1 January to 4 January 1849

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her friend in Middleborough, Massachusetts, about her improving health, the new year, and wishing he were at home with her. Wishes she had psychic ability so she would always know what he was doing. Scolds him for his lack of correspondence and wonders if a certain woman has been occupying his time. Assures him that she will not be going sleigh riding with Mr. G any time soon. Discusses James and Lori (possibly a brother and sister-in-law) and his plans to mine gold in California. Wonders if Everett will get "gold fever" and move even further away for an even longer period of…

GLC06573.01

20 April to 3 May 1849

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her friend in Middleborough, Massachusetts, scolding him for his lack of correspondence. She is angry and wonders why she continues to write at all. Wonders if he is waiting to hear from her. Mentions having two teeth extracted without chloroform and how brave she was. Has decided to hold off on anesthetic until she has four removed. Ponders the possibility that Everett has died or married someone else. Reports that one of her clan is getting married and will not tell him if it is her. She hopes his letter arrives before she changes her name! Letter has no date, but possibly…

GLC06573.02

September 1849

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her friend using a new pen she is sure will make a difference. Expresses her loneliness without him and says she only lives when they are together and apologizes for inquiring about a possible marriage. She plainly explains that she would like to know where their relationship is going and that if he was more communicative, it would prevent much mental anguish.

GLC06573.03

6 January to 15 January 1850

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her husband who is currently in Boston. Mentions having received a letter from James (possibly a brother) who was seriously ill and has since forsaken California. Thanks Everett for sending papers, which are just as appreciated as letters. Worries about his safety in such a "mixed population" as there is in Boston. Writes that she is becoming increasingly anxious about his safety and worries constantly. Reports that she has received another letter from James and that he is recovered and his business is picking up. Is considering visiting a friend and waits for Everett's…

GLC06573.04

19 May 1850

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her husband (possibly in Plymouth) about visiting several friends and family members. Mentions the death of a family friend and the subsequent return of Catherine (possibly a sister). Is sorry she will not be able to see him this week but is glad to have finally received his letter. Talks about their baby and how it is getting along. Signed G.S. Rob[inson]. Written on blue paper.

GLC06573.05

8 December 1850

Sarah, fl. 1849-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Everett

Writes to her husband about his lack of correspondence. Expresses great grief over his inability to visit and, more so, his broken promises to see her. Written on blue paper.

GLC06573.06

20 April 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Schuckhardt

General Sherman replies to a previous letter from Schuckhardt. Discusses assisting their mutual friend Joseph Grafton with recovering the body of his brother Captain James Ingersoll Grafton, who was killed the previous month in the Battle of Averasborough. Relates he will ensure that Grafton's grave is properly marked, and he will assist in bringing the body back to the Grafton family's home area. Writes "I think the War is nearly if not quite over." States that he has been negotiating with General Joseph E. Johnston, and the results of this negotiation will be presented to the President…

GLC08895.02

1793

Pamphlet

Title: The Constitution of the New-Jersey Society, for the Promoting of Abolition of Slavery...

GLC08896

1795

Pamphlet

Title: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Second Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies Established in Different Parts of the United States, Assembled in Philadelphia ...

GLC08897

June 22, 1862

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Answers to questions included in a 14 June 1862 interrogation by Confederate President Jefferson Davis

General Beauregard answers questions Davis originally posed to Colonel W. P. Johnston regarding the 19 April-10 June Battle of Corinth, a Union victory. Beauregard includes both Davis's questions and his own replies. Mentions Generals Braxton Bragg, Polk (possibly Leonidas Polk), Earl Van Dorn, William Joseph Hardee, Sterling Price, and John Cabell Breckinridge. States that his actions were approved by General Robert E. Lee. Addresses issues such as choice of position and strategy, prevalent sickness in camp, and loss of military stores.

GLC08898

18 May 1864

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Manuscript document signed

Title: Strategy to save Virginia

"The two armies are now too far apart unless we consent to give up Petersburg, and place the capital in jeopardy. If Genl Lee will fall back behind the Chickahominy, engaging the enemy so as to draw fire on him, Genl Beauregard can bring up fifteen thousand men to unite with Breckinridge and fall upon the enemy's flank ... thus rendering Grant's defeat certain and decisive ..."

GLC08899.01

2 June 1864

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Manuscript document signed

Title: Memorandum on strategy

"The forced reconnaissance of today has shown that it is not prudent, at this juncture, to send off to the North side James River, Ransom's Brigade, which constitutes over one third of the Infantry force at present available here."

GLC08899.02

21 December 1864

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Letter signed

Title: to A. P. Mason

Writes to Colonel Mason about the shelling of Columbia, Tennessee and the situation of prisoners during the Tennessee Campaign: "I told him [Union General Edward Hatch] that we had no forces in the town excepting a skirmish line, that his fire has endangered his own wounded who are in the town, and that if it did not cease I should place the wounded directly under it. After this the firing ceased." Discusses his correspondence with Hatch about a prisoner exchange and his feelings that it implied that there were no Union infantry to the front of his position. Written at Headquarters near…

GLC08900

10 April 1864

Hurlbut, Stephen A., 1815-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. McPherson

Major General Hurlbut writes to Major General McPherson, commander of the Department of the Tennessee, about military strategy and organization. Counsels against consolidating "Memphis & Vicksburgh into the 'District of the Miss. River." Outlines his concerns, maintaining that even though it will affect his command, his sole concern is "the progress of our arms." Suggests that "the colored troops in this command should be fully under the control of the commanding General and that the system by which Brig Genl Thomas is authorized to issue independent orders direct to them without…

GLC08901

2 November 1863

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Discusses strategy to engage General Robert E. Lee's army. After much deliberation he decided "to attempt the movement by his right, throwing the whole army rapidly & secretly, across the Rappahannock at Banks ford & Fredericksburg & taking position on the heights beyond the town." Predicts that success will depend on celerity and secrecy. Also mentions a delay with the railroad, the unchanged Confederate position, and rumors of Lee receiving reinforcements, all before his lengthier discussion of his plans against Lee's army. Written on stationary of the "Head-Quarters…

GLC08902

25 November 1860

Muggins, Pete, fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Intensely vitriolic letter sent to President Lincoln shortly after his election: "God damn your god damned old Hellfired soul to hell god damn you...Now you God damned old Abolition son of a bitch God damn you..." Attached to a board with a transcription and description dubbing this the "Hot stove" letter.

