October 9, 1793

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Joshua Clayton

Marked "Circular" and possibly sent to each state. Encloses papers (not present) containing the speech of the late governor, John Hancock, and the proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts. Resumes Hancock's argument against the Supreme Court's authority over the states. Seeks the views of the other states hoping that they will agree with the commonwealth of Massachusetts on the matter. Invites Clayton to raise the issue in his own legislature.

GLC00575

August 4, 1863

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Pleasanton

Custer writes to his commanding officer to report that he has complied with his orders to send 800-1000 men. He notes that this will leave him in command of two batteries of Horse Artillery without support. He explains that he would rather see those two batteries go along than leave his train open to Confederate General John S. Mosby's attack. Written in pencil from the Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division.

GLC00614

25 April 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Manuscript document

Title: [General Ruggles' official report on the Battle of Shiloh]

Very detailed report on the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on 6-7 April 1862, addressed to Major George G. Garner. Confederate General Ruggles commanded Ruggles Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Mississippi at the battle. Retained copy.

GLC00617.01

February 7, 1778

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Continental Congressman from Massachusetts, writes from York, where the Continental Congress was convening. Dismisses rumors of a possible plot to undermine Washington's authority, but stresses the need to guard against internal dissension within the army. Writes, "I know not ye Source of the Uneasiness which We are speaking of, but it would not be any Ways surprizing to me to find ye Enemy at ye Bottom of ye Dispute & if they did not originate it, they will certainly promote it unless ye officers of ye Army should wisely prevent it…

GLC00619

March 31, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin L. Baker

Acknowledges receipt of his note delivered by Edwin's brother John. Refuses to let "Joe" [Joseph Baker] transfer to a higher position within the army and resign his present post because of the precedent it might set among the servicemen. "The objection is the setting of examples by which every body in all arms of the service, are set to studying whether they can not squirm round into a position more satisfactory to themselves. A rule, to cut off this, is a necessity." Written on Executive Mansion stationery. The envelope is free franked in Lincoln's hand.

GLC00622

2 October 1855

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: [Commission of David Farragut as a captain in the U.S. Navy]

Partially-printed document on vellum signed by President Franklin Pierce and countersigned by James C. Dobbin as Secretary of the Navy. Note on margin signed by J.B. Hardin: "Registered No. Four - the lowest number of the same date takes rank.". Features two detailed patriotic scenes and a paper seal.

GLC00626

1880

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Book signed

Title: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies

Inscribed: "Lewis E. Harvie Esqe. from his friend Joseph Eggleston Johnston." The book was compiled by Robert N. Scott under the direction of the Secretary of War, with authorship attributed to the United States War Department. Published by the Government Printing Office. Series I, Vol. I.

GLC00628

December 20, 1901

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to F. Marion Crawford

Theodore Roosevelt declines to intervene in pardon application. He writes that he does not ask for pardons unless he is personally familiar with the case and would not want to impose on NY Governor Odell due to awkwardness.

GLC00629

2/5/1864

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Address delivered to the Putnam Phalanx in praise of volunteer militia]

Welcomes the Putnam Phalanx, from Hartford, Connecticut, to Boston. Offers words of praise regarding volunteer militia groups, discussing their historical significance and the involvement of George Washington and John Adams in implementing the militia system. Credits the volunteers for eliminating the need for a gigantic standing army. Commends the "Yeoman soldier, who never looked back but once, after putting his hand to the plough, & that was when he left it in the furrow, at the tidings of Lexington & Concord."

GLC00633.01

3/14/1864

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Copy of a speech delivered to the Putnam Phalanx]

Transmits the manuscript (GLC00633.02) of a speech formerly delivered to the Putnam Phalanx (referred to as the Warren Phalanx) for presentation at a Soldiers' Sanitary Fair scheduled to be held in Cleveland, Ohio. Informs Perley, Chairman of the Autograph Committee of the Soldier's Aid Society of Northern Ohio, that the speech was previously printed in an unspecified newspaper. Referring to the Civil War, declares "But as our dependence, in years past, was upon the Patriotism of the masses, to defend the Country against a foreign invader so in the present crisis, our reliance, under…

GLC00633.02

May 16, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Russell

The letter is regarding raising 14 regiments and reinforcing Ft. Monroe. Marked "Private."

GLC00635

April 18, 1881

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel J. Kirkwood

Garfield writes to Secretary of the Interior Kirkwood to introduce Dr. Mark Hopkins, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, who "has been appointed by a number of the churches to represent their Indian affairs." He asks that Hopkins be interviewed. He indicates that Hopkins also wants to introduce Kirkwood to "General Alden of Troy, N.Y." Written on White House Stationary.

