28 October 1862

Holt, Joseph, 1807-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas

The military commission investigating the surrender of Harpers Ferry desire that Major General Wool testify before the commission, and also bring with him all orders and correspondence between himself and Colonel Miles regarding the defense of Harpers Ferry. The Union army was badly defeated at Harpers Ferry on 15 September 1862 by Stonewall Jackson's forces, and forced to quickly surrender.

GLC06457

29 July 1862

Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Recommendation for the promotion of Lieutenant Col. Nelson A. Gesner]

Brigadier Generals David Bell Birney and Samuel P. Heintzelman, and Major General Kearny recommend Gesner for promotion to Colonel of the 101st Regiment, New York Volunteers. Major General Kearny supports Gesner's promotion, commending his service in the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks and his ability as a drill officer. All recommendations appear to have been written as dockets. Missing the page with the full recommendation. Prepared by Thomas W. Egan, Colonel, 40th Regiment, New York State Volunteers.

GLC06459

28 June 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Leander H. Riddle

Praises a fallen comrade and expresses the need for "care and protection of the widows and orphans of those who have offered up their lives in saving the nation." Comments on the death of General Thomas A. Smythe and Brigadier General Thomas. Written on printed stationery of the Army of the Potomac.

GLC06460

January 27, 1865

Merritt, Wesley, 1834-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Marked Confidential at top of first page. Addressed only to Major. Detailed instructions for a secret cavalry movement in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. "The enemy has a force of... not more than two hundred men... picketing across the valley.... The object is to capture this force.... No officer or private must know your real destination." Instructs the Major to march by way of Wardensville, continuing on to Devil's Hole and Columbia Furnace. Advises him to dispatch Major Jones to the valley pike south of Edinburg to capture the enemy there. Writes "It is very important that this…

GLC06461

8 March 1863

Quinby, Isaac F., 1821-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Leonard Fulton Ross

General Quinby, Commander of the 7th Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, writes from the steamer Superior. Encloses an extract from a letter (not included) in which General Ulysses S. Grant informs General James Birdseye McPherson of "his general plan of operations for the reduction of Vicksburg." Relates that Grant attaches great importance to Ross's movement down the Yazoo River. Informs Ross "We cannot afford to fail, but must move surely, even though it be slowly, towards the proposed end. The enemy doubtless knows of your progress, and has guessed your object before…

GLC06462

1 July 1852

Smith, W. L. G. (William L. G.), 1814-1878

Broadside

Title: [Advertisement for the book Life at the South, or "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as it is!]

Advertisement for Smith's book by Franklin Whipple. Initialled postscript indicates that Whipple is ready to fill orders. The book was written by W. L. G. Smith. Displays the book's table of contents. Notes the book contains 500 pages with ten illustrations and will cost $1.50. Smith's goal is to depict "...the condition of the Slave in his rude but comfortable cabin... showing that, in the case of the slave at least, contentment bestows more happiness than freedom: and at the same time to represent, as it is, a class of people, viz: The Planter, to whom justice has seldom been done."

GLC06464

February 14, 1848

Roe, P.J., fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Whiteman

Reports the death of four soldiers from the measles. Has recently left Mexico City and is camping out in tents, which he likes much better than being in the city as the men are much healthier. Reports the news of peace, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signed 2 February 1848. Tells Whiteman that he has not deceived her. He writes, "I think it entirely necessary for a woman to be satisfied fully of the heart of man and know before going to far that he has a breast that beats for her but of this I know that you are aware of my feelings towards you and more I wish that every thought that…

GLC06469

4 September 1859

Thompson, Dauphin Adolphus, 1838-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother and sister

Discusses preparations for the raid on Harper's Ferry. Never mentions a raid, or any specific plans, but states "we have not got ready to begin operations yet." Also does not reveal his location, saying he is writing from "parts unknown." Discusses a religious meeting of the anti-slavery "winebenarians" (Winbrennians). Worries that "we have to be very careful how we act in everything we have one colored man in our company who has been seen by a woman but she thinks he is a fugitive slave and that we are trying to help him onto his freedom," and thinks she will not report them. Also in…

GLC06471

1836-1877

Header Record

Title: Bound ledger, notes, and correspondence of Peter Cooper [decimalized .01-.07]

GLC06473

1836

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Manuscript document

Title: [ledger of Peter Cooper]

Contains alphabetical list of names in the style of a ledger or account book, often with numbers and/or letters written in the column before the name. This appears to be the original use for the volume. Most names in the latter half of the alphabet have been crossed out. There are notes in a different hand concerning scientific, industrial, and medical matters that fill the balance of the volume. These notes contain, among other things, cures for rheumatism and cholera, and methods for the manufacture of glue and processing of iron.

GLC06473.01

circa 1830

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Discusses coal and gas in firing ore and limestone. "...the cole being largest would role away from it in part towards the center and out side of the furnace leaving the ore and limestone in a position in the furnace where it will be likely to setel without much change..." Lacks at least the first leaf of the letter.

GLC06473.02

circa 1830

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Autograph note

Title: [Note on boiling or evaporating in a vacuum] [incomplete]

Possibly a note written to himself. "To boil or evaporate in a vacuum will...be free from liability to burn and will allow of reducing the liquid to any desired thickness..." Note is cut off at the end as the rest of the page is missing.

