16 May 1864

Williams, K.A., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

Rather than have his two captured enslaved people return home, Williams wants them to work for the Confederacy. He would prefer they be shot rather than fall into Yankee hands again. Suggests one would make a good servant for Wortham. Written at the Roanoke Post Office, Martin Country, North Carolina. Excerpt: "I understand that I have two Negro boys in Plymouth among the captured Negroes by the names of Peter & Frank. I do not want them to come home & wish you to take charge of them & work them for the Confederate Government till this war is over & should there be any…

GLC02233.39

19 May 1864

Gatlin, Richard Caswell, 1809-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

Gatlin received Wortham's recommendations for promotions for Best and Penny but cannot issue any other commissions until the commission for Captain Ryals is issued. Richard C. Gatlin, after retiring early in the war as a Confederate Brigadier General, served as the adjutant general and inspector general for North Carolina.

GLC02233.40

25 April 1864

Van Hook, John C., 1831-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

States: "I was ordered by Gen Whiting last night to be in readiness to move at a moments warning & to have the Battery in readiness also. & farther to report all vessels in the [offing?]. I suppose he anticipates an attack from the Beach...we are looking out for lively times here soon." Also asks Wortham to send a box of cartridges. Written from Headquarters at Virginia Creek, earthworks that were part of coastal defenses of Wilmington. John C. Van Hook was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.

GLC02233.42

1 June 1864

Edmundson, Jesse Wright, 1845-1917

Document signed

Title: [Pass for J.A. Lloyd to pass through the picket lines for one month]

Permitting J. A. Lloyd, a local resident of Plymouth, to pass through the picket lines for one month. Printed on back of map fragment.

GLC02233.43

3 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Informs Lucy that Mr. Edes of Boston will soon be leaving Morristown. Looks forward to receiving more letters from Lucy. Text loss on both pages due to paper loss and repair.

GLC02437.00585

4 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Lucy Knox [incomplete]

Informs Lucy that she has full possession of his heart. Expresses relief that her case of smallpox has improved. Discusses Mr. Bowdoin, possibly a man hired to help Lucy upon the departure of a previous servant or assistant, Mr. Bolling. Discusses the British burning of Danbury, Connecticut, which took place in April 1777. Notes that the loss of stores in Danbury "was very amply made up in the store ship lately taken and carried into Dartmouth." Discusses the possible intentions of British General William Howe, and whether he is bound for Philadelphia or the Hudson River.

GLC02437.00586

5 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Eveleigh

Reports that ships loaded with arms have arrived from France. Notes that Lord Cornwallis nearly captured General Benjamin Lincoln, but Lincoln's party escaped. Mentions the capture of Captain Flahaven on 20 April (Knox writes "Flahaen"). Comments on the British attack at Peekskill, New York. Notes that a counterattack by American General Alexander McDougall forced the evacuation of the British. Describes the destruction of stores by the British in Danbury, Connecticut (April 1777) in great detail. Notes that the recent battle is "a pleasing proof that the Yeomanry of America have not…

GLC02437.00587

7 May 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Henry Jackson recommends Captain Mullens, who carries this letter to Knox. Reports that Mullens is "an Irish gentleman & has been in the French Service for 20 years." Notes that Mullens seeks an appointment, and if he does not receive such he will take command of a company of Jackson's regiment. Writes, "he appears to me to be a very fine Officer & much of a Gentleman."

GLC02437.00588

8 May 1777

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that their daughter has smallpox, but is recovering, and acting "very lively." Discusses sending Knox waistcoats and breeches through Colonel Mason. At her current location, has no company except for [Henry] Gardner, Treasurer of Massachusetts, and Madam Heath, "who is so stiff it is impossible to be sociable with her."