GLC00637

19 October 1861

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Notice of suspension of habeas corpus in Boston to Justin Dimick].

Scott quotes an Abraham Lincoln document suspending the writ of habeas corpus, countersigned by William H. Seward. Scott empowers Brevet Colonel Dimick to do the same in Boston. Also signed by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend.

GLC00638

May 27, 1820

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter is concerning sending Journals of Constitutional Convention. Written at the Department of State.

GLC00639.03

March 3, 1837

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the Inhabitants of the 12th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Discusses the attempts to censure Adams' conduct through the "Gag Rule," the machinations of House Speaker Polk, and attempts to expel Adams.

GLC00639.05

June 26, 1809

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Dougherty

Complains about the mail taking a long time to arrive. Discusses sheep and gives advise on the amount of ewes and rams to purchase. Explains that he would like to assist him in purchasing the sheep but the heavy debt he incurred while president is crippling him. He must now pay it out of the his profits and will have to sell part of his estate. Reports that he has received his quilt from Mr. Carr. Mentions a ram that he will send for the last week of August and says that he will mate him in September, so the lamb will be born in February, as January is usually the severest month.

GLC00639.15

02 October 1801

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: Appointing Robert R. Livingston Minister to France

Countersigned by Madison as Secretary of State. Livingston was appointed to gain secured access to New Orleans, by purchase if necessary. However, Livingston exceeded his instructions by buying the Louisiana Territory.

GLC00639.17

18 February 1802

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: Printed authorization for U.S. Frigate "Congress" to seize ships of Tripoli

Specifically directed against the Bey of Tripoli (controversy with the Barbery states). With blind stamp of the U. S. Navy Dept. but not signed by the Secretary of Navy.

GLC00639.18

March 29, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

The letter discusses false reports of the Siege of Vicksburg. "I fear --in fact, I believe--the dispatch you mentioned is utter humbuggery...."

GLC00639.20

December 4, 1864

Trimble, Isaac Ridgeway, 1802-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Octavia Trimble

Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, a Confederate prisoner of war held in Boston, writes a poetic letter to his wife, Octavia, about captivity and his longing for home. "You may think I am sincere if you reflect a moment that I am not free like you 'to wander at will among the woods, & hold sweet communion with nature's loveliness.' Oh no! lonely, lonely captivity is my lot, with but few glimpses of the sky & none of the earth, woods, flowers, birds or babbling brooks ... All under foot, above, around is granite; granite! ... Home is now almost a forgotten word, or its memory comes lone,…

GLC00615

1878

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Defense of conduct at the Battle of Shiloh]

A report on the Battle of Shiloh defending his conduct against claims made in a biography of A.S. Johnston by Johnston's half-brother William Preston Johnston, entitled: The life of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, embracing his services in the armies of the United States, the republic of Texas, and the Confederate States. Quotes Braxton Bragg. Describes W.P. Johnston's work as "infamous calumny on the military record of myself and the troops I had there." Written in pencil.

GLC00617.02

April 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Excerpt from General Ruggles' official report on the Battle of Shiloh]

Brief excerpt in Ruggles' hand from the bottom of p.4 of GLC00617.01.

GLC00617.03

5 May 1865

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph manuscript

Title: to William Terry and John Daniel Imboden

Order to Confederate generals Terry and Imboden to exchange federal prisoners. "The Commissary General of prisoners directs me to instruct you to parole all Federal prisoners of war now held within our jurisdictions, according to established forms, and to send them under flag of truce in charge of competent officers to the nearest accessible points in the Federal lines for exchange ... " Though unsigned, letter has a pencil endorsement signed by Ruggles, dated 1897, stating this is an original order in his own handwriting. Ruggles was serving as the commissary general of prisoners of war…

GLC00618

January 24, 1775

Broadside

Title: The Testimony of the people called Quakers, given forth by a meeting of the representatives of said people, in Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

Title continues: "held at Philadelphia the twenty-fourth day of the first month, 1775." Communicates Quaker opposition to public resolutions created by the colonies against the legislature of Great Britain. Promotes lawful action to address the colonies' dissatisfaction without violence. "Signed in, and on behalf of the said meeting, James Pemberton, Clerk at this time." Evans 14052.

GLC00620

October 5, 1780

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Letter signed

Title: to Jethro Sumner

Written by Penn, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman to Brigadier General Sumner in North Carolina. Informs Sumner that the militia must serve three months from the time they were at headquarters, not counting the time they were absent from their regiments since the defeat. Mentions insubordinate soldiers by saying, "those Men that are refractory ought to be informed that they must be obedient to the Laws of their Country." States that the board has written to Colonel Polk to furnish provisions for Sumner. Tells Sumner that Colonel Daniel Morgan and…

GLC00621