March 24, 1864

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Confederate General Morgan writes an eloquent letter to Davis to urge him to return him to his command. "My sense of duty compels me to leave Richmond in order to place myself at the head of the remnant of my Old Cavalry Brigade, diminished as it is now ... by the withdrawal of the choicest troops of my Command ... I have protested in vain against this act of injustice to me, my reclamations have not even been deemed worthy of a reply ... " Also demands the rescue of his troops from Union prisons, where he states they are being ill-treated. Claims that his men never committed cruelty against…

GLC01076

1871

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Book signed

Title: Democratic Vistas

First edition inscribed to Matthew Brady, the Civil War photographer. In this essay, Whitman discusses the theory of democracy and its possibilities in America after the Civil War. He criticizes America for its unrestrained wealth, materialism, and corruption. With 3 bookplates tipped in or mounted to inside front cover & front end paper of William F. Gable, Thomas J. McKee, and B. George Ulizio. With two pages of notes by Whitman in pencil describing his directions for revisions of the book and an autograph letter by Horace Traubel dated 20 February 1908 relating to this copy and…

GLC00865

4 April 1861

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph document signed

Title: [Selecting officers to expedite the U.S.S. Powhatan]

He "ordered by the President to select such officers as may be necessary to expedite the ship." Porter was initially supposed to take his ship, the steam frigate Powhatan, to South Carolina to reinforce Fort Sumter in case the Confederates chose to attack. At this time Secretary of State William Seward was still working towards reconciliation with the South. He worried that sending a warship to Sumter might increase Southern hostility, so with Dixon's help he managed to ensure that the Powhatan was not sent to Sumter. Instead it was sent to aid Fort Pickens in Pensacola, another Federal…

GLC00866

18 September 1920

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Isaac Sorin, convicted of possession of stolen goods 3 February 1919 and sentenced to five years]

Isaac Sorin was convicted of possession of goods stolen from interstate shipments in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and sentenced to five years in the State penitentiary in Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to expire 3 October 1920, no reason given. Countersigned by Acting Attorney General William L. Frirnson. Printed document with blanks filled in with type.

GLC00868

January 18, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of John H. Craigmiles by Abraham Lincoln]

Tennessean rebel whose pardon was recommended by Andrew Johnson. Unusual Civil War pardon date for a rebel. (c/s Seward)

GLC00870

March 24, 1867

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepont

Stanton says he cannot help Edwards Pierrepont with collectorship. The letter also discusses lack of influence with President Johnson. Letter written on War Department stationery.

GLC00871

November 13, 1868

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepont

Letter discusses Grant's cabinet, and appointments & health. Stanton died the following year.

GLC00872

June 24, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maj. John Dix

Letter written in pencil on mourning stationery. The letter discusses the dispatch from Grant, Kirby Smith, and Gen. Banks.

GLC00876

02 March 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: Jefferson, Thomas. Acts of the second Congress.

Four printed acts of the second Congress signed by Thomas Jefferson. Acts deal with defraying the expense of an Indian treaty in Ohio, paying a loan from the Bank of US, relief of Elijiah Bostwick, and additional compensation for public officers. The four acts were printed on one leaf and approved by Washington on 2 March 1793.

GLC00878

1 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: An act for the relief of Nathaniel Twining

Signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Congress relieves Twining due to his "failure in neglecting to transport the mail between Charleston and Savannah" from September 1787 through January 1788. Authorized by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Vice President John Adams; and President George Washington.

GLC00879

February 26, 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Document recognizing Alexis Robert as consul of the Pontifical States]

This document is signed by Andrew Johnson and countersigned by Seward. It gives the title of Consul to Alexis Robert, at New Orleans. Accompanied by a large white, paper seal.

GLC00893

February 8, 1905

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Typed letter signed

Title: to John Dalzell

Taft asks for Dalzell's support to reduce the tariff for the Philippines. He includes handwritten insertions. Letter written on War Department letterhead.

GLC00895

28 April 1865

Kelton, John C., 1828-1893

Document signed

Title: [Transmittal of commission of Assistant Adjutant General to Henry M. Cist]

Partially printed document signed by Kelton as Assistant Adjutant General. Transmits commission of Cist as Assistant Adjutant General, U. S. Volunteers. On War Department, Adjutant General's Office, stationary. Unrelated to .01.

GLC00898.02

30 June 1781

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Broadside

Title: Resolutions [raising 2700 militia for General Washington]

Signed on p. 1 by Avery as Secretary. Docketed "Ipswich" on left margin of p.1

GLC00906

December 10, 1880

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Winfield S. Hancock

Letter discusses politics and election fraud in New York State. Docketed. With engraved portrait of Johnston.

GLC00907

1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Photograph signed

Title: Carte de visite by Brady, signed on mount

Signed on the mount "A. Lincoln" This image is O-49.

