24 September 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement submitting a proposal for the recovery of arms to Brigadier General Henry Alexander Wise]

Endorsement on a 22 September letter from [J. J. Frey?] to Major Smith Stansbury. Frey reports that he recently delivered rifles and muskets. Relates that a Mr. Sims, who resides near Turkey Island Creek (15 miles from Richmond), recently reported that Union General George Brinton McClellan's army threw 15,000 to 20,000 small arms into the creek. Sims is under the impression that it may be possible to recover the disposed arms. Major Stansbury signs, noting that the proposal for recovering arms has been forwarded to department commander General G. W. Smith. General Smith signs,…

GLC01926

4 April 1863

Jones, Samuel, 1819-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim Parker Scammon

Confederate General Jones, Commander of the Department of Western Virginia, writes to Union General Scammon. Transmits two letters (not included) regarding William Hughart and W. M. [Lydenstriker?], two prisoners taken from the Union Army. Reports that the captives were recognized as Confederate deserters, and will be tried before the proper tribunal. Relates that Union officers have threatened the Confederate captors, attempting to persuade them to parole Hughart and Lydenstriker. Jones declares, "I need hardly say that the threats of those men will have no weight whatever. I send the…

GLC01927

January 16, 1863

Wharton, Gabriel Colvin, 1824-1906

Letter signed

Title: to Eliakim Parker Scammon

Written from the Narrows of New River. Confederate Colonel Wharton writes to Union General Scammon for General Samuel Jones. Requests that Scammon allow several Confederates soldiers' wives living within Union lines to join their husbands. On page two, Wharton notes that this letter will be delivered by Lieutenants Roche and Douglas, with an escort, and is signed again by Wharton. Docket notes "Rebel communication by flag of truce."

GLC01928

24 March 1865

Allen, William Wirt, 1835-1894

Endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement on verso of letter from Captain J. Gardner]

In an autograph letter signed, Captain J. [D.?] Gardner writes to M. G. Hudson (possibly Marcellus G. Hudson), Acting Assistant Adjutant General for General Gabriel Colvin Wharton's corps. Gardner requests that several men from his company, now serving in another battery, be ordered to return to their command. Major V. M. Elmore signs on verso, noting that this request has been forwarded and approved. Also on verso, Colonel D. T. Blakey and General William Wirt Allen approve and forward Gardner's request. J. Warren Grigsby, Colonel and Chief of Staff, reports that the soldiers Gardner…

GLC01929

circa 1864

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Letter

Title: [Draft letter regarding recent conflict between soldiers and citizens]

Creator and circa year previously inferred. Reports that the previous day, Colonel Dibrill had informed Wheeler's adjutant that a man near Dibrill's camp had two hundred bushels of corn that he refused to sell. Wheeler instructed Dibrill to take some of the corn, and a fight ensued. One soldier was wounded from a shot, and the citizens guarding the corn finally surrendered. Wheeler ordered the citizens arrested, and is investigating the incident. Remarks, "I exceedingly regret this occurrence as my command was getting along remarkably well and all the citizens in the neighborhood of…

GLC01931

16 April 1863

Hardee, William J., 1815-1873

Letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Hardee, commanding 2nd Corps, Army of Tennessee, writes to General Braxton Bragg, commander of the Army of Tennessee. Discusses Bragg's accusations that General Polk (possibly Leonidas Polk) disobeyed his orders during previous operations in Kentucky. Writes "... you ask me... to inform you to what extent I sustained the General in his acknowledged disobedience. In answer, I have the honor to say that, while I do not desire to shrink from any responsibility incurred by me in the part I took in the Councils of war called by Lieut General Polk, I do not consider it proper in answer to a…

GLC01933

25 July 1863

Wharton, John Austin, 1806-1838

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Isaac W. Avery

General Wharton discusses Avery's failure to follow orders regarding a horse intended for Colonel Smith. Remarks that because Avery did not follow his orders, "Smith in consequence was compelled to walk across the mountains... to this place, whilst one of yr men rode his horse." Bottom left corner of page is missing.

GLC01934

1836/04/13

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Geo. Bomford re: $50,000 being set aside for building (gun?) carriages

Written on stationery of the War Department's Engineer Dept.

GLC01943

January 20, 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to the Marquis of Casa Yrujo

Madison, Secretary of State, encloses a copy of a letter (not included) addressed to President Jefferson by Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans trader and planter who supplied the United States with military materials obtained from the Spanish during the American Revolution. Informs the Marquis de Yrujo, Spanish Minister to the United States, that Pollock "has claims upon the Spanish administration at Havana, Cuba." Requests that Yrujo make interpositions on Pollock's behalf.

GLC01948

23 August 1872

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

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretaty of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Amos Owens, William Teal, David Collins and William Scruggs].

