1867-1869

Thompson, Samuel K., fl. 1867-1869

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel K. Thompson]

Officer diary of a Civil War veteran who had served as lieutenant in the 54th U.S. Colored Infantry during the war. The three diaries were written during service in one of four "buffalo soldier" regiments created after the war, comprising African-American volunteers and white commissioned officers, to occupy the South during Reconstruction and to man frontier forts on the Plains. Each diary includes additional notes and small newspaper clippings and a copy of his will (written April 1867). They provide great insight into the early history of one of the most celebrated "colored" regiments of…

GLC09357

1863-1870

Barwood, James, fl. 1863-1870

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Barwood James]

Three letters, two of war date, from a British-born American seaman. One written during the siege of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1863. He offers fine detail on life aboard Civil War naval vessels, as well as the conflicted attitudes of many northern seamen and soldiers on war aims and race relations. He was skeptical about abolition, as seen in the question he raises with his friend, "Are we wronging 10,000,000 whites to right 4,000,000 Blacks who will never benefit by the righting?"

GLC09358

24 July 1861

Newspaper

Title: [Newspaper]

Offers Confederate view of the First Battle of Bull Run from a newspaper in Sandersville, Georgia. Page 2 is dedicated to reports of "The Great Battle of Manassas: …The Southern troops were again victorious, but the slaughter on both sides was terrific."

GLC09359

12 July 1862

Broadside

Title: [Instructions for guard duty]

Instructions for all enlisted and commissioned officers doing guard duty, issued by Major Wm. H. Haskell, 67th Regt. Ill, Guard Instructor, and Col. Joseph H. Tucker, Post Commander. Camp Douglas was a training camp near Chicago, but was used through most of the war as a POW camp beginning in early 1862 with Grant's capture of Fort Donelson, Tennessee.

GLC09360

4 October 1829

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Coffee

To John Coffee, General in the Tennessee state militia. During first year of his administration, Jackson forecasts his support for removal of the southeastern Indians, which would be made public in his message to Congress in 1830 and would result in the Indian Removal Act of 1830. "It has become necessary for the government of the United States, from the urgent complaints of the Cherokee Indians on the one hand, & the Executive of Georgia on the other, that we should cause to be ascertained the true and ancient line between the Cherokee and Creek Indians … and by a commissioner whose…

GLC09361

1850-1851

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Journal of the U.S.S. Portsmouth of the African Squadron, U.S. Navy]

Journal of the U.S.S. Portsmouth of the African Squadron, U.S. Navy, organized to protect legitimate American trading activity in western Africa, as well as to suppress "the Slave trade, so far as the Citizens of Flag of the U.S. may be found engaged therein." Includes a letter to the commander of the U.S.S. Dale, sending a copy of the treaty with Britain that authorized the anti-slave trade patrols, and the following order: "Should you meet any of the British Cruisers engaged in the suppression of the Slave trade, you are to communicate freely with them on this service, and whenever it can…

GLC09362

27 February 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David D. Porter

To Adm. David D. Porter. Vicksburg campaign letter re frustrated attempt to dig a canal to bypass Confederate forces. "At the present stage of water the submarine pump cannot be used. Capt. Prime therefore has had it put aboard the Champion. Will you be kind enough to let us have the pump and steamer again when the water falls about ten inches from its present level?"

GLC09363

1 June 1782-1789

Lawrence, John, 1719-1802

Printed document signed

Title: [Pay warrant for African American soldier]

Connecticut Line Continental Army, Revolutionary War pay warrant issued to African American soldier Nero Cross, for five pounds, eight shillings, and five pence. Signed by John Lawrence, treasurer of the State, "X" on verso by Cross, and docketed every year to 1789 when interest was paid.

GLC09364

22 June 1862

Jones, William B., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Jones writes from headquarters, Camp White House. Wishes Reeser well. Reports that he is within twenty miles of Richmond, Virginia and his company is fighting off Confederate guerrilla parties. Describes a skirmish in which the Confederates wounded twenty Union men, burned some hay and grain wagons, and stole mules. Jones's men took sixty Confederate prisoners. Describes confederate soldiers acting as "farmers and younian men untill we get out of thare site… we cant yet to do as we pleas or we wold not hav afarmer in Viriginey we wold kill them as fast as we cold find them… " Mentions…

GLC03523.43.02

23 June 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Signed G. J. H. Writes from Camp Alexandria. Thanks the recipient for the "interesting" letter he received. Mentions traveling 600 miles from Washington junction to Harpers Ferry, Virginia to Cumberland, Maryland by [train] cars. Describes the road being rough and Harpers Ferry being the roughest country he ever saw. Writes of washing himself "good" in the "little pool" everyday and believes that it benefits his health. Says he was "quite poor" when he first arrived from the 207th but he is now "fleshy." Worries about becoming sick and dying but believes that there is "sweet rest" in…

GLC03523.43.03

1 October 1863

Glauner, Mathias, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Reeser

Discusses arriving in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to look for work. Comments on the low wages in Washington and finding higher wages in Alexandria. Describes beginning work on Saturday repairing a bridge that the rebels tried burning. Reports that the bridge is about two miles from Alexandria on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Inquires about his farm. Comments on his boss telling him he strikes the men too quickly.

