3 June 1862

French, William Henry, 1815-1881

Manuscript letter

Title: to Israel B. Richardson

Copy of a letter reporting on the Battle of Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. "My troops to form Line of Battle had to cross the Rail Road, with the exception of the 66th New York, through a dense thicket swamp; which covered the approach of the Enemy , who opened his first fire of about fifty yards distance. Although the attack was bold, and sudden, the Line never swerved; the fired was returned cooly and with deliberation, the first attack was at once repulsed, after a few moments pause the heads of several columns of the Enemy threw themselves upon the intervals of the Regiments on the right…

GLC08986

9 June 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Little Jr.

Reporting that a free negro sold his free papers to a slave in Alabama in order to help him escape, and also discusses church services and men preparing for the war. "Jim Abbot sold his free papers to Harrison Cribbs for him to get away to a free State. Shandy Jones heard of it & from jealous motives, informed on him. So he with Thom Fields were publicly whipped & ordered to leave the town in forty eight hours." Letter is postmarked 11 June 1861, and was written on the Sabbath, meaning 9 June 1861. Signed "May."

GLC08987

6 February 1863

Gates, George, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Morris Surry

Union soldier reports on his capture as a spy, his escape, and fighting at Vicksburg, with a hand drawn map of the surrounding area. "I was taken prisoner near Jackson...ase a spie...I bribed a rebel Capt that youst to live in Chicago and got a sute of thayer clothes and the countersigne so that it enabled me to get out of thauer Pickets and I walked Ten miles and come to our Pickets... reported to Gen Sherman and he told me I had better lay still for a month or so and he wase a gayen to comence the assault in the morning and so I told him I would report to my Co and I have been with them…

GLC08988

11 February 1863

Smith, William, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary E. Townsend

Expresses strong dislike of the Emancipation Proclamation, and does not want to fight for blacks. A soldier from the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, part of the Irish Brigade, writing to his sister. "You asked me how I like the Niggers Bussiness I tell you wat I think of It in shorte wordes to hell with the Niggers I did not come out to fight for Niggers I come to fight for the flag and for the Union Insted of going to free Niggers and down at Fort Royle they think a Nigger is better than a white man and I donte thinq mutch of that for I would shoote one as quick as wink…

GLC08989

1 August 1864

Huron, George A., 1838-1927

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letter of 7th Indiana soldier regarding the Crater Affair and Us Colored Troops casualties]

Fighting at Petersburg, destruction of an Confederate fort, discussion of black troops. "Saturday morning we blew up a rebel fort in front of Petersburg and immediately opened with mortars and artillery along our entire line, for a few hours the artillery made a continous roar. The explosion of the fort was terrific, men and rubbish were blown into the air a hundred feet high, many men were buried in the ruins and doubtless smothered, Part of the 9th Corps charged the fort and captured it The rebels attempted to retake it and were repulsed repeatedly. We only occupied a portion of the…

GLC08990

4 October 1883

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

Letter to his wife from prison. Discusses plans for the future, their relationship, his case, and the mugging of his friend. Expects "When I come I am going to have my way for the same length of time that you have had yours, that will be will be five years, Dont say a damed word, You should be willings to live up to the "Golden rule" If you dont write me word that I can do as I please I am going to take a bee line for "Salt Lake" when I get out." Discusses an incident that happened to his friend. "I had a letter from Marth and she tell me she and Buck was going out calling the other…

GLC08991

12 May 1886

French, Daniel C., 1850-1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Indicates that his price for a marble bust sculpture is $1000. Informs that he will be in Washington D.C. soon to finish a bust of Vice President Henry Wilson and can stay to begin Sherman's if he so desires. Gives his preferred timing and scheduling for sittings. Thanks him for commissioning the bust and complimenting his skill.

GLC01802.01

14 July 1865

Parker, Frank W., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas M. Vincent

Parker, the Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment, writes to Colonel Vincent to relay a statement on the service of Eleazer L. Sarsons. Recounts Sarsons service, which included a time as a prisoner of war in Andersonville Prison, and his denied application for an appointment. Asks that Sergeant Sarsons be mustered back into a New Hampshire regiment as a 1st Lieutenant, asserting that "Sergeant Sarsons is a deserving soldier." Notes on the fourth page show the processing of the request: there is a description of the request, a note signed by Vincent…

GLC03953.09

6 October 1864

Walker, R.H., fl. 1864

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for William Nerland, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by R. H. [Walker?], Second Lieutenant, 52nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Most of the 35th United States Colored Troops enlisted men were freedmen and emancipated people from Virginia and the Carolinas.

