March 13, 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Brown wonders if a free state candidate from Kansas has been "allowed...a seat in Congress," since "that would set Kansas matters right at once." He reports that he has "again written Mr. [William Henry] Hurlbut of Connecticut about the battle." Discusses personal affairs and asks her to send more news. Also wrote to his children, some of whom are with Mary.

GLC00928

1856-1885

Header Record

Title: Letters by John Brown and John Brown Jr. [Decimalized .01-.02]

A letter by John Brown regarding pro-slavery laws and judges in Kansas, and letter by John Brown Jr. regarding publication of John Brown's personal letters.

GLC00929

November 20, 1863

McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marcellus Monroe Crocker

General McPherson (Union) discusses Confederate troop movements with General Crocker. He writes "Have you heard anything more definite in relation to the movement of Troops to the Vicinity of 'Tunica Bend' and the concentration of Cavalry in the lower part of the State? The information I have here, is that the Rebel forces occupy about the same relative position between the Big Black and Pearl Rivers, that they have done for the last six weeks." Relates that General Hawkins (possibly John Parker Hawkins) falsely predicted that 16,000 Confederate troops were marching to attack him. He hopes…

GLC00930.01

May 9, 1866

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

Letter signed

Title: to J. J. Crosby

Philip Henry Sheridan orders Colonel Crosby to inspect the steamer "Virgin" to see if it had been used as a slaver. Letter written on printed stationery of "Headquarters Military Division of the Gulf, New Orleans, La." "Mobile" has been crossed-out and the steamer "Virgin" has been substituted.

GLC00930.02

October 2, 1857

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Weed

Greeley writes to the daughter of Thurlow Weed, a fellows journalist and founder of the Albany Evening Journal, about a meeting. He regrets that he could not visit sooner and arranges to have the meeting when he comes to Albany, New York. He mentions talking with her sisters, Maria and Emily.

GLC00930.03

September 18, 1862

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Colburn

Penciled letter written during the Battle of Antietam on stationary marked "Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac." He states "We have just captured one three inch gun and its Caisson on the road from the Hagerstown Pike to Sharpstown. Col. Hunt had better send out for it. We cannot take it with us." Note written just after Custer, without orders, led a company of men against a weak point in the Confederate line, routed them, and took a number of their cannons. While this action would prove irrelevant to the larger battle, it helped to establish Custer's reputation for bold action, a trait he…

GLC00932

November 20, 1861

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry S. Randall

Greeley writes to Randall, a biographer of Thomas Jefferson, about the relative qualities of Jefferson, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. Expresses thanks for Randall's "vindication of Jefferson from the personal calumnies which had somewhat blackened his reputation." He expresses his reverence and love for Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence but wishes Randall had "let him have some venial faults" to make him appear more human. He indicates that he has greater admiration for Hamilton, who he attributes greater responsibility "In building a…

GLC00935

January 14, 1863

Lee, Edwin G., 1835-1870

Printed document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance to the Confederacy]

Oath reads in full: "I Edwin G. Lee aged 26 years 7 months, born in Virginia, appointed from Jefferson Co., Virginia, do solemnly swear or affirm that while I continue in the service I will bear true faith, and yield obedience to the Confederate States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies, and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the Confederate States, and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War."

GLC00938

September 20, 1863

Longstreet, James, 1821-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas C. Hindman

Writing in pencil, General Longstreet, commander of troops at Chickamauga, commends General Hindman on his troops' performance that day in battle. He instructs Hindman to "give them every encouragement and collect them as quick as you can." Referring to General Braxton Bragg, he writes "I have sent to Genl Bragg to ask him to send a Dvn to take your place When it reaches you you can retire to the road and prepare to renew the battle tomorrow." Envelope states "Kept and reserved by Maj. John C. Palmer staff officer of Gen. Hindmans now the property of Maj Palmers Grandson A. J. Gannon."

GLC00941

December 18, 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for a $50 donation]

Receipt for a donation to the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.

GLC00945.01

1 September 1796

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Lathrop Lewis as coroner of Cumberland County, Massachusetts]

Partially printed document signed by Adams as Massachusetts Governor and John Avery as Secretary. A note on the verso dated 7 March 1797 and signed by William Graham and Samuel Freeman attests that Lewis took the oath of office. Adams' signature is shakey due to his failing health. The "S" in Samuel Adams' signature has been affected by water damage. Includes a paper seal.

GLC00945.02

30 October 1800

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Millspaugh]

Appoining Millspaugh as a cavalry major in the New York state militia. Partially printed document signed. Affixed with the seal of the state of New York. Also signed by Daniel Hale as "Secretary."

