March 16, 1817

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Swartwout

Letter written by Monroe as President to Swartwout, the former Quartermaster-General from March 1813 to June 1816. Monroe was Secretary of War from 1814 to 1815 and Swartwout reported to him during that point in the War of 1812. Swartwout apparently wrote Monroe for documents defending his conduct during the war. Monroe says he is returning papers relating to claims of Swartwout from January 1815. Says he remembers the time well and recollects the powers given to Swartwout to carry out the war. Says his letter from February 4, 1815 will give the best account of the powers given him. Says…

GLC01743.01

22 November 1816

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph document signed

Title: [A general account of General Robert Swartwout's duties]

Written by Monroe as Secretary of State, recollecting the appointment and duties of Quartermaster-General Robert Swartwout, who served from March 1813 to June 1816. Monroe also served as Secretary of War in 1814-1815 and would have been his superior during those years. Swartwout was apparently seeking documents after questions of his conduct came up. Using cautious wording, Monroe recollects authorizing Swartmout's recommendations for deputies and assistants in January 1815. Also says it was decided to raise a large force for an approaching campaign and gave Swartwout the necessary powers to…

GLC01743.02

September 25, 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Tallmadge

Letter signed as commander in chief and written in the hand of John Laurens, Washington's aide. Assures Tallmadge that his cavalry would receive enough supplies but warns that there will be no new horses. Complains about the dragoon's ill use of the horses, "It gives me pain but I cannot forbear attributing the ill state of the Cavalry, in a great measure to the unrestrained licence of the Dragoons in the use of their horses; their speed is equally immoderate on all occasions; when they are detached, nor are their horses less freely employed on their own private concerns." Letter addressed to…

GLC01746

January 6, 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Mary Katherine Goddard

Washington responds to a previous letter from Goddard, who requested his intervention in her replacement as postmaster of Baltimore, Maryland. Replies that "the Resolutions and Ordinances establishing the Post-Office under the former Congress, and which have been recognized by the present Government, giving power to the Post-Master General to appoint his own Deputies, and making him accountable for their conduct, is an insufferable objection to my taking any part in this matter." See GLC09756 for materials sent to George Washington by Mary Katherine Goddard.

GLC01747

1789/04/25-27

Otis, Samuel A., 1740-1814

Document signed

Title: to the Chancellor of New York re: plans for Washington's inauguration

Signed as Secretary of the United States Senate for the Committee appointed to Consider the Time, Place & Manner in which, and of the person by whom, the oath prescribed by the Constitution shall be administrated to the President of the United States. With an added note from the 27th changing the oath-taking place.

GLC01748

18 April 1863

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

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster in Washington, D.C. Pertains to pay for the month of March 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins and John Brockenberry, whose complexions are described as "cold," and Albert. Servants' eyes and hair are "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield…

GLC01762.01

18 April 1863

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

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster in Washington, D.C. Pertains to pay for the month of January 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service in the field. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins, John Brockenberry, and Albert, whose complexions are described as "cold." Servants' eyes and hair are "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve.…

GLC01762.02

February 6, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of John A. Brannan to Brigadier General of Volunteers].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Brannan had been a hero at Chickamauga (not mentioned on commission). Docketed at upper left by Lorenzo Thomas as Adjutant General. Blue seal on upper left corner.

GLC01770

5 June 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Thomas McGregor to Second Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Cavalry].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Docketed at upper left. McGregor was also known as a California "Argonaut" and Indian fighter. Pink seal on upper left corner.

GLC01771

January 14, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Abraham Lincoln endorsement]

Lincoln endorsement written on the fourth page of an autograph letter signed of P. Golden from Bangor, Maine to John H. Rice of Washington dated 29 December 1864. Golden asks that a cousin John Murphy, a prisoner of war, be discharged. Golden explains that Murphy was forced into Confederate service and tried to escape but did not succeed. He had to rejoin under another name in the 42nd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, where he was taken prisoner. He is being held at Point Lookout in Maryland. Calls Murphy a "true Union man" and refers Rice to Vice President Hannibal Hamlin for further…

GLC01772

August 25, 1842

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Letter written as President of the Republic of Texas. Accompanied by an Executive Department order written and signed in secretarial hand. Letter discusses predicting peace with Mexico & Indians and Texas

GLC01777

April 29, 1842

Reily, James, fl. 1841-1846

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas Ward

Reily lobbied for Texas in Congress. Letter written during the escalating crisis between the United States and Mexico which ultimately led to the Mexican War. Reily writes "My heart fondly turns to Texas." Letter also discusses a diplomatic report from Washington.