GLC02437.00589

10 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy. Knox writes to Adams, the Massachusetts representative to Continental Congress. Mentions obtaining cannon cast from the furnace at Salisbury, Massachusetts. Discusses a failed attempt by Colonel Stewart, aide-de-camp to General [Horatio] Gates, to obtain cannon for Ticonderoga, New York. Notes that Congress disapproved of the cannon price, thus Ticonderoga remains without the cannon. Writes, "I sincerely wish that the spirit of enterprise may animate our army; but you well know, my Dear Sir, during the winter past and the most part of the spring, we have had no army to be…

GLC02437.00590

15 May 1777

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that he has not recently written to Henry, his brother, due to a "violent inflamation of my blood, which threw itself into my arms & hands in such a manner as to deprive me of the use of them for some days..." Discusses raising a sum of money pertaining to Colonel Jackson (possibly Henry Jackson).

GLC02437.00592

17 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that he is in Peekskill with General [Nathanael] Greene. Asks Lucy why she did not write to him in the last post, declaring, "I write you by every opportunity and expect the same from her who is far dearer to me than life..." Asks about her recovery, possibly referring to her recent bout with smallpox.

GLC02437.00593

17 May 1777

Sweers, Cornelius, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of goods for Henry Knox by order of Captain Lieutenant Treat]

Signed by Sweers, commissary of military stores in Philadelphia, who notes that the contents were received in full from Treat. Lists water biscuits, green tea, and other items.

GLC02437.00594

8 May 1777

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written at "Sewal's Point," evidently Sewall's Point, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Their daughter, Lucy, has small pox, and "the poor little soul- is covered from head to foot with it- she has upwards of eaighty [sic] on her sweet face..." Relates that Billy (Knox's brother William) has returned from Providence, Rhode Island. General [Henry] Jackson will begin recruiting troops soon, and General [William] Heath informed Lucy that an order has been issued for Jackson's troops to remain in Boston. Remarks, "the people in Boston are all mad moving out as fast as possible, for fear of genl…

GLC02437.10012

July 1918

Committee on Public Information, 1917–1919

Photograph

Title: "At the grave of Lt. Quentin Roosevelt."

Chaplain Francis P. Duffy conducts a service at the grave of Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, near Chamery, France. Lt. Roosevelt's plane was brought down back of the German lines, July 14, 1918. The American advance brought the spot within American lines a few days later. The Germans had marked the grave with a cross of boughs and an inscription upon a board from the wrecked plane: 'Lt. Roosevelt, American Aviator.'" Stamp of U.S. Committee on Public Information on reverse. A second stamp on back reads: "A.E.F. [American Expeditionary Forces] Passed as Censored."

GLC07002.90

4 September 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses surprise that the Continental Army has no knowledge of British General William Howe's location. Thinks it's possible, but unlikely, Howe intends to sail for Boston. Comments on the Battle of Bennington and the performance of General John Stark: "Genl Starks Action I think view'g every circumstance stands first in the American War... before this the Enemy were Ravage'g, butcherg and Scalp'g all before them, not a prisoner fell in there Land but was Tomhawk't to Death- now all is quiet with them & we hear nothing of their Scalp'g & c." Relates that [Burgoyne] has possibly…

GLC02437.00647

18 September 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson declares, "...I am sure if we exert ourselves to the Southward & Northward as we ought to do that this Campaign will nearly bring the War to a Close, and establish our Independence." Reports he has heard news that Generals Horatio Gates, Benjamin Lincoln, and Benedict Arnold intend to attack British General John Burgoyne's army (near Saratoga, New York). Discusses growth of militia in the State of Massachusetts, noting "...its said there is the finest body of militia now in the field that wer [sic] ever known..." Mentions that some towns, being unable to raise enough voluntary…

GLC02437.00650

10 October 1777 - 17 September 1779

Manuscript document

Title: A copy of Three Acts of Congress in favor of Silas Talbot

Title from docket. Includes acts for 10 October 1777, 14 November 1778, and 17 September 1779. The first act promotes Talbot to Major for his attempt to set fire to a British ship "and that he be recommended to General Washington for employment agreeable to his Rank." The second act commends Talbot on his capture of the Pigot, a schooner, presenting Talbot with the Commission of Lieutenant Colonel. The third act, on the motion of [Henry] Laurens, commissions Talbot as Captain in the United States Navy.

