17 August 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Original manuscript copy, with clerical signature, of a letter appealing to the Committee of Congress for Cooperation. This copy of the letter was sent to Delaware Governor Rodney. Discusses the shortage of troops in the Continental Army, the unreliability of the militia, and the need to begin this years campaign as soon as possible. Lists the troops received from each state, mentions the shortages of men, supply, and transportation. "In this state of things, Gentlemen, I leave it to your own judgement to determine how little it will be in my power to answer the public expectations, unless…

GLC06488

10 December 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Informs Rodney that all provisions for the army should be placed at Christiana Bridge, Delaware. This was in accordance with an act of Congress saying that the provisions provided by each state should be placed at a point of Washington's choosing. Washington notes that he would have contacted Rodney earlier "had not the greater part of my time... been taken up in arranging & visiting the Hospitals, and Winter Cantonments of the Army."

GLC06489

7 June 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Informs Delaware Governor Rodney to send enlisted troops to Virginia. "One battalion of Infantry and a Corps of Horses... are required of the State of Delaware to serve for three Months" due to the "alarming progress which the Enemy are making in Virginia."

GLC06490

30 July 1782

Smallwood, William, 1732-1792

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Indicates that he is sending recruitment-related reports (not included) and discusses difficulties recruiting soldiers. Lists the reasons that soldiers will not join: worries about pay and depreciation, efforts to defend Chesapeake Bay, lazy officers, and poor conditions including lack of food, clothes and shelter for the recruits. Comments that "The treatment, naked and wretched situation of those in service, the abject distress and total neglect of disabled and disbanded soldiers... rendered desertion very prevalent." Complains of delays in fulfilling his requests for provisions and…

GLC06506

24 November 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses a former request for money submitted by Langdon, naval agent for Continental prizes and supervisor of the construction of several ships. Regarding the money, mentions Langdon's acquaintances Wharton (possibly Samuel Wharton) and Donaldson. Relates that Congress has agreed to increase the Navy by one ship, and requests that Langdon assist in formulating a plan to procure materials such as iron. Discusses obtaining material from France and Spain. Discusses Langdon's financial situation, prize money procured for…

GLC06518

4 and 7 December 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a New Hampshire Congressman to Langdon as agent for Continental prizes in New Hampshire. First two pages are a letter from 4 December 1776 and is signed "W Whipple" and the third page is a letter from 7 December 1776 initialed "WW." 4 December: previously wrote that the navy will add another ship of 74 guns to be built in New Hampshire. Says he will send the dimensions in a few days and the builders are to make their own drafts. Says the carpenters who built the "Raleigh" will do a good a job as any. Langdon is to…

GLC06519

7 July 1778

Sullivan, John, 1740-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

General Sullivan discusses the Battle of Monmouth based on information he received from Major Talbot. Referring to the 28 June 1778 battle between Generals George Washington and Henry Clinton, states "about ten in the forenoon General Washington with the Front of his Army Amounting to nearly one half his numbers came up with the Rear of the British Army Consisting of nearly one half their force which was Commanded by General Clinton ... a severe Action immediately Commenced which Lasted well near four in the Afternoon where victory Declared in Favor of the American Army." States that the…

GLC06521

18 March 1789

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Record of John Langdon's accounts as Continental Navy agent, presented to the Board of the Treasury]

Duer, assistant secretary of the treasury department, transmits a copied "Statement of the accounts of John Langdon Esq. with the Secret and Commercial Committees of Congress." Conveys information pertaining to accounts kept and stores received for navy purposes, stating "Upon the whole, both the Cash and Store Accounts appear to me to be as regular as could possibly have been expected, and this has been owing in a great measure to his having made them out and transmitted them to his employees from time to time as the transactions occurred." Copied from the records of Benjamin Walker, a…

GLC06530

29 December 1806

Thompson, Thomas W., 1766-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by New Hampshire Congressman Thompson to Langdon as Governor of New Hampshire. Says nothing of interest has occurred since the suspension of the non-importation law. Claims domestic issues take up most of their time. Has hope that negotiations with Britain and France are going well. Says that Aaron Burr's presence in Louisiana gave the Jefferson Administration great anxiety. But the capture of part of his flotilla and the probable capture of the rest, has relieved Jefferson. Jefferson considers Burr's insurrection suppressed. That being said, he reports that General James Wilkinson is…

GLC06545

circa 1860-1865

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft of speech introducing Lincoln]

Reads in part, "God has made our future peace depend on virtue -- and our national health on wise and temperate use of the blessings entrusted to our care." On page four he begins to introduce Lincoln but does not finish. With cross-outs and corrections.

GLC06474

10 August 1865

Clark, Warren, fl. 1865

Letter

Title: to Fanny P. Clark

Discusses the possibility of Grant as next president and whether [General] Butler is fit to manage rebels.

GLC06475

circa 1830-1840

Broadside

Title: Views of slavery

Abolitionist broadside with six images depicting kidnapping, torture, auction, and labor of enslaved people. With Channing quotation, "Our laws know no higher crime than that of reducing a man to slavery. To steal or to buy an African on his own shores is a piracy." Lithograph drawings.

GLC06477

6 November 1813

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Law

Response to a letter and memorial from Maryland and District of Columbia attorney Law, a supporter of monetary reform. Supports Law's proposal for the issuance of treasury notes bearing interest. These "would soon be withdrawn from the circulation and locked up in vaults and private hoards. I would put it in the power of every man to lend his 100 or 1000D." Opposes a national bank because "Congress has not that power, (altho' I sincerely wish they had it exclusively)." With incomplete address leaf on verso.