GLC00919.01

July 22, 1869

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mattie Ould

Lee as matchmmaker. Custis Lee never married. Flattering letter to a beautiful woman, daughter of Judge Robert Ould, Confederate Prisoner Exchange agent.

GLC00860

5 August 1905

Underwood & Underwood, fl. 1888-1930

Photograph signed

Title: [Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, Sergei Witte, Roman Romanovich Rosen, Jutaro Komura, and Kogoro Takahira]

One group portrait of President Theodore Roosevelt with foreign diplomats dated August 5, 1905. From left to right, photograph of Count Sergei Witte (Russian diplomat and Minister of Finance), Baron Roman Romanovich Rosen (Russian Ambassador to Japan), Theodore Roosevelt (United States President, 1901-1909), Marquis Jutaro Komura (Foreign Minister in Japan's Katsura Cabinet) and Baron Kogoro Takahira (Japanese Ambassador to the United States). The photograph is signed at the bottom by each of the five dignitaries, below their respective images.

GLC00861.01

17 May 1864

Wirz, Henry, 1823-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement of a request for medical leave for M.E. Sperry]

Signed by Wirz, Sperry, J.W. Hails, and "Jno. S. Bransford." Sperry, a clerk in the Adjutant's Office, writes to Captain Chapman, the Adjutant of the Post, to request a leave of seven days. An autograph note below his request by a surgeon, J.W. Hails, attests that Sperry is unfit for duty and needs to cease work for a period of seven days. Captain Wirz, the commandant of Andersonville Prison, approved the request on the verso, signing "H. Wirz." Also on the verso is an autograph note by Bransford pertaining to a transfer, dated 24 May 1864. Has a stamp (and mirror image from folding)…

GLC00862

12 November 1863

Longstreet, James, 1821-1904

Header Record

Title: to Joseph Wheeler [Decimalized .01- .02]

Letter written by Gen. Longstreet, Commander of the Department of East Tennessee and leader of the Knoxville Campaign. With accompanying photograph

GLC00863

18 May 1864

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: Military telegram requesting Daniel H. Hill be assigned to command one of Pierre G. T. Beauregard's divisions

Also with autograph endorsement signed by Samuel Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General of the Confederate Army. Recipient's copy of a telegram from Beauregard to Bragg. Beauregard had requested that General Hill be assigned to his department as a division commander. Bragg's endorsement denying the request appears on the verso. Bragg, backed by President Davis, for whom he now served as special military advisor, did not approve of Beauregard's request because of a prior feud between him and Hill, who remained on duty in the Charleston area. Written during Union General Benjamin Butler's…

GLC00864

July 24, 1839

Dresser, Amos, 1812-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hiram Wilson

Dresser writes to Reverend Wilson who is expecting two enslaved people seeking emancipation in Canada through the underground railroad. He writes, "I rejoice in the privilege of handing over to you two more Daughters of affliction who can tell you their own tale of suffering. They are in pursuit of a home which I trust they will find in Queen Victoria's Dominions. The young girl is very quick... in almost any kind of business & with the right kind of training I hope may be brot to Christ & made useful in the world Perhaps you will want her in your family." He asks for the names of…

GLC00867

20 April 1775

Fullam, Phinehas T., fl. 1775

Autograph document signed

Title: [Attesting to Battle of Concord]

Fullam apparently was a postrider for a Committee of Safety, who, like Paul Revere, was employed to spread the news of Lexington and Concord and bring reinforcements. Says he saw the Battle of Concord with his own eyes and that he confirms about 200 died on both sides. Says 1500 regulars with artillery are on the march and that he is "to inform all the Troops that are on their March to Resort there as fast as possible." Later Fullam served in the Massachusetts militia.

GLC00869

28 October 1776

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Autograph document signed

Title: [Connecticut document ordering payment for guarding, moving & feeding Continental POW's]

Co-signed by Hartford mayor Thomas Seymour and Connecticut Treasurer John Lawrence. Countersigned by Moses Kimball on verso when he received payment and E. Plummer who audited the payment. Seymour and Ellsworth were members of the Connecticut Committee of Four, also called the Pay-Table, which handled finances for Connecticut during the Revolution. This document provides payment to Moses Kimball for the purchase of saltpetre. Also gives Kimball money to pay Prosper Whitmore for guarding, transporting, and feeding Continental prisoners.

GLC00873

19 August 1776

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Cyprian Collins]

Signed by Ellsworth as member of Connecticut Pay-table Committee. To John Lawrence as Treasurer of Connecticut and co-signed by committee member Thomas Seymour. Receipt for Cyprian Collins for four pounds, four shillings for riding express from the Northern Army to Governor John Trumbull. Countersigned on verso by Cyprian Collins that he received the money. Also countersigned by E. Plummer, who audited the payment on 1 September 1777.

GLC00874