GLC02437.00656

circa 27-29 October 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Response to queries from Headquarters]

In the hand of Samuel Shaw. Knox expresses his opinion against a general attack on the British. Writes, "It requires the best discipline, the firmest spirit, and good officers, to storm works or to make an impression on British troops. Not that I suppose the Europeans will make better soldiers than the Americans, but that habitual discipline to which they are used and in which all their officers are initiated gives them a superiority over us, which nothing but a similar discipline or superior numbers can counterbalance." Discusses the division in Continental troops between northern (…

GLC02437.00660

26 November 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Penned by Samuel Shaw, with post-script in Knox's hand. Knox answers the question: "... whether it would be advisable to attack the enemies redoubts and the City of Philadelphia by way of storm ... " Knox writes, "I exceedingly lament my want of ability and experience to fill properly the important station in which I am, and am more particularly distressed when such important questions are referred to my decision as those which your Excellency gave us in charge the last evening. The happiness or misery of the People of America may be the consequences of a right or erroneous judgement."…

GLC02437.00667

27 November 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Jackson writes, "Are you dead or alive- one post after another, and not a line from you-its a Mo since I saw your hand writi'g." Describes his attempts to enlist soldiers. Asks if George Washington would approve if he enlists British General John Burgoyne's men, who are marching through on their way to embark for England following the British defeat at Saratoga. Argues that since Burgoyne's men are neither prisoners nor deserters, he should be able to recruit them. Hopes to obtain a set of bayonet belts based on the English pattern. Reports he will not be able to make it to camp…

GLC02437.00668

1 December 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Offers his opinion as to "the position proper for Winter Quarters." Argues that winter quarters are "indispensably necessary" for Continental troops. Suggests that quarters be established at a distance from the British (who occupy Philadelphia). Writes, "Could a place be found about 30 miles distant from & North or NW of Philadelphia in which it was possible to quarter the troops I should prefer it to a greater distance, or different direction as by it we should be able to cover a greater extent of Country than by taking post at Wilmington ... " Hopes to establish winter quarters in…

GLC02437.00669

3 December 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Offers Washington his sentiments "upon the advisability of a Winter Campaign and practicability of an attack upon Philadelphia with the aid of a considerable body of Militia asembled [sic] at an appointed time and place ... I think a Winters Campaign under the present circumstances will be the inevitable destruction if not of the Liberties of the Country yet of the present Army ... " Gives his reasons for arguing against a winter campaign, including the Continental Army's lack of suitable clothing, the strength of the British fortified at Philadelphia, and the uncertainty of gathering enough…

GLC02437.00671

1863

Emerick, J. H., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: Wallet dairy.

10 almanac and preface pages + 120 diary pages + 30 memoranda and account pages. Entries include details of working life, war news. NB. No entries from June 22 - July 10. Emerick was ill during this period, with "symptoms of typhus." (Entry for July 11th). Summary of selected entries: 1. 02/27/63. "Hooker gone to Washington tonight." 2. 03/02/63. "Sent rep. To Phila. Inquirer tonight. Not much for news. The rebels are reported as doing some damage with our ram "Queen of the West." Large force of rebels reported in vicinity of Bull Run range." 3. 04/10/63. "Rebel Report of our attack…

GLC06738.03

1865

Emerick, J. H., fl. 1861-1865

Diary

Title: Pocket diary

14 prefatory and almanac pages + 170 diary pages + 32 memoranda and account pages. NB. Missing: pages for December 15 -31. No entries: August 28 - September 1; September 3 - 17; September 24 - October 13; October 16 - November 11; November 15 - December 14, excepting a sum on November 21st and the word "very" on December 13. Summary of selected entries 1. 01/05/65. Commander Melander and other officers of the Swedish navy arrive to visit the Army of the Potomac. 2. 01/27/65. General Grant goes south "to Savannah or Ft. Fisher or both." Also, message from Major E. re. O'Brien being…

GLC06738.05