05 May 1865

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Manuscript document

Title: [Official copy of Henry W. Halleck's General Order No. 6]

Halleck lays down the law for "all persons found in arms against the authority of the United States" in Virginia and North Carolina less than one month after the surrender at Appomattox. Headed: "Head Quarters, Military Division of the James, Richmond, Va."; marked at bottom left as an "Official copy." Manuscript on blue paper, signed by, and possibly in the hand of, Assistant Adjutant General J. C. Kelton.

GLC00898.01

24 April 1863

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 11, no. 23 (April 24, 1863)]

Union occupation newspaper published by Opelousa. Telegrams describe changing conditions of who is winning the battle in Jackson. Poem dedicated to the Union Army and Navy. Fugitive slave ad. Gray floral and tile pattern on wallpaper verso.

GLC00899

14-15 July 1863

Ackert, Charles J., fl. 1863

Newspaper

Title: The Port Hudson Freeman. [Vol. 1, no. 1 (July 14-15, 1863)]

Necessity newspaper printed on pinkish brown scrap paper by Union soldiers. "First federal edition" printed on one side dated 14 July 1863. The other side is dated 15 July and is marked volume 1, no. 1. Reports on the victory at the battle at Vicksburg, the possession of Fort Hudson.

GLC00900.01

22 June 1864

Joy, George Mills, fl. 18301-864

Newspaper

Title: North Carolina times [Vol. 1, no. 44 (June 22, 1864)]

Union occupation newspaper. Contains a stories called "The Miser's Bequest" and "A Man Who Works Without Pay." Also comments on Ulysses S. Grant crossing a river to Covington and Harriet Beecher Stowe's "panegyric on President Lincoln." Includes Civil War articles, such as "The Success of Lincoln and Johnson a Death Blow to the Rebellion," referring to the election of 1864. Other articles comment on the movements of the Army of the Potomac, Yankee prisoners, and a mutiny, blockades, and "Southern Harmony." There is also a "Rebel Letter" and an article on the "Petersburg Capture." Prints laws…

GLC00900.02

1 January 1863

Broadside

Title: Chronicle-extra.

News-sheet printing the Emancipation Proclamation with news from New Orleans, New York and Louisville. Heading states, "Slavery Forever ABOLISHED in the United States of America!!"

GLC00902

10 March 1762

Hardy, Josiah, 1822-1900

Document signed

Title: An act to Compleat the New Jersey Regiment to Six Hundred and Sixty Six effective volunteers, Officers included.

Document aims to raise additional men for the French & Indian War, with inducements including pardons. Details provisions for recruiting minors, slaves, and Indians. Additionally, allows Quakers to affirm, rather than swear, an oath. Signed by Hardy as British colonial governor, countersigned by R. H. Morris and Samuel Nevill. Pages numbered at top by author, eighteenth page docketed March 8, 1762 on verso by R. Smith, Clerk.

GLC00903

5 June 1781

Livingston, William, 1723-1790

Document signed

Title: An Act to preserve buildings in this State belonging to the United States from being destroyed and for the Punishment of those that shall seize on or injure the same.

Signed by William Livingston as Governor of New Jersey. Countersigned by Josiah Hornblower, Speaker of the New Jersey House of Representatives. Endorsed on verso near docket by Bowes Reed and Maskell Ewing, clerks of the Assembly, stating the document was read three times and has passed the House. Resolution written because of Congressional recommendations of 3 July 1779 asked the various states to preserve buildings owned by the United States. Says any person convicted of damaging or destroying a building or fortress owned by the United States will pay no more than a 20 pound fine and…

GLC00904

January 23, 1776

Massachusetts Colony Legislature

Broadside

Title: By the Great and General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay: A Proclamation.

This document explains the Revolutionary views of the House of Representatives of the colony of Massachusetts Bay. The writing covers the philosophy behind Massachusetts as a colony and as a free state. Signed at end: "God Save the People"

GLC00905

August 24, 1864

Gilmer, Jeremy Francis, 1818-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Victor von Sheliha

Letter marked unofficial. Gilmer writes as Confederate Major General about Lieutenant Colonel Sheliha's resignation and his appointment of a successor. He believes that it is unfortunate that Sheliha is resigning while Mobile, Alabama is besieged by Federal forces. "This is a serious step for any officer to take in the present condition of our affairs - and I regret that you should have thought it proper to take it ... even while the Enemy was knocking at the doors of Mobile ... " He explains that it was absolutely necessary to appoint a replacement immediately, " ... one who would struggle…

GLC00908

March 15, 1868

Harris, Isham G. (Isham Green), 1818-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas C. Reynolds

Harris discusses his return to Tennessee after escaping to Mexico after the Civil War. He describes how he went to England to investigate the prospects of making a living there in the cotton industry. After a three year absence, he realized "I should never be contented separated from the ties and associations of my former life." Consequently, he "resolved to brave all the consequences and return to Tennessee and share the fortunes of her people." He discusses turning himself in to face the indictments against him, his anticipation of the charges being disposed of, and his view that he will be…

GLC00909

April 3, 1862

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza B. Ellis

General Bragg writes to his wife, Eliza, on the eve of the battle of Shiloh. He discusses preparing to engage the enemy, gives his own estimation of Union troop strength, and discusses Confederate deficiencies. He praises his own command as the best in the army. Bragg hopes to destroy the enemy forces nearby, then attack their reinforcements, which are only a few days off. Crossing the Mississippi River is their biggest obstacle, because the Union forces have all the boats. He writes that he wishes to share the fate of his army and his country.

