18 April 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Bryant

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aid-de-camp. States he is sorry to hear that Captain Bryant's company is weak but says "it is out of my power to add to it, except by ordering such men of the artillery to it, who are unable to do field duty." Approves of Bryant sending samples of "fuzes, rockets and tubes" of Bryant's making. Asks Bryant to inform Colonel David Mason that Knox applied to Colonel Timothy Pickering for an order on the quarter master in Springfield. Bryant was a member of Colonel Mason's corps of Artillery artificers stationed at Springfield. "…

GLC03495

1733

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: Act...paying off..South Sea annuities...for establishing the colony of Georgia

Act of Parliament that pays off one million South Sea annuities, and using money for various purposes, including "Marriage Portion of the Princess Royal," in establishing the colony of Georgia, and paying debt. Act also makes reference to building of new churches within cities of London and Westminster.

GLC03498

April 18, 1859

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio G. Wright

Discussing the poor health of a "promising...young officer." and possibility of "another such terrible epidemic" as had recently hit the men.

GLC03499