GLC01778

September 9, 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Gen. David Forman

Letter written in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Written two months before the signing of the first provisional peace treaty between Great Britain and the United States in Paris on November 30, during the uneasy lull that followed American victory at Yorktown in September 1781. As Brigadier General of New Jersey militia, Forman had acted as Washington's watchman since 1780 by keeping the Commander in Chief advised of enemy movements off the coast. Even after ratification of the peace treaty, it was not until November 1783 that British troops entirely evacuated…

GLC01783

1775

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Book

Title: An address to the people of England, Ireland, and Scotland, on the present important crisis of affairs [Reprinted in "English defenders of American freedoms, 1774-1778"]

See the Macaulay papers, GLC 1784.01-1800.04. Vigorous, inflammatory attack on government of George III. Alerts people of Ireland, Scotland, and England to dangers of legislation without representation and parliamentary oppression. Solutions include the requirement of a civil test for all elected officials to ensure responsibility to the people, and the overturning of septennial parliaments. Reprinted in English Defenders of American Freedom, 1774-1448: Six Pamphlets Attacking British Policy, comp. Paul H. Smith (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1972). Third edition. (London;…

GLC01784.02

1864

Democratic Party

Broadside

Title: The real Chicago platform, as expounded by the Democratic orators at Chicago.

Excerpts from orators at the 1864 Democratic convention at Chicago. Issued anonymously by the Copperhead faction of the Democratic Party.

GLC01704

April 20, 1865

Wirz, Henry, 1823-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George C. Gibbs

Captain Wirz, the commandant of Andersonville Prison, tells Colonel Gibbs that there are no mules fit for transport but grants him authority to impress any mules needed. Letter written at Camp Sumter, also known as Andersonville Prison.

GLC01705

1774-1775

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania journal and weekly advertiser. [No. 1674 (January 4, 1774) - no. 1725 (December 27, 1775)] [with gaps]

Revolutionary War era newspaper: Pennsylvania Journal. 5 and 19 April 1775 issues contain fugitive slave ads. Issue number 1698 is missing. March 8, 1775 contains African Slavery In America written by Thomas Paine in 1774.

GLC01706

June 5, 1864

Kirby-Smith, Edmund, 1824-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

General Smith writes to Davis, Confederate President. Relates that General Walker (possibly William Henry Talbot Walker) was informed by General Thomas Neville Waul that Davis attributes him (Walker) with the failure to assist in the relief of Vicksburg. Writes "It is but justice to a gallant & efficient officer that this impression should be removed.- The blame, if it rests anywhere, is with myself & Genl Taylor, the Depart & District Commanders." Relates that while marching from Arkansas to Alexandria, Virginia, Walker had asked for permission to act with his Division against…

GLC01707

October 27, 1861

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Toole Clark

Letter written as Confederate Secretary of War to North Carolina Governor Clark about establishing a prisoner of war camp at Salisbury, North Carolina. Benjamin writes, "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 25th inst, which greatly relieves this Department from serious embarrassment in relation to prisoners. - I enclose you a letter for Col Wm Johnstone of Charlotte, containing my instructions to him." Requests that as soon as Colonel Johnston secures the purchase of the property, the Maxwell Chambers Factory, Clark round up volunteers to serve as guards. Informs him…

GLC01708

November 5, 1863

Tod, David, 1805-1868

Letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Tod, Governor of Ohio, provides Senator John Sherman with two railway tickets (not included) for transportation to the November 19, 1863 dedication of the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania soldiers' cemetery. Letter written on State of Ohio Executive Department stationery.

GLC01709

1721

Care, Henry, fl. 1721

Book

Title: English liberties, or the free-born subject's inheritance [1st American edition]

12mo. Fifth edition, first American edition. First printing of the Magna Carta in America. Printed by N. Buttolph, B. Eliot and D. Henchman. Rebound.

GLC01710

1744

Pennsylvania, Treaties

Pamphlet

Title: A treaty...by...Virginia and Maryland with...the indians of the Six Nations

Stab-stitched, uncut. Printed by Benjamin Franklin. First edition. The treaty was signed in June 1744. it renews allianace between Iroquois and Great Britain at the outbreak of hte French and Indian war. Boyd 3; Curtis/Cambell 84; Evans 5416; Hildeburn 907; Miller 364; Sabin 60736.

GLC01711

1752-1776

Book

Title: Pennsylvania. General Assembly. Laws, 1682-1776.

Volumes 1-3 printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall. Volumes 4-6 printed by Henry Miller. Volumes 1-5 signed by Member of the Governor's Council and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania John Penn.

GLC01712

12 July 1764

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [No. 1855 (July 12, 1764)]

Prints a declaration of John Penn, the Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, proclaiming the Delaware and Shawanese Indians enemies of the province. Reports that Penn will offer rewards for Indian captives or scalps and delineates the amount of the reward to be paid for captured male Indians, women and children, scalps, etc. Other articles detail acts concerning paper bills of credit and the importation of hemp and flax. Reports on other news from European countries, especially London, as well as from New York and Philadelphia. Also includes posts and advertisements, some offering…

GLC01713.01

December 6, 1764

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [no. 1876 (December 6, 1764)]

Printed by Benjamin Franklin and D. Hall. Contains Governor William Penn's acceptance of a temorary peace with the Delawares and Shawnees. Penn appoints William Johnson as agent to negotiate final peace treaty. Declaration signed on 5 December 1764.

GLC01713.02