24 May 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Shares with his son that his grandmother has died recently. Notes that he does not know whether or not Joseph participated in the 16 May 1863 battle "West of Jackson," (the Battle of Champion Hill, an engagement in the Vicksburg Campaign). Includes a short note at the bottom written the next day discussing the draft. States that previously, drafted men had been able to purchase exemption for $300. Notes that many men are outraged regarding Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton's intention to eliminate the exemption, requiring drafted men to either serve in the war or find a substitute. Likely…

GLC03523.10.068

29 May 1863

Byers, Ephraim, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Maitland

Laments the recent death of his mother. Mentions that he heard that Maitland sold his mill, and asks for the particulars of the sale.

GLC03523.10.069

9 June 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports to his son that their family friend has gone deaf and dumb in service and did not receive a discharge from the army. Writes, "I trust by the time this reaches you Vicksburg will have fallen. I do not know whether you are aware that the Legislature passed a new Militia Law which requires every able-bodied white man between the ages of Eighteen and forty five to perform Military duty. The preparatory steps are being taken now by the Trustees of the Township to say who are exempt by Surgeons Certificate... This should have been done two years ago: When the Rebellion commenced; and by…

GLC03523.10.070

8 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Brother

Writes from the "Rear of Vicksburg," reporting that "little firing has been done for several days on either side. We are just lying here keeping the Rebs. in & tormenting them once in a while with a few Shells. It is hard to tell when they will be willing to surrender but I don't think they can hold out very long."

GLC03523.10.071

18 June 1863

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Reports to his son that "Gen Lee, has stolen a march on our army again and has Outgeneralled [sic] Hooker and has passed him and has gotten into the Shanandoah Valley again & has taken Winchester and Martinsburg and some of his Cavalry has made a sudden dash into Penn. and at last accounts 6,000 men were at Carlisle within 18 miles of Harrisburg it causes great Consternation in the Public mind the President has issued a call for 100,000 men for 6 months 50,000 from Penn 30,000 from Ohio 10,000 from Western Va and 10,000 from Md."

GLC03523.10.072

20 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to Brother [incomplete]

Writes from the "Rear of Vicksburg" to his brother. Tells him, "last night Co. E of our Regt. went on Picket. They advanced so close to the Rebs. that they were fired into & 8 or 9 of Co. were wounded..." Reports that the next morning, "a general bombardment of the Rebels was to be made all round the line accordingly...then you had better believe we heard music, The firing continued until 10 o'clock this forenoon when it gradually ceased. What effect our firing had on the Rebs I cant tell but think it certainly must have been a tolerably warm place inside their Fort. Johnston was coming…

GLC03523.10.073

circa 1863

Mast, Elhanan M., fl. 1837-1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Order of picket guard]

Document titled, "Order of Piquet Guard." Lists 15 rules such as, "3. Contraband Negroes not allowed inside lines. 4. Wagons must not go beyond Stations for wood." The document is unsigned, however on the back there is a note written in pencil by Elhanan M. Mast, Lieutenant Colonel, to Captain T. B. Van Horn from Stones River, Tennessee. Mast discusses his command and his tent.

GLC03523.10.074

23 June 1863

Maitland, Grier, fl. 1837-1920

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Writes to his brother, telling him all the news from home, such as the status of the corn and their mother's health. Discusses organization of the local militia. Continues writing 24 June, noting that General Rosecrans's brother, Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans, will speak at a picnic at the fair grounds. In a post script, asks his brother "Have you shaved since you are in the service; if not How big's your mustache and whiskers."

GLC03523.10.075

27 June 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter

Title: to his friend

Writes to a friend from camp near Black River, Mississippi, reporting that they recently left their camp in Vicksburg because "old Joe Johnston was coming up in our rear." Mentions that Generals Ambrose Burnside and Stephen Hurlbut have come with reinforcements. Reports that Union forces are strong in the area, as he is flanked by Quinby's Division, Sherman's Corps, and part of McClernand's Corps. Writes that two days prior, in Vicksburg, "Rebels came out their Fortifications and attempted to break through our lines but were defeated... They were forced to go back in their fort with heavy…

GLC03523.10.076

6 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler reminds his family that mail isn't always regular and asks them not to panic if they don't hear from him regularly. Feels that his company would have won the barrel of beer for best drilling had Captain Fields not mixed up his orders. Describes a 4th of July gun salute gone awry. Reports that the company has just received orders to move.

