January 22, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. H. Waters

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Secretary of Governor Joseph Brown of Georgia. Replies to Waters' earlier letter advising Semmes that a brigade he formed cannot be recognized as it was not formed according to the proper rules (see GLC00572.25). States that the brigade was formed prior to the legislature passing the law requiring 10,000 volunteers. He also retorts "Nor was the idea entertained by any one that this organization was known to or authorized by any State law, or that it had the right or the power to confer any military rank whatever upon me or any other person." Docketed by…

GLC00572.30

January 23, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: to W. H. Chase

Retained copy of telegram sent to Major W. H. Chase in Montgomery, Alabama care of Governor Moore. Confirms receipt of a telegram concerning his company, the Columbus Guards, being called to Pensacola, Florida.

GLC00572.31

February 3, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: Orders No. 7

Retained copy of his orders No. 7, as captain of the Columbus Guard, gives orders regarding the departure of the company from Columbus, Georgia to serve as "an escort of honor to Company __ of the __ Regiment of Alabama volunteers." Possibly related to the Columbus Guards's honor service at Jefferson Davis's inauguration in Montgomery, Alabama. Countersigned by 3rd Sergeant Van Marcus. Docketed by Semmes on verso.

GLC00572.32

March 10, 1861

Brown, Joseph Emerson, 1821-1894

Telegram

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Telegram from the Governor of Georgia telling Semmes he must see him in Savannah immediately, before his company is organized. Reads " I must see you before you organize your command. Come to Savannah immediately - Answer." Docketed at bottom. On stationery of the American Telegraph Company.

GLC00572.33

28 October 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Orders No. ? on roll calls and drills]

Retained copy of his order relating to rules for roll call inspections, drills and parades for the 2nd Georgia Infantry of which Semmes was elected colonel at the outbreak of the war. Written in pencil from Camp near Centreville, Virginia.

GLC00572.34

December 3, 1861

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Jasper S. Whiting, major and assistant adjutant general, replies to Semmes's letter questioning something about certificates of disability. Written from the Headquarters of the 2nd Corps. Addressed to Semmes as Colonel commanding the 9th Brigade.

GLC00572.35.01

February 4, 1862

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Manuscript document signed

Title: Circular order

Circular from Major General Commanding Joseph E. Johnston concerning recruiting. Advises brigade commanders to promptly forward recruits to their companies as it is urgent that the Confederate army increase its numbers. Signed by Major and Assistant Adjutant General Jasper S. Whiting by command of Major General Gustavus W. Smith. Initialled by Paul J. Semmes, "P.J.S." in margin on page one. At the time, the Confederate Army was suffering from severe shortage of recruits.

GLC00572.36

circa 1863

unknown, fl. 1863

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of the reburial of Confederate Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes]

One undated hand-colored photograph of the reburial of Confederate Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes. Image is of military officers gathered by Semmes's new grave in Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia.

GLC00572.37

circa 1860s

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Object

Title: [Coat button from General Semmes's uniform]

Brass coat button with eagle emblem. Complete with shank. Stamped on back, "Horstmann & Allien NY."

GLC00572.38

October 9, 1793

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Joshua Clayton

Marked "Circular" and possibly sent to each state. Encloses papers (not present) containing the speech of the late governor, John Hancock, and the proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts. Resumes Hancock's argument against the Supreme Court's authority over the states. Seeks the views of the other states hoping that they will agree with the commonwealth of Massachusetts on the matter. Invites Clayton to raise the issue in his own legislature.

GLC00575

August 4, 1863

Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Pleasanton

Custer writes to his commanding officer to report that he has complied with his orders to send 800-1000 men. He notes that this will leave him in command of two batteries of Horse Artillery without support. He explains that he would rather see those two batteries go along than leave his train open to Confederate General John S. Mosby's attack. Written in pencil from the Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division.

GLC00614

25 April 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Manuscript document

Title: [General Ruggles' official report on the Battle of Shiloh]

Very detailed report on the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on 6-7 April 1862, addressed to Major George G. Garner. Confederate General Ruggles commanded Ruggles Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Mississippi at the battle. Retained copy.