GLC06473.03

circa 1830

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Autograph note

Title: [Notes on the evaporation of glue with heated air]

Possibly a note written to himself. States in part, "In connection with this air I can introduce the fumes of sulfer or gas from charcoal to bleach and prevent decomposition."

GLC06473.04

circa 1830

Cooper, Peter, 1791-1883

Autograph note

Title: [Notes on dried concentrate for lemonade] [Incomplete]

Possibly a note written to himself. States in part, "Suppose we introduce the assid and the esence of Lemon and Sugar and then cut the slabs a little thicker and dry them the whole length of cooler so that the art[?]al will only require soaking and dissolving for use. It could then be put up in roles [sic] or squares just the size for a quart." Bottom half of the page is missing.

GLC06473.05

1863-1864

Crans, Adolphus W., fl. 1863-1864

Header Record

Title: [Soldier's collection] [Decimalized .01- .43]

Collection includes 25 signed letters, most accompanied by envelopes. Also a Roll of Company B, 1st NY Cavalry. Crans discusses his experience in battle, and Washington D.C. Includes reports from Toliver (Taliaferro) Heights and Middleton, Virginia, and Maryland. Includes photographs: John C. [Fentee], E.J. M. Mullen, George [Bandoll], an unidentified man and woman standing, and an unidentified man on stooop.

GLC06627.01

9 March 1879

Miles, Nelson A., 1839-1925

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

Colonel Miles of the 5th Infantry sends a report to an unnamed "Dear General" [William T. Sherman]. Concerns Indians in Montana, recounting how "the followers of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Lame Deer had been forced to surrender." Discussing the military presence there, his contributions, the command structure of the military operation, and his desire for a senior post in charge of the District of Montana. With an autograph endorsement signed by Sherman, forwarding this letter and his reply to Sheridan. Written from Ebbitt House.

GLC06629

24 June 1782

Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Harrison

Informs Harrison that the French troops will soon be marching North out of Virginia. After aiding in the American victory at Yorktown, French forces had wintered in Virginia. Plans to leave behind a small French force under "Mr. De La Valette, Brigadier General" until American forces can replace them and defend York and Hampton. Suggests Colonel Charles Dabney's forces be assigned this task. Thanks Harrison for his hospitality. Says he has enclosed a letter from George Washington on these subjects. Docket reads "Count Rochambeau June 24 1782. See Gen Washington May 4 1782." The…

GLC06632

12 August 1775

Lee, Charles, 1731-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written by Lee as commander of the left wing of the army besieging Boston to Morris as a member of Pennsylvania Council of Safety, with special assignments to procure arms and ammunition. Written on Winter Hill, which is part of modern day Somerville, Massachusetts. Says Morris should not feel the need to apologize for offering recommendations since he has put a "load of jobbs" on Morris. Says the army is in need of medical personnel and that the talents of the draftsman Mr. Lakes are much appreciated. Can use more people like him. Reports they are in the same situation as the last time he…

GLC06645.01

February 2, 1865

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Josiah G. Holland]

Chief Justice Chase, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln, recalls that Lincoln's first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet on 22 September [1862] was preceded by his reading aloud a chapter from Artemus Ward. Writes that he is inclined to have Lincoln's remarks sent to to the recipient, "Nothing prevents save some doubt whether it can be properly done even in confidence. They do honor to him as a man, a patriot & a statesman - great honor." Letter is only addressed to "dear sir." Recipient inferred.

GLC06647

January 15, 1874

Herndon, William H., 1818-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Noyes

Replies to a request for a lecture on Abraham Lincoln's religion. Describes Lincoln as "a kind - tender & sympathetic man feeling deeply in the presence of suffering - pain - wrong or oppression in any shape: he was the very essence and substance of truth ..." States that in the 25 years he knew Lincoln, he never knew him to do a wrong thing. "I never knew so true a man - so good a one - so just a one - so uncorrupted and so uncorruptable a one." Remarks at the end that Lincoln was not a social man.

GLC06648.02

January 17, 1931

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter advocating work on behalf of under-privileged children.

GLC06649.02

28 September 1899

McKinley, William, 1843-1901

Document signed

Title: Authority to Affix seal of U.S. to letter to Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria

GLC06649.05

9 July 1755

Braddock, Edward, fl. 1755

Manuscript document

Title: A List of the Officers who were present, and of those Killed and Wounded in the Action on the Banks of Monongahela the 9th Day of July 1755

From the expedition against Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. Reports that Major General Edward Braddock died of his wounds and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage was slightly wounded. Mentions George Washington as participating officer.

GLC06650

January 1935

York, Alvin C., 1887-1964

Document signed

Title: VFW petition for payment adjusted compensation

Petition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars signed by approximately thirty veterans. Includes clipping and brief handwritten description.

GLC06651.01

4 March 1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Broadside

Title: [Inaugural address of John Quincy Adams]

President Adams inaugural address printed in an extra from the National Intelligencer, a Washington, D.C., newspaper.

GLC06661