GLC07460.038

12 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Thanks his family for sending him the trunk of food and writes that it came at a good time because rations have been meager. Jokes that he will take his trunk with him now that he knows it can be carried and will give it furlough when it needs to return home. Writes that he wishes General John Hunt Morgan would massacre all the Copperheads in Indiana and "get massacred himself and all his crew". Also writes that the war would end more quickly if the Rebels "penetrated all the way up to Chicago" as the Northern Copperheads would "get sacked up". Praises Rosecrans and the fall of Vicksburg…

GLC07460.039

26 July 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother, and sister

Writes that musicians have it the easiest in the regiment because they can always stay in camp and out of the weather. Mentions to Darius, his brother-in-law, that the musicians speak highly of him all the time. Writes that he is glad his mother does not want a negro girl as he feels he's seen enough negroes to last him until the end of the war without having to live with one. Discusses his opinion on negroes in the South and emancipation. Describes going to town and seeing nothing but negroes everywhere: "If I was a stranger here to the country I would quickly decide that the country was…

GLC07460.040

1860/08/16

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Document signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Grants Archer leave of absence for three months and detachment from U.S.F.S Powhatan.

GLC01896.036

1860/09

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Document signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Orders to porceed to Philadelphia by September 18, 1860 to face examination for promotion to First Assistant Engineer.

GLC01896.038

1860/10/12

Archibald, Samuel, fl. 1855-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Response to Archer's letter explaining reasons for his resignation from the U.S. Navy, expressing sadness over Archer's resignation and wishing him good luck.

GLC01896.042

1860/11/01

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Toucey

Archer's formal resignation request. Marked "copy" in upper left corner.

GLC01896.043

1860/11/03

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Acceptance of Archer's resignation from the U.S. Navy.

GLC01896.044

1861/09/28

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Robert W. Jeffery

Duplicate of Gideon Welles' letter acknowledging Jeffery's resignation as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy.

GLC01896.047

29 March 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, and signed by him for Knox'. Knox advises against sending troops from the northern Continental force "to the southward ... supposing the events at Charlestown [Charleston, South Carolina] to prove unfortunate." Writes, "The great number of negroes and disaffected people in North and South Carolina will always render the conquest of that country comparatively easy with the more northern parts of the continent... But I cannot think it obligatory on Your Excellency to detach any troops at present from your small army; especially as you will be necessitated…

GLC02437.00805

23 May 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: An Opinion delivered 23rd May 1780 to His Excellency General Washington.

Title from docket. Details his opinions and analysis on military strategy and tactics in response to George Washington's questions. First discusses provisions, stating they "are the main savings of an army, and unless they are in perfect order, every movement depending on them, must be wrong, and will in the end, produce destruction." Suggests that this aspect should be put under the Quarter Master General. Discusses the siege of Charleston and detailed plans for a possible attack on New York.

GLC02437.00809

1860/08/20

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Toucey

Notification of having received letter granting leave of absence from Toucey. "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of my detachment, granting me a leave of Absence of three months from the 16th August." Marked "copy" in upper left corner.

GLC01896.037

1860/09/26

Goodwin, Mary Frances, fl. 1860-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roberta Jeffery

Written by Roberta's sister. Regarding the death of Roberta's baby and the ordeal she had to undego as a result. "...[A]nother of our band of dear little ones is foreve safe from the trials, dangers & temptations of this wicked world!...[You] must only try & feel submission to the will of God who has seen fit in so short a time to take two from you to heaven..." Continues on, further putting the death of Roberta's child in religious context, and encouraging Roberta in her time of distress.

GLC01896.039

1860/09/27

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Toucey

Notification of having received from Toucey orders to report for duty in Philadelphia, and decision to decline promotion in order to resign from service. "...I respectfully decline it, having determined to engage in private business, I therefore tender you my resignation as 3rd Asst. Engr..." Marked "copy" in upper left corner.

GLC01896.040

1860/09/27

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Archibald

Explaining reasons for his resignation to the Engineer in Chief of the U.S. Navy, and pride felt of serving in the Engineer Corps. "Since my return from the East Indies, in the "Powhatan", I have determined to pursue a private life with a view of advancing my own interest as well as that of my employees."

GLC01896.041

1860/11/13

Jeffery, Richard W., fl. 1855-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Jeffery

Expresses his disapproval of a possible appointment to office from Abraham Lincoln who has been elected president, the conflict between North and South, his advice to prepare for the worst and to hold above all else the fundamental principle of self-preservation. "...do not put any obtruction in the way, as far as your influence is concerned in making all preparations for the defense of our portion of the country..." Richard also expresses his belief that Lincoln's administration will fall apart in the first six months for he cannot possibly hold together both the conservative and…

GLC01896.045