GLC00617.01

February 7, 1778

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Continental Congressman from Massachusetts, writes from York, where the Continental Congress was convening. Dismisses rumors of a possible plot to undermine Washington's authority, but stresses the need to guard against internal dissension within the army. Writes, "I know not ye Source of the Uneasiness which We are speaking of, but it would not be any Ways surprizing to me to find ye Enemy at ye Bottom of ye Dispute & if they did not originate it, they will certainly promote it unless ye officers of ye Army should wisely prevent it…

GLC00619

March 31, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin L. Baker

Acknowledges receipt of his note delivered by Edwin's brother John. Refuses to let "Joe" [Joseph Baker] transfer to a higher position within the army and resign his present post because of the precedent it might set among the servicemen. "The objection is the setting of examples by which every body in all arms of the service, are set to studying whether they can not squirm round into a position more satisfactory to themselves. A rule, to cut off this, is a necessity." Written on Executive Mansion stationery. The envelope is free franked in Lincoln's hand.

GLC00622

2 October 1855

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: [Commission of David Farragut as a captain in the U.S. Navy]

Partially-printed document on vellum signed by President Franklin Pierce and countersigned by James C. Dobbin as Secretary of the Navy. Note on margin signed by J.B. Hardin: "Registered No. Four - the lowest number of the same date takes rank.". Features two detailed patriotic scenes and a paper seal.

GLC00626

1880

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Book signed

Title: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies

Inscribed: "Lewis E. Harvie Esqe. from his friend Joseph Eggleston Johnston." The book was compiled by Robert N. Scott under the direction of the Secretary of War, with authorship attributed to the United States War Department. Published by the Government Printing Office. Series I, Vol. I.

GLC00628

December 20, 1901

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to F. Marion Crawford

Theodore Roosevelt declines to intervene in pardon application. He writes that he does not ask for pardons unless he is personally familiar with the case and would not want to impose on NY Governor Odell due to awkwardness.

GLC00629

2/5/1864

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Address delivered to the Putnam Phalanx in praise of volunteer militia]

Welcomes the Putnam Phalanx, from Hartford, Connecticut, to Boston. Offers words of praise regarding volunteer militia groups, discussing their historical significance and the involvement of George Washington and John Adams in implementing the militia system. Credits the volunteers for eliminating the need for a gigantic standing army. Commends the "Yeoman soldier, who never looked back but once, after putting his hand to the plough, & that was when he left it in the furrow, at the tidings of Lexington & Concord."

GLC00633.01

3/14/1864

Everett, Edward, 1794-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Copy of a speech delivered to the Putnam Phalanx]

Transmits the manuscript (GLC00633.02) of a speech formerly delivered to the Putnam Phalanx (referred to as the Warren Phalanx) for presentation at a Soldiers' Sanitary Fair scheduled to be held in Cleveland, Ohio. Informs Perley, Chairman of the Autograph Committee of the Soldier's Aid Society of Northern Ohio, that the speech was previously printed in an unspecified newspaper. Referring to the Civil War, declares "But as our dependence, in years past, was upon the Patriotism of the masses, to defend the Country against a foreign invader so in the present crisis, our reliance, under…

GLC00633.02

May 16, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Russell

The letter is regarding raising 14 regiments and reinforcing Ft. Monroe. Marked "Private."

GLC00635

April 18, 1881

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel J. Kirkwood

Garfield writes to Secretary of the Interior Kirkwood to introduce Dr. Mark Hopkins, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, who "has been appointed by a number of the churches to represent their Indian affairs." He asks that Hopkins be interviewed. He indicates that Hopkins also wants to introduce Kirkwood to "General Alden of Troy, N.Y." Written on White House Stationary.

GLC00637

19 October 1861

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Notice of suspension of habeas corpus in Boston to Justin Dimick].

Scott quotes an Abraham Lincoln document suspending the writ of habeas corpus, countersigned by William H. Seward. Scott empowers Brevet Colonel Dimick to do the same in Boston. Also signed by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend.

GLC00638

May 27, 1820

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter is concerning sending Journals of Constitutional Convention. Written at the Department of State.

GLC00639.03

March 3, 1837

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the Inhabitants of the 12th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Discusses the attempts to censure Adams' conduct through the "Gag Rule," the machinations of House Speaker Polk, and attempts to expel Adams.

GLC00639.05

June 26, 1809

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Dougherty

Complains about the mail taking a long time to arrive. Discusses sheep and gives advise on the amount of ewes and rams to purchase. Explains that he would like to assist him in purchasing the sheep but the heavy debt he incurred while president is crippling him. He must now pay it out of the his profits and will have to sell part of his estate. Reports that he has received his quilt from Mr. Carr. Mentions a ram that he will send for the last week of August and says that he will mate him in September, so the lamb will be born in February, as January is usually the severest month.

GLC00639.15