GLC06478

27 May 1794

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Vigo

Asks Major Vigo to use his connections to arrange for the British to be spied on. Wayne wants "either Frenchmen or Indians to go as far as Roche de Bout...to discover the number and designs of the enemy," the number of British troops and whether or not they have constructed a fort. Indicates he is willing to pay a large sum and would also like to arrange for regular dispatches of intelligence.

GLC06479.01

1 July 1779

Sullivan, John, 1740-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General James Clinton

General Sullivan writes to General Clinton about preparations and plans for troop movements for his upcoming campaign against the Six Nations, at the time, the largest ever expedition mounted against the Indians.

GLC06481

March 1783-September 1783

Header Record

Title: [George Weedon incoming correspondence] [Decimalized .01- .06]

Collection of six letters, mostly written from Philadelphia, from the personal papers of George Weedon. Four of the letters have address leaves, with three of them franked by John F. Meuse.

GLC06491

6 April 1781

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Written by Phillips as British Major General, joining Benedict Arnold in his invasion of Virginia in 1781, to Weedon an American Brigadier General. Mentions two officers that Weedon sent to him under a flag of truce. Hopes Weedon gets a report from them that states he will act liberally and humanly during his campaigning in Virginia. Says that he doubts the Americans will act as honorable. Says a letter from Thomas Jefferson, the Governor of Virginia, and the resolutions of the Virginia Legislature are "barbarous." Says it would be unbecoming of him to answer them and hopes that the…

GLC06492

12 April 1781

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Phillips, a British Lieutenant-General, discusses flags of truce and prisoner exchanges with American General Weedon. Writes "the usual and necessary forms must be preserved especially respecting Flags of Truce which are objects of a chaste nature and the rules belonging to them ought never to be violated..." Refers to Moss Armstead, an American soldier sent to negotiate prisoner exchange. Discusses penalties for Americans venturing within British lines. States that all flag vessels must stop at British commodores' ships stationed at Hampton Roads, Virginia, to gain authorization to…

GLC06493

12 April 1781

Brabazon, E., fl. 1781

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of the names of the prisoners on board the Robert, prison ship & parol'd at Portsmouth & Norfolk

Document signed by "E Brabazon, Major of Brigade." Names of the 64 former prisoners of the ship "Robert" who were paroled at Portsmouth & Norfolk. Full names are given for all prisoners, except for two "Blacks" who are listed as "Titus" and "Tom." Marked at margin "Seamen Lately taken." Date from docket. According to the seller's description in the collateral file this list comes from the personal papers of General George Weedon, who commanded a brigade of troops in Virginia 1780-1781.

GLC06494

4 June 1781

Weedon, George, 1734-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

An original draft copy, regarding the status of troops and provisions in Virginia. Discusses calling out the militia, civilians fleeing, and removing stores from Fredericksburg before the onslaught of the British invasion. Written from "Camp Hunters Heights." Later that year, Weedon commanded the Virginia militia at the siege of Yorktown.

GLC06495

December 21, 1782

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Written by Major General Greene as commander of the Southern Department to Brigadier General Weedon. A friendly, and at times humorous, letter addressed to Weedon as "My good old friend." Also has a note from Greene's wife Catharine after his signature. She signs the note "Caty Greene." References Weedon's letter of 6 November 1782. Says Major Ichabod Burnet, an aide-de-camp to Greene, is going to Philadelphia "with an account of the long expected evacuation of Charleston." In reference to the religion of New England says "To speak in the language of Connecticut now rejoice and be…

GLC06496

26 June 1780

Grayson, William, 1736-1790

Letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Discusses General Weedon being recalled to military service by the Continental Congress, claiming that "you must look upon a call at this particular Crisis, as a very decided testimonial of the good opinion of Congress." Agrees with Weedon's ideas about recruitment. Suggests that "The rejection of the resolution of Congress respecting finance was a fatal stab to the independence of America." Criticizes the Virginia policies that limited much needed resources. Indicates "that the Enemy have got stung in the Jerseys." Notes French and Spanish mobilizations. A postscript reports that the…

GLC06497

30 March 1777

Parker, Richard, fl. 1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Possibly written by Colonel Richard Parker. Congratulates Weedon, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on a recent promotion (possibly his promotion to Brigadier General in February 1777). Parker notes, "Mr. Purdie has given me a good deal of uneasiness by killing my son Major Parker but that is now relieved by a letter I have received from him since his death dated the 13th Feb..." Asks that Weedon inform him what he knows of Major Parker, including what condition his son was in when Weedon last saw him. Writes, "I have two other sons in the second Regimt. who the last time I heard from them…

GLC06498.01

27 August 1780- 24 October 1780

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of orders from the camp of General George Weedon]

Mentions Colonel Febigen and Captains Lovely and Richardson. Discusses a survey of commissaries' stores, in which barrels of salt fish were deemed unfit for consumption. Refers to court martials, the trial of prisoners, and the prevention of embezzlement from a store of arms (6 September). Provides a list of several persons charged with desertion, and describes the proceedings of their court martial (8 September). Discusses the command of local drafts (27 September, 1 October).

GLC06499

27 June 1780-15 August 1780

Walker, John, 1744-1809

Header Record

Title: Four letters to General George Weedon [Decimalized .01-.04]

Four letters commenting upon the activities of the French, English, and American forces. Word processed inventory and transcriptions available.

GLC06500