GLC03523.43.09

16 September 1864

Engberth, Jacob M., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Syrs] Glowner

Writes that he is in the hospital and that he would like to see him and the boys. Complains about not being able to rest and looking over Washington and seeing all the action. Discusses the presidential race between "old Abraham" [Abraham Lincoln] and George B. McClellan. Comments that there will be peace if McClellan is voted in but "if old Abe Gets in the War is not Goen to stop till the South is Subdued and that wont take more then fore years more and then the Jonies will have to come under and then we will have Peace and no Sepration." Writes that there is plenty to eat, good nurses…

GLC03523.43.13

1861-1864 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Half length bust portrait. Wearing a black dress.

GLC09192.01

1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a dark pattern dress.

GLC09192.02

1861-1864 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress. Same image as GLC09192.04.

GLC09192.03

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress. Same image as GLC09192.03.

GLC09192.04

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress.

GLC09192.05

November 1861

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Carte-de-visite of Mary Todd Lincoln

Brady imprint on verso. Full length bust portrait. Wearing a white pattern dress.

GLC09192.06

25 October 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Object

Title: to Alice Egerton

An engraved portrait of Jackson with lock of his white hair.

GLC00548.02

December 21, 1862

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Camp Stevens to a friend. Talks of the good weather, and the effect that the rainy weather has on his moods. Laments his lack of exercise. Tells of drawing clothes, and his regiment's getting last picks. Discusses plans to break up his brigade and regiments and move them under General Godfrey Weitzel. Finally, talks of the replacement of General Benjamin Franklin Butler by General Nathaniel P. Banks, who many are relieved to see take over, though Holly mentions some of Butler's successes.

GLC02165.14

4 November 1863

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written at Vermilion Bayou to a friend. Describes reading Mary's letters on the march, and the expansive plantation of a Rebel General "Moota" (perhaps General Alfred Mouton), commenting "you can imagine how things will look here in a day or two, not a fence will be left, nor hardly a building will be left to mark the spot..." Continues, empathizing with th Confederates--"I cannot blame them Rebels for holding out and fighting to the last extremity when I see such destruction taking place and I can imagine how I shall feel if my home should be stripped of everything." Describes the guerrilla…

GLC02165.15

20 December 1863

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written to a friend. Talks of a Colonel Merritt suspected of stealing from his regiment's mail, and a man accused of the same thing sent to Ship Island. Expresses hope for coming home in 11 months, but acceptance that, of course, he could die. Describes a march in a tremendous thunderstorm, and comments sarcastically that General William Franklin "and other generals would have thought if they had heard the conversation that night that they were thought highly of by the men of their command." Finally, asks Mary to send him a needle kit and says he includes stamps for postage.

GLC02165.16

22 May 1864

Holly, William H., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Davis

Written from "Lakeport, La." to a friend. Talks of the visit of the wife of his friend, William Hoyt, whom he will be sad to see leave as he enjoys having a "respectable female friend to chat with." Talks of how he wants to leave the army--"what a happy man I should be if I was permitted to live, to get out of this service, to know and feel that I am free, that I need not go to a place without I felt like it. But I am glad that I can say and feel that... I am in the hands of a just God that doeth all things well, we[re] it not for this faith I should feel miserable enough. Pray for me my dear…

GLC02165.17

30 October 1861

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that their father has been sick and their mother has the chills. He would like to visit his sister in Somerville but claims to be too bashful of coming within fifty yards of a female academy. Updates his sister on family and friends. Writes that he is having a hard time financially and will have to join the army for want of clothes. Complains that Memphis is boring and dull.

GLC02232.01

18 June 1861

Ward, Edward K., 1837-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Complains that letters from family in Memphis are few. Writes about his experience during a scouting expedition. Also mentions that the soldiers have been getting very good food because they are paying a nearby plantation cook to prepare food for them weekly. Comments on the independence of a soldier.

GLC02232.02