GLC00267.228.01

17 June 1865

Beecher, James Chaplin, 1828-1886

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Clarke H. Remick, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Beecher as Colonel of the 35th Regiment. James C. Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher, commanded the 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops.

GLC00267.228.02

12 July 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Gardner A. Kimball, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.03

12 July 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Charles A. Clark, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.04

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for George H. Greene, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.05

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Henry Krebs, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.06

21 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Robert Creighton, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.07

26 September 1865

Robinson, Thomas J., fl. 1865

Manuscript document

Title: [Muster out roll for Holland H. Batcheller, 35th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]

Signed by Robinson as Captain of the 54th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

GLC00267.228.08

March 3, 1773

Lothrop, Ellen, fl. 1773-1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mercy Otis Warren

Written by Lothrop, a friend to the writer Warren. In 1773, Warren and her husband James were already well known in Revolutionary circles. Thanks Warren for her previous letter and says she is going to try very hard to make the trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts to visit her. Says she was sorry to hear that her husband was absent from the legislature because it stands in need of his abilities and integrity. Praises him for "his master peice of Policy." Signed at the end "E.L."

GLC01189.02

2 August 1782

Salomon, Haym, 1740-1785

Endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement on verso of Robert Morris check note]

Salomon signed endorsement on the verso of a partially printed Robert Morris signed check note. The check is for two thousand four hundred livres to be paid to Salomon, and is written to Mr. Grand at the Bank of Paris. On verso Salomon writes that the check is to be paid to Arnold Henry Dorhman or Isaac Smith.

GLC01450.500.01

24 August 1886

French, Daniel C., 1850-1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Asks where he should send the cast of John Sherman's bust. States that the plaster casting is not as good as he hoped but that the marble finished copy will come out fine. Mentions John Sherman's wish to have him sculpt a bust of General William T. Sherman. States that he hopes to spend the winter in Paris and wonders if General Sherman can sit for him before he leaves. Expresses his pleasure about being asked to do a bust of General Sherman, "I should consider it a great privilege to be permitted to make a bust of him and am prepared to make a good many concessions to accomplish it."

GLC01802.02

1 September 1886

French, Daniel C., 1850-1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Expresses his willingness to delay his departure for Paris in order to accomodate General William T. Sherman wishes for scheduling sittings for the bust sculpture. States, "I would make much more of a sacrifice than this for the pleasure and honor of portraying the great warrior." Mentions that John Sherman's own bust should have arrived and that he hopes he is approving of it.

GLC01802.03

23 April 1887

French, Daniel C., 1850-1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Asks where he would like his finished bust sent. States that the marble piece was very fine and he hopes Sherman will be satisfied with his work.

GLC01802.04

15 July 1892

Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Kennard

Saint-Gaudens, a noted Gilded Age sculptor, discusses an inscription with Kennard (possibly Martin P. Kennard, a Boston abolitionist and political reformer). States that the inscription, designated for a Boston monument honoring Robert Gould Shaw, is too complicated. Expresses hope that he can persuade John Murray Forbes, a Boston philanthropist and chairman of the Shaw monument committee, to endorse a simpler inscription. Very fragile with several torn creases.

GLC02928.01

July 1892

Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Kennard

Saint-Gaudens discusses his upcoming visit to Boston, Massachusetts with Kennard (possibly Martin P. Kennard, a Boston abolitionist and political reformer). States that any message Kennard leaves for him at the office of McKim, Mead, and White will be received immediately upon his arrival.

GLC02928.02

8 August 1894

Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mr. Kennard

Saint-Gaudens discusses the inscription on a monument honoring Robert Gould Shaw with Kennard (possibly Martin P. Kennard, a Boston abolitionist and political reformer). Encloses a letter (not included) from Edward Atkinson, treasurer of the Shaw monument committee, authorizing Gaudens to proceed with the monument's inscription. Relates that Charles William Eliot, President of Harvard University, and Colonel Lee (possibly Henry Lee) previously asked him not to proceed with the inscription, which was originally written by Eliot. Requests that Kennard, possibly on the monument committee,…

GLC02928.03

4 June 1897

Atkinson, Edward, 1827-1905

Typed letter signed

Title: to the committee on the Shaw monument

Atkinson, treasurer of the Robert Gould Shaw monument committee, informs other members of the committee that he intends to depart for London, England, and St. Petersburg, Russia. States that he hopes to finish matters concerning the monument before his departure. Reports that he paid sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens a total of $22,000 for completion of the monument, and that $550 remains in the committee trust for general expenses. Requests the committee's opinion regarding the style and number of copies of the monument's final report, and whether or not the report should contain a photo of…

GLC02928.04