GLC00910

18 February 1847 - 23 May 1848

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Header Record

Title: Mexican War Orderly Book, 26th Infantry , USA 1847-1848 [Decimalized .001- .085]

Disbound orderly book containing printed orders issued by Major General Winfield Scott and General William Orlando Butler during the Mexican War. Orders are signed by their aides, Henry Lee Scott and Lorenzo Thomas, respectively.

GLC00911

1781

Morris, Roger, fl. 1781

Book signed

Title: The Constitutions of the several independent states of America [...]

Roger Morris's copy, signed on t.p. Bound in contemporary calf. Howes C716, Evans 17390, Sabin 16086. First edition limited to 200 copies.

GLC00912

April 28, 1864

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

General Beauregard, commander of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, gives his opinion to General Bragg (at this point in the war in Richmond, Virginia, and functioning as Confederate chief of staff) concerning the proper proportion of light artillery. He concurs with the recommendation of Confederate chief of ordnance Colonel Josiah Gorgas. Comments on the proportions in detail.

GLC00913

March 28, 1863

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Johnston, Commander of the Department of the West, replies to two recent communications from Davis, President of the Confederacy. He states "At Mobile, in Mississippi, & in Middle Tennessee, we cannot foresee attack long enough before hand to be able to reinforce the Threatened Army from either of the others. At the two first the enemy's appearance May, & probably would be, the first indication of this intention to attack." He estimates the amount of time it would take to transport wagons, infantry, and horses from Jackson to Tullahoma. Possibly referring to General Simon Bolivar…

GLC00914

February 18, 1865

Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Official report to the president, signed as Confederate secretary of war, tracing the state of the Confederacy's finances from 1861 to the present. He declares that the current abysmal state of the budget, and the consequent inability of the nation to meet its debts, is causing desertion and a decline in civilian morale. "I invite your attention to the condition of this Department in respect to its claim upon the Treasury, and the necessity for prompt attention to that claim...Of the requisitions for 1864 and 1865 there remains unpaid the sum of $161,322,573.45 and besides this the sum of $69…

GLC00915

March 8, 1788

Brearly, David, 1745-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Dayton

One future signer of the U.S. Constitution to another. Brearly (also: "Brearley"), writing as Chief Justice of New Jersey, sends Dayton, then a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, a scale (not included) determined by the New Jersey legislature "for making compensation to the Troops for the depreciation of their pay." Docketed by Dayton on otherwise blank integral leaf.

GLC00916

September 19, 1864

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter signed

Title: to Confederate governors

Circular letter in which Davis asks the Confederate governors to change the alien expulsion laws for mechanics and laborers. He wants to lift the requirements in many states that all aliens render military service or leave, instead permitting skilled laborers to continue their work in "foundries, laboratories, arsenals, machine shops and factories."

GLC00917

December 17, 1860

Harris, Isham G., 1818-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas J. Wharton

Harris, Governor of Tennessee, replies to a letter from Wharton, Mississippi's Commissioner to Tennessee. He states that when Tennessee Representatives confer again, they will be pleased to meet with Wharton "as the Representative of a sister state with which we are identified in interest and in the very nature of things must share a common destiny." He declares "There is great unanimity of sentiment in Tennessee as to the necessity of a Conferance of the southern states, for the purpose of assuring upon, and presenting an ultimatum, such as shall give perfect security to the rights of the…

GLC00918

1865 ca.

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Photograph signed

Title: E & H.T. Anthony Carte de visite

GLC00919.03

1865 ca.

Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1824-1886

Photograph signed

Title: E & H.T. Anthony Carte de visite

GLC00919.04

1865 ca.

Warren, Gouverner K., 1830-1882

Photograph signed

Title: Carte de visite

GLC00919.05

October 7, 1862

Beach, Elias William, 1841-1921

Autograph letter signed

Title: to friends at home

Letter provides descriptions of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and discusses army life. Letter written from "Camp Lesley, Near the Navy Yard," in Washington, D.C.

GLC00919.10

27 April 1863

Benham, Henry Washington, 1813-18884

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft orders and instructions for building bridges]

Clerically written on "Headquarters Engineer Brigade" letterhead, near Falmouth, Virginia.

GLC00919.12

29 April 1863

Benham, Henry Washington, 1813-18884

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft report on a failed bridge building assignment]

Clerically written on "Headquarters Engineer Brigade" letterhead, near Falmouth, Virginia.

GLC00919.13