GLC01949

21 November 1866

Comstock, Cyrus Ballou, 1831-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Ortho Cresap Ord

Serving as senior aide-de-camp to General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant, Comstock authorizes General Ord to move soldiers from Little Rock to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Referring to reconstruction policies, informs Ord that "It is impossible for the General-in-Chief to give instructions which shall guide you in all extraordinary and exceptional cases; whenever such cases come within the provisions of the Civil Rights Bill, Freedmans Bureau Bill, or other laws, these laws must be your guide." Instructs Ord to return property to pre-war ownership, and to suppress all robbers and bushwhackers in his…

GLC01951

December 10, 1862

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Letter signed

Title: to James Wilson Grimes

Written by Rear Admiral Foote from the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting to Senator James Grimes of Iowa (Grimes served in the U.S. Senate 1859-1869). Grimes was a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs when this letter was written. References a letter he sent to Grimes the day before. Says he did not stress the qualifications of the ship builder John Lenthall as he should have. Praises Lenthall: "As far as I know and believe, Mr. Lenthall is incomparably beyond any of our Naval Constructors in making the profound calculations indispensable to ensure good results in the construction of a…

GLC01952

17 November 1870

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas B. Pugh

Douglass refuses to speak at the Philadelphia Academy of Music because of its discriminatory policies towards African Americans. The letter escalates into a barrage of criticism against the Academy and Philadelphia the "City of Brotherly Love", which according to Douglass "stands almost alone in the intensity of its wolfish hate and snobbish pride of race."

GLC01954

8 May 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [An Act more effectually to provide for the National Defense by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States].

Countersigned in type by Speaker of the House Jonathan Trumbull, President pro tempore of the Senate Richard Henry Lee, and President Washington. The act requires the enrollment in the militia of all able-bodied white men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. It also lists those who would be exempt and how the militia will be organized and run. Issued by the Second Congress of the United States. Signed as Secretary of State.

GLC01959

1808/02/17

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jean Guillaume Neuville re: whether foreigners can own land in the U.S.

Written as President to Baron Hyde de Neuville. Jefferson ventures an opinion but refers the question to lawyers, particularly in the several states.

GLC01960

1774/01/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: Bill for surveying and patenting land grant French & Indian War

Document signed for claim against James Ludlow with another Washington document, cosigned by William Crawford 2/25/1774, assigning the debt to Crawford.

GLC01963

27 October 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To the Members of the Society of Cincinnati... [speech as president]

One manuscript speech dated 1789, signed by Washington and addressed to those members of the Society in Massachusetts.

GLC01972

1 May 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph document

Title: Order for a military commission

Written on War Dept. stationery, with "War Department" struck and substituting "Executive Chamber." Title taken from docket. A draft for the orders by which the Booth conspirators were given military trial. Written as Secretary of War.

GLC01975

4 August 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Endorsement signed

Title: [Certifying return of three runaway servant men from the Potomac Company]

Certificate signed by Samuel Love Jr. that John Dubell brought before him three "Runaway Servant men the property of the Potomack Company." Says they were brought from Anthony Baine's property, which he thinks is 28 or 30 miles away. Verso has note signed by James Smith that Dubell returned three of the company's servants that ran away on 24 July 1786. The names of the servants were Patrick Ready, James Bryan, and David Lyon. Says will pay the bearer the reward from the advertisement. Dubell also signed the certificate that he received 60 dollars or 18 pounds, plus six dollars for expenses…

GLC01976

circa 1846

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to pardon of William F. Sterling, convicted of counterfeiting.

Sterling was convicted of passing counterfeit coin. Pardon framed with counterfeit coins and "fool's gold." One bust engraving of James K. Polk included as collateral.

GLC01980

December 21, 1953

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed letter signed

Title: to Charles Kohen

Thanks him for sending him a "two shillings and six-pence note, signed by John Morton." Will give the penny to Mrs. Eisenhower, "and I know she will want to thank you personally." Wishes him a Merry Christmas. Written on White House stationery. Marked personal.

GLC01981

1971/08/06

Nixon, Richard M., 1913-1994

Typed letter signed

Title: to Seymour Halpern

First Eisenhower dollar from mint, with original dollar.

GLC01982

3 April 1933

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Homer Cummings

Inquires of Attorney General Cummings if his Executive order 6102, which bans the ownership of gold, also applies to resident aliens. Written as President. One bust engraving of Roosevelt included.

GLC01983.01

1933/08/23

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Pamphlet

Title: Executive order relating to the hoarding, export, and earmarking of gold coin, bullion, or currency and to transactions in foreign exchange.

Orders all persons who hold gold coin, gold bullion, or gold certificates to file a report of same with the Secretary of the Treasury within fifteen days. Executive Order 6260.

GLC01983.02

December 21, 1950

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Typed letter signed

Title: to Paul Nachtman

Thanks him for recommending Thomas D. O'Keefe and for sending 1884 dollars and an 1884 gold piece. The handwritten addition mentions enclosures: "Here are some souveniers for you. They are for the Carson City dollars. I'll accept the gold piece as a present!" Typed on White House stationery with Truman's handwritten addition. Truman was born in 1884.

GLC01985