9 February 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Describes trying to get a furlough to go home but says that they stopped issuing all furloughs except for officers. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has been home three times since they started marching and plans on going home again. Reports that Lieutenant Forrest went to trial and was found guilty of some of the charges. He was sentenced to be reprimanded by General George McCall. Writes that Lieutenant Forrest was taken again on other charges and will have another trial next Wednesday. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has some bitter enemies…

GLC03523.49.08

30 January 1862

Hamlin, Hannibal, 1809-1891

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Signed by Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President. Also signed by members of Congress including Representatives from Maine; Lot Myrick Morrill, John N. Goodwin, Charles Wesley Walton, John H. Rice, Frederick Augustus Pike, Anson Peaslee Morrill, and Ohio Representatives; William P. Cutler, and Albert Gallatin Riddle. Recommends William Archer for promotion to lieutenancy in the regular army. Praises his history in the service. Describes his loyalty to the Union even when tempted with bribes from the other traitorous soldiers and rebel forces. With endorsements and notes on verso. One stating…

GLC05603.01.10

29 June 1875

Hamlin, Hannibal, 1809-1891

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry C. Rives

States that he does not have an autograph of the late President Lincoln that he can send.

GLC05603.01.11

9 March 1894

Nicolay, John G., 1832-1901

Autograph note signed

Title: to Norris Howes

Note sending his autograph. On stationary of the Boston Athletic Association.

GLC05603.01.15

13 December 1862

Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood), 1808-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Recommends T. J. Barnett of New York as a judge in one of the territories of the United States. On stationary of the Department of the Interior.

GLC05603.01.16

1 July 1867

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

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Albert Harrington as a cadet in the United States Military]

Signed by Stanton as Secretary of War and Edmund Schriver as Inspector of the Military Academy.

GLC05603.01.19

12 February 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Collector of Customs, Alexandria, Virginia

Orders that the Commanding Officer of the Brig Perry require all vessels to produce a certified list of their crew from the Custom house at Georgetown or Alexandria. This is to prevent parties from avoiding the pass system on the Potomac by claiming to be part of the crew of a vessel.

GLC05603.01.21

19 January 1829

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Recommends George Bass for a position in the Boston Port of Customs as a Boarding Officer. Addressed to Rush as the Secretary of the Treasury.

GLC05603.01.27

23 June 1864

Clifton, A. D., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sallie Clifton

Written from camp near [Colombus]. Describes a sore on his arm and the swelling it has caused. Teases her about the number of shirts she sent him and tells her the weight of them is ruining his horse's back. Assures her of his safety and says he has faith God will allow him to see his family again. Writes, "I hope to meete god at the judgement bare and then be welcome to a seete onn his right hand and it is my prayers that you may be prepared to go with me thare to dwell in piece and happiness where there is no wars and pestilence..." Complains about the contempt other regiments feel…

GLC03135.09.05

31 December 1862

Jones, Maxine Harris, fl. 1860-1920

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Jones

Letter from his wife, signed "Max." Expresses her fears, anxiety, and despair over the war. Says they have heard bombing all day. Writes, "what agony would be mine to-night, did I not know this field of duty to your Country calls you, leads not to constant exposure on the field of battle, &c that today your dear bosom has not be exposed to those missles of death hurled by our enemies."

GLC03135.13.043

9 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Discusses the upcoming presidential election. Writes about the Prince of Wales, Edward Albert, passing through the area. Comments that they had special train cars (the royal train) that were done up in the most beautiful style. Describes the train cars as having silk velvet sofas, white muslin curtains, and rocking chairs. Inquires about the attire that the ladies wear and wants her to send some of the material.

GLC03523.32.01

18 November 1860

Braithwaite, Mary, fl. 1860-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to her friend about how much she misses her. Wishes for her not to move away in case they may return. Comments how she has not been to church but once and how she longs to go. Notes that she has spent the last week in bed and that she needs the prayers of all the Christians. Writes, "Isora are the young folks as wild as ever I hope they may see a beauty in religion for there is nothing else that can save them..." Inquires about friends and family.

GLC03523.32.02

circa 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister. Describes how they were supposed to go to Cincinnati, Ohio but just as they loaded the train car they received orders to stay put because their destination had changed. Discusses how the men behaved the night before they were supposed to leave for Cincinnati, Ohio. Describes them as building a great bonfire out of old barrels and pieces of boards and giving speeches. Writes, "you would not have known them when they had to come back by their actions for they was as sober as Deacons when they came back." Notes that several of the boys said that they would prefer being…

GLC03523.32.03

circa 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the condition of a friend of theirs named Spencer. Writes that the last time he saw Spencer was back at the junction in the hospital and that he heard that he was really sick. Notes that a gentleman told him that Spencer did not know anything at all for four days but that he has since improved. Comments that the rebels burned down the depot at Abbeville, Mississippi just before they arrived. Reports that several thousands of dollars were lost in property. They managed to save about 100 dollars in horse shoes, sugar molasses, and iron pots. Apologizes for not…

GLC03523.32.04

27 August 1862

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he and the boys are well. Discusses promotions that have been given out in his company. Notes that two of their sergeants were promoted to captains in "Negro Companys." Comments on all the marriages, including hers, that have taken place back home. Writes of how he would have liked to see the fight between two men that took place back home. Request that she has their father send him some stamps. Pages five through six are on a separate leaf measuring 19.3 x 11.9 cm.

