1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph letter

Title: to [David Henley]

Written by General Phillips as an officer under General John Burgoyne to Colonel Henley, former commander of the Prospect Hill barracks where many of the captured Convention troops were situated. Henley was brought before a court martial due to allegations of murder and mistreatment of British soldiers. Recipient is inferred from the content of the memorandum written above the letter. Memorandum says "Col: Henley wrote a letter to G: Ps:," which apologized for his improper use of language. "G: Ps:" is probably General Phillips. The letter below the memorandum is an answer to Henley's apology…

GLC04764.71

4 April 1778

Lind, John, fl. 1776-1778

Document signed

Title: Return of the Officers of the 20th Regiment that were killed in Action & Left Widows

Written by Lieutenant Colonel Lind. Lists the death of Lieutenant Thomas Lucas, who was killed on 19 September 1777 during the battles around Saratoga. He left behind a widow.

GLC04764.72

4 April 1778

Balcarres, Alexander Lindsay, Earl of, 1752-1825

Document signed

Title: Document listing killed in action at Saratoga

Written by the Earl of Balcarres as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 24th Regiment of Foot. Note says that Brigadier General Simon Fraser was killed 7 October 1777 at Freemans Farm. Docket says "To The Major of Brigade."

GLC04764.73

30 August 1860

Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ernie and Morton

Vice President and Presidential candidate Breckinridge updates two individuals from New York City on his progress regarding an upcoming speech. States "I have not as yet even made a note ... It would be better, perhaps, if we were more accustomed in the west to carefull written preparation."

GLC05007.01

1855 ca

Photograph

Title: [John Cabell Breckinridge]

Includes one carte de visite size albumen photograph mounted on a large mat.

GLC05007.02

4 July 1810

Everett, David, 1770-1813

Newspaper

Title: Boston patriot. [Vol. 3, no. 36 (July 4, 1810)]

Contains a section of the celebration of the Fourth of July which quotes a letter from John Adams. Prints correspondence from President John Adams dated 25 August 1781 from Amsterdam. A letter from the Massachusetts governor to the state legislature in regard to apprising the federal secretary of state of Massachusetts laws. Also contains news from England. With many advertisements.

GLC08830.02

1814/08/30

Committee of Correspondence of the City of Philadelphia

Printed letter

Title: to John Biddle

Indicates that the British attacked Washington, D.C., without any horses and may try to seize them wherever they land. Instructs Biddle to remove all horses from possible landing points for the British. The British had recently captured and burned Washington during the War of 1812.

GLC02978.02

7 March 1853

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Writes to his Secretary regarding a successful journey. Encloses public documents that require attention (not included). Is disappointed because Secretary of State William Marcy has not drawn up a Treaty of Extradition. Gadsden feels that his successful work in Mexico will be hailed in Washington. Reports that his recent meetings with Ward, Escandon, and L.S. Hargous, the U.S. Consul in Vera Cruz, have gone well and that he holds the upper hand. Mentions having dealt with the Mexican government regarding a treaty that is honorable to both parties. Asks Cripps to send the minutes of…

GLC03587.01

6 January 1854

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Writes to his Secretary regarding an upcoming reception at which he does not want to be present. Forwards a letter from J.B. Crocket of San Francisco (not included) who he wants Cripps to assist in deciphering a grant. Is still awaiting the notes from a conference Cripps was to send and explains that he may need to "make war" with Ward, using the notes as leverage. Mentions an upcoming interview with President Pierce and is concerned about his silence on the breach of trust, the center of which Gadsden believes is Ward and his cohorts. Promises that he and his treaty "will stand erect"…

GLC03587.07

February 5, 1854

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Annoyed with his Secretary regarding the conference notes he has been expecting since possibly March 1853 (see GLC03587.01 and .07). He has exposed Ward, and President Pierce has taken Gadsden's side. Gadsden is only disappointed that the provision regarding "the grant" has not been struck from the treaty, even after Ward had been outed. Rants about Ward being obtuse and treacherous and includes his thoughts on others' betrayals. Included clipping rebuts the rumor that Cripps became Gadsden's Secretary and Minister to Mexico because they were related. No postmark. Imprint in upper left…

GLC03587.08

February 22, 1854

Gadsden, James, 1788-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Writes to his Secretary reporting that the treaty is before the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations and expects a favorable decision which he hopes will upset Ward. Recaps the road to their success but adds a few caveats relating to unwanted amendments to the treaty. Discusses the importance of keeping the people involved in the treaty process honest and why it is their duty to do it. Notes that they want to replace Black enslaved people and enslave indigenous and Mexican people. Mentions the inevitable possession of Cuba. Adds personal news. Postmarked 22 February, Washington, DC.,…

GLC03587.09

January 22, 1782

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

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Indicates that he received intelligence from his correspondent about the British receiving reinforcements from New York in Charleston, he is "of opinion that the reinforcement you have received from General St. Clair, must have put you in a position to withstand those newly arrived." Doubts the news that the British reinforcements come from Ireland. The rest (starting on p. 1) at the end of which appears the signature. A separate three pages(which measure 28 x 21.5 cm) records the solution to the cipher, which discussion military strategy in the Southern Campaign. The cipher also notes…