GLC08904

13 March 1838

Hopkin Brothers (firm), fl. 1819-1838

Letter signed

Title: to William B. Stone

Discusses debts and financial arrangements. Also comments on slaves being used as collateral: "We regret that you have had so much trouble with Keybird the lien on the Negroes is ample security for our debt." Hopkins Brothers was a commission firm founded by Johns Hopkins (who also founded the university named for him). Stone was possibly the William B. Stone who was a merchant merchant in Port Tobacco and Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

GLC08905

16-19 August 1856

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jason Brown and others

Discusses the fighting between pro-slavey and anti-slavery activists in Kansas. Explains that "Events of the most stirring character are now passing within hearing distance...more than 200 shots have been fired within the past half hour, and within a mile of our Camp. Have just learned that some 80 of our free state men have 'pitched in' to a pro-slavery Camp this side of Lecompton." Provides a rich description of both current events and happenings over the past month, both their own actions and those of the pro-slavey men. Recounts the capture of "The notorious Col Titus who only a day…

GLC08906

1863

Buchanan, William R., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: [Civil War diary of William R. Buchanan]

Diary of U. S. soldier covering the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Chattanooga campaigns. The entries are sporadic near the beginning of the year but near-daily from March until December. On 3 July 1863, at Gettysburg, he writes: "at daylight went into action and took a position on a hill where Lieut. McKeever was picked off with a large number of our men...When we buried Lt. McKin the after'n went in again & held them all night." Signed by Buchanan, who provides his address in Philadelphia in case the diary was lost.

GLC08910

May 1864

Manuscript document

Title: [Pay and Muster roll with wages for former slaves]

Lists approximately 100 freedmen by name on the "Mdme. Rosts Hermitage Plantation, Parish St. Charles," Louisiana, who were under the charge of Federal officer Henry B. Fitch. Next to their names are their ages and wages. In some cases there are notes next to the entries; one is listed as a "Suckler" and one with "Child sick -deduct rations." The plantation was that of Pierre Adolphe Rost (1797-1868), a French immigrant, Louisiana judge, and Confederate diplomat. The Union army had seized the plantation while the Rosts were in Europe, and transformed it into a work colony where…

GLC08912

August 1862-October 1863

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Header Record

Title: [Civil War letters of Grove Bell, a private in the Union Army] [decimalized]

This collection is a series of 15 letters and one printed poem from Private Grove Bell to a number of recipients, including his sister. The poem is dedicated to the Ladies of Portland, Connecticut, Bell's hometown. Private Bell enlisted in the 20th Connecticut Infantry on August 4, 1862. He was mustered into D Company. In 1862 and 1863 the 20th Connecticut fought as part of the Army of the Potomac and saw action in Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Although Bell survived extensive action in both these battles, he died on December 4, 1863. Highlights of the collection include a letter…

GLC08913

September 1862- July 1876

Rifenburgh, Peter E., 1843-1863

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Peter E. Rifenburgh and Louis Brooks, 128th regiment, New York, infantry] [decimalized]

This collection consists mostly of a series of letters from Private Peter E. Rifenburgh and Sergeant Louis Brooks of Clermont, New York. Private Rifenburgh enlisted in the Union army on August 12, 1862, when he was 19, in Germantown, New York. On August 22, he was mustered into K Company of the 128th New York Infantry regiment. The next day, the 128th left for Baltimore, Maryland. From there, the regiment travelled to New Orleans by way of Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. In January, 1863, Rifenburgh's regiment was assigned to General William T. Sherman's division. It took part in both of…

GLC08914

18 July 1863

Manuscript document

Title: List of Casualties in 6th Reg't Conn Vols 1st Brigade Morris' Island

Lists men in the regiment and details of their injuries. Additional casualties and their type (killed, wounded, taken prisoner) are marked in pink ink next to the names at later dates. Some of the casualties were from the siege of Fort Wagner, which lasted from 18 July 1863 to 7 September 1863.

GLC08915

1864

Davis, Garrett, 1801-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. Garrett Davis, of Kentucky, in Committee of the Whole; in which He Gives a Sketch of the Political History of Massachusetts

Published by L.Towers & Co. Speech delivered in U.S. Senate on February 16-17, 1864. Includes a detailed account of a resolution of expulsion brought against Davis by a Massachusetts senator.

GLC01265.25

1867

Pierrepont, Edwards, 1817-1892

Pamphlet

Title: Argument of Hon. Edwards Pierrepont to the jury, on the trial of John H. Surratt for the murder of president Lincoln

Printed at the Government Printing Office. Pierrepont was chosen to prosecute John Surratt. Presents detailed evidence against Surratt, including excerpts of testimony from various witnesses such as Mary Branson. Also includes various letters inlvolving other conspirators to further support his case. Surratt, unlike the other conspirators, was tried in a civilian court, not a military court. The trial ended with a hung jury on August 10, 1867. The federal government eventually dropped all charges against Surratt and released him from custody in the summer of 1868.

GLC01265.28