GLC03523.32.05

22 February 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister about the men in camp. Writes of one man who is really sick in the hospital and of another who had "yelow janders" [yellow jaundice?]. Comments that several of the boys have had it. Describes his camp as being low and flat and that when it rains it gets very wet and muddy. The mud is so thick that it covers the men's boots and they cannot leave their tents without getting their feet wet. Requested that she writes him and tells him what the folks back home are doing.

GLC03523.32.06

circa 1862-1865

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from a camp two miles outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Mentions having some hard marches since they have been there. Comments that they have marched some 200 miles. Thanks her or his father (he does not know which one) for sending him stamps. Informs her about a man named Spencer dying of typhoid. Reports that his captain is on a furlough because he accidentally shot himself in the arm. The envelope has an image of a women and a flag on it.

GLC03523.32.07

22 March 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Sends his best wishes to everyone back home. Comments that he has not been sick since he has been in "Dixie." Writes that he is sorry to hear how many people are sick and dying back home. Describes how he would like to see all the deserters caught and returned to the regiment so they can see what soldiering is like. Informs her that he is not tired of soldiering yet. They completed cutting a canal through the levy last night. Mentions that some believe the whole lower part of Louisiana will flood. Writes of hearing cannons in the direction of Vicksburg, Mississippi every day and says…

GLC03523.32.08

March 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he was happy to hear that people are still patriotic. Comments he was happy to hear their late friend Spencer's body was returned home to his family. Mentions how he would like to see the Havens family begin teaching at a school. Believes that the Havens are the most capable to fill the station. Request that his sister tells a man named Arvin that, "he must not get in a pet at any thing if he wants to Succeed with the girls for they are Curious beings one has to pet them as he would any other pet or else they will sack him." Wishes her and everyone else back home…

GLC03523.32.09

6 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he sent 30 dollars by express to a man named Mr. Wells. Reports that there were 560 rebels who were marched into their camp the other night and that another 6000 to 8000 were taken in the same place. Writes that they are planning on taking them to Cincinnati, Ohio and exchanging them for our boys. Comments that he has heard that he may have another brother. Written on paper with an image of a liberty and the Union flag with a boat in the background. The ink has bled through the paper making some of the words illegible.

GLC03523.32.10

10 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Informs his sister that he will be marching out today towards Black River, Mississippi. Writes of a man named Nathan shooting himself in the hand, and says that his middle finger is now an inch back. Mentions various men in the army and reports on what they are up to and how they are doing. Comments on hearing big guns fired in the direction of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Reports that they took Grand Gulf, Mississippi and captured somewhere between 600 and 800 prisoners. Notes that some people believe that the prisoners have done their last fighting while others believe that they will be…

GLC03523.32.11

21 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from camp Fort Hill, two miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Discusses charging on the enemy last Tuesday. Describes having to charge over a large hill and fallen timber and brush where they then laid low and fired on the enemy. Reports that seven of their men were killed and 52 wounded. Writes that a man a named Robert Meade from his company was killed on the field and that Meade's brother who was right beside him was wounded and had to be carried off the field.

GLC03523.32.12

29 May 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from a camp two miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Reports that they have stormed the enemy's works twice, once on the 19th of May and the other on the 22nd of May. Writes that his company did not lose any men in the last assault, however, another company suffered heavy casualties, losing several men and wounding many others. Notes that several Captains were killed in the battle. Describes one of the men dying from a bullet entering through his neck and exiting out of his mouth.

GLC03523.32.13

6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Writes to his sister from the field. Reports that he has been in two fights so far and has not been injured yet. Discusses her upcoming wedding and how he would like to be there. Writes about there being very few girls and says that he has not seen 25 girls since he left home.

GLC03523.32.14

6 June 1863

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Sayles

Requests that his sister tell their father to do what he thinks is best with the money that he sent home. Writes that he should be able to send more money after the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Speaks of a friend being well and as fat as a pig. Mentions that he is also still fat but does not know how much he weighs. Comments that the plums are ripe right now and the peaches are almost ready. Writes that it is very warm there and that it barely rains now. Reports that they are digging rifle pits and making forts. Says that some of the rifle pits are close enough to the enemy where…

GLC03523.32.15