GLC08903

22 June 1901

Jackson, Giles B., 1853-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to R. C. Burrow

Seeks information for the Negro Business League's attempt to document African-Americans who meet Virginia's voting requirements. Explains that "The Negro Business League of Va. is endeavoring to...assist the constitutional convention in deriving at a just and proper solution of the Negro problem in its deliberation." Asks Burrow, the Commissioner of Revenue of Virginia, for the names and addresses of all black businessmen in Virginia, and approximately how much they pay to the state in taxes and deeds. Signed by Jackson as secretary of the Negro Business League. Typed on stationary of the…

GLC08907

4 May 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William W. McKean

Redirects a ship, the Niagara under Captain W.W. McKean, originally sent to blockade Charleston to the Gulf of Mexico to "take measures for instituting and carrying into effect a rigid blockade of the Mississippi and such other ports, especially Mobile, as the force under your command will admit." Sends a copy of President Lincoln's proclamation ordering a blockade (not included). Mentions other ships that will participate. Docketed twice. Marked "Copy."

GLC08908

1862

Blakeslee, Amos C., 1826-?

Diary

Title: [Diary of Civil War surgeon]

Medical diary by U. S. Army contract surgeon covering the Union hospitals in and around Philadelphia. The bulk of the entries appear between 14 September 1862 and 23 November 1862. Comments on his hospital work, in which he treated wounded soldiers, and records news received from the frontlines. On 14 September he notes a flood in Philadelphia in which "some lives were lost." On 15 September he indicates that General George McClellan "reported a glorious victory" and two days later records hearing about Colonel Miles's death and surrender to the Confederates at Harper's Ferry. On 7…

GLC08909

1813/07/27

Bowen, J., fl. 1813

Printed document signed

Title: [Exchange papers for American prisoner of war Joseph W. Clark]

Countersigned by Jn. Haines and W. Boothby, who along with Bowen were "Commissioners of His Majesty's Transport Service," and Thomas Gribble as agent for prisoners of war on parole at Ashburton, England. Certifies that Clark, a master of an American merchant vessel who had been on parole in Britain since 31 March 1813, has permission to return to the United States and outlines the conditions and mode of his transfer. He was to travel from Ashburton to Dartmouth and embark aboard the Jenny Cartel. Identifying biographical and descriptive information about Clark appears on the verso and…

GLC02247.02

30 August 1814

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph document signed

Title: [Committee of Defence authorization for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to lead a Corps of Field Engineers]

The committee, empowered by the General Committee of Philadelphia, made Patterson the chief engineer and organizer of the corps and charged them with "the Defence of the City and its Environs."

GLC02978.01

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Call for applications to join a Corps of Field Engineers for the defense of Philadelphia]

Calls for 100 men to serve as artillerists. Indicates pay will be the same as artificers in the United States Army. The committee was authorized to raise the corps by the General Committee of Philadelphia.

GLC02978.03

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Announces that the Corps of Field Engineers will fortify the defenses of Philadelphia]

Indicates that a company of artillery will be devoted to building a defense of ports and obstructing the British army's approach during the War of 1812. The company would be outfitted with tools. They would come from the Corps of Field Engineers, which had been raised by the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence and led by Dr. Robert M. Patterson as the chief engineer (see GLC02973.01 and GLC02973.03).

GLC02978.04

1814/08/31

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision of Fortifications indispensable to the defense of Philadelphia] [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.05

1814/09/02

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for John Biddle to report to Dr. Robert M. Patterson and join the Corps of Field Engineers]

Biddle is identified as a member of the topographical engineers. Patterson had been appointed the chief engineer and organizer of the corps (see GLC02978.01) by the Philadelphia Committee of Defence. Williams signed this letter as "Chief Engineer."

GLC02978.06

1814/09/03

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to continue building a fortification]

Asks Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, to "direct & continue the operations on the heights next of Schuylkill [River] without delay.

GLC02978.07

1814/09/04

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Tells Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, that a man named Jonathan Jones, who knows the local terrain, can provide assistance to the topographical engineers. Also notes a man named Spencer Sargeant will be retained for communication purposes, possibly as a secretary.

GLC02978.08

1814/09/15

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Requests that Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, report whether or not a man named Dr. Paschall consented to having his grounds entered and upon what terms. Also asks him to report on others who had consented to have their grounds occupied and works built upon them by the Corps of Field Engineers. See GLC02978.10 for Patterson's response.

GLC02978.09

1814/09/15

Patterson, Robert M., 1787-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, reponds to Williams' request (see GLC02978.09). Indicates that Dr. Paschall refused to allow works to be built upon his land, but may consent if the works are not near his buildings, which he feared would be destroyed in an attack. Also reports that another man, Judge Lloyd, consented to works being built upon his grounds.

GLC02978.10