GLC00945.03

February 11, 1803

Clymer, George, 1739-1813

Document signed

Title: [Promissory note from Henry Clymer]

Certifies that Henry Clymer promises to pay to George Clymer $1832 in sixty days. Docketed on verso H. Clymer, April 12, 1832.

GLC00945.04

12 May 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Daniel Howard as state senator]

Appoints Howard as a Massachusetts state senator from "Plimouth" County. Partially printed document signed. Signed by Hancock as Governor. Countersigned by Avery as secretary.

GLC00945.05

27 November 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to David D. Porter

Autograph endorsement signed of Sherman to Porter on a letter of Lewis Wolfery, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky to Sherman dated 23 November 1865. Wolfery writes to General Sherman to inform him that, on the recommendation of Copperhead Representative Burwell Ritter, James Wheeler, a former Confederate guerrilla who was tried as a spy, had been appointed to Annapolis Naval Academy over "two true Union boys," Tommy David Jackson and James Gore. Wolfery claims that Wheeler was, " ... a rebel soldier, one of the meanest types that while belonging to the army was back in the State,…

GLC00947

March 8, 1859

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

John Tyler writes a letter to his son in which he touches on the issue of slavery and the election of 1860. He discusses "Healy's portrait of me" as admirable and being "often mortified at the misrepresentations of me which are occasionally seen in the print shops." He discusses the plans and character of James Semple. In regard to current affairs he writes: "The Country, I fear, is in a bad state." He attributes the dissension among Democrats as "about a mere abstraction." He comments that "A cotton region will have slaves, while a grazing country [western territories] does not want them."…

GLC00948

February 8, 1865

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Louis T. Wigfall

In the letter, Lee is asking for troops from West of the Mississippi to defend Virginia. Transcript in seller's description. Written two days after Lee had been appointed commander-in-chief. Letter written at the Head Quarters of the Army of North Virginia.

GLC00952

7 June 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: [Joint resolution of congress for paying veterans of the American Revolution]

Signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State.

GLC00953

August 11, 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Greene sends Biddle a copy of the resolution appointing Timothy Pickering Quarter Master General of the Continental Army (not included), which occurred after Greene was forced out of the position into retirement. Discusses his resignation and his worries about the consequences of the change for the current military campaign. He asks Biddle for an account of debts from his department. Letter written at Camp Tappan.

GLC00954

1866-1886

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Header Record

Title: Materials relating to the writing of William T. Sherman's memoirs [Decimalized .01-.03]

These three documents all appear to have been written on pages taken from a history of Julius Caesar given to Sherman by Charles McMillan.

GLC00955

1786-1802

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters to Harvard classmate James Bridge. Decimalized.] [Decimalized .01-.13.02]

A collection of letters from young John Quincy Adams to his Harvard classmate James Bridge, originally assembled by Bridge in a letterbook. The Adams letters were removed by a previous owner from the book and have been decimalized. The remainder of the collection, letters from other Harvard classmates retained by Bridge, are decimalized under one number. [decimalized GLC00958.01-GLC00985.13.02]

GLC00958

November 17, 1787

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams covers several topics in this long letter to his Harvard classmate shortly after their graduation. He attended the ordination of Henry Ware, his first roomate at Harvard. While there, he has saw a number of their fellow classmates and learned of their plans. He tells a story of how several classmates helped to pay the bills of two of their peers, allowing them to graduate. Adams discusses studying law in Theophilus Parson's office, and invites Bridge to join him in a few months when places become available (which Bridge did). He also briefly discusses law texts he is studying. Adams…

GLC00958.01

October 20, 1788

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes to his friend and former Harvard classmate, Bridge, about his health, law studies, and longing to see his female friends. Adams also reports that Townsend, who also studied law with Theophilus Parsons, is spending the winter in South Carolina and asked Adams to help "Jo." with his studies. Adams might be away, and hopes Bridge can fill in for him.

GLC00958.02

January 25, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams describes acting like a recluse, spending most of his time in study. He praises the fourth volume of Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Adams asks that if Bridge sees a mutual friend, Stacey, to ask him to return Adams' copy of a work by Henry St. John Bolingbroke. He also asks Bridge to retrieve Adams' copies of Saunderson's Algebra and four volumes of Busson's works in French.

GLC00958.03

September 11, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes in detail about his journey from Boston to Newport via Providence. He describes his stage coach companions on the way to Providence, expressing a liking for an amiable eighteen year-old named Landman. He comments on Brown University. Adams then derides the music of some of the less genteel people he rode with by boat. Landman introduced Adams to a Mrs. Marchant and her daughters, of whom he was very fond, and spent the evening with, enjoying musical performances. Adams reports that he saw Bridge's friend, W. Amory. Adams will soon sail to New York.

GLC00958.04