December 27, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Tredegar Iron Works]

Semmes's autograph retained copy, marked as a copy. Contract with Joseph R. Anderson, owner of Tredegar Iron Works, in preparation for war. Semmes was acting as agent for the State of Georgia. Orders six 18 pounder cannons, 1500 rounds of solid shot, 200 spherical case shot, and 100 canister shot. Stresses the need to provide this order without delay. Details the price Georgia will pay. Tredegar provided the Confederacy with almost a thousand cannons during the war and was the Confederacy's most valuable manufacturer. "... This contract made and entered into... by and between General…

GLC00503

1 May 1865

Stewart, Alexander Peter, 1821-1908

Document signed

Title: [Confederate soldier's pass for Private G. R. LeMournier Jr.]

Partially printed pass allowing Private G.R. LeMournier Jr., Orleans, to return home after taking an oath to not take up arms against the United States. In accordance with the terms of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender of the Army of Tennessee to Union General William T. Sherman on 26 April 1865. Signed by Stewart as Lieutenant General, C.S.A., and Francis (?) Dow, Major, U.S.A. With notes and docket on verso.

GLC00504

October 24, 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

May have been source for Declaration of Independence's list. Cosigned by George Wythe and Silas Deane, with an autograph manuscript signed copy of the resolution signed by Charles Thomson. Also, discusses compiling British hostilities. The letter was with congressional resolve.

GLC00505.01

18 October 1775

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph document signed

Title: Congressional resolve to appoint committee to compile list of hostilities

Appointed John Adams, Silas Deane and George Wythe to the committee.

GLC00505.02

1837

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Pamphlet signed

Title: An oration delivered before the inhabitants of the town of Newburyport, at their request, on the sixty-first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1837.

Inscribed on front cover: "John Connell Esq. from John Quincy Adams" Discusses the history of the independence movement; finding support from the Declaration of Independence; attacking nullification and states rights; condemning slavery; supporting free speech, etc. Pale blue paper cover. Printed by Morss and Brewster.

GLC00506

1836

Header Record

Title: Letter and book concerning the Wilkes expedition [decimalized]

[decimalized 00507.01-507.02]

GLC00507

1836

Reynolds, Jeremiah N., 1799-1858

Book signed

Title: Address on the subject of a surveying and exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas. Delivered in the Hall of Representatives on the evening of April 3, 1836

Published by Harper and Brothers. Inscribed "With the compliments" and signed by Reynolds. Also signed by Edward Sanford, possibly the book's owner. Concerns the Wilkes expedition, the first attempt to organize the nation behind an expedition to explore outside the continental United States.

GLC00507.02

December 1860 - March 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Paul J. Semmes archive regarding buying arms and military equipment [decimalized .01-.14]

14 copies of documents and letters, most in the hand of Paul J. Semmes about his efforts as agent to buy arms for the state of Georgia before the war. Contracts with Parrot for guns and DuPont for gunpowder.

GLC00508

December 11, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with Charles Hugh of Pittsburgh for six eight inch Columbiads, 300 solid shot, and 1500 shells. Advises that the guns will be inspected by a member of the U.S. ordnance corps. Informs that the guns weight 900 pounds each, the shot 65 pounds, and the shells, 50 pounds. Discusses the costs. States that these guns will be cast using the "Rodman patent." Remarks, "Such guns cannot be obtained at any other foundry in the U.S." Marked copy on docket. Addressed from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.02

December 21, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract for 300 Colt New Model Army pistols to be delivered in two weeks. Mentions that the same factory, the Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut is now filling orders for the U.S. Government at the same price of $22.50. Comments on the pistol, "...this is a very superior arm - a little longer & larger than Colts Navy and lighter than Colt Dragoon pistol and better than either." Informs of other contracts made for "...cavalry & artillery sabres, cavalry & Infantry equipments, rifle cannon &…

GLC00508.03

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]

Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The…

GLC00508.04

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a copy of a letter to the Secretary of War and to Major Wayne (not present), the newly appointed Adjutant General of Georgia. The letters concern an attempt to purchase tents from the U.S. government. Advises that the tents be manufactured in Georgia under Wayne's direction as cheaply as possible and of good quality. Informs that he will report on the status of a proposed contract for 18 pounders to be made in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC00508.05

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with James T. Ames of Chicopee, Massachusetts (Ames Manufacturing) for cavalry equipment, postal pouches, haversacks, knapsacks & straps, Infantry equipment, carbine equipment, cavalry sabers, artillery sabers, and artillery saber belts and plates. With a pencil note signed PS stating he has had a cold since leaving Georgia. Written from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.06

January 14, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Augustus Viele

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to Viele in West Troy, New York. Insists that Governor Brown and the State of Georgia will only make payments for the cannons produced by Viele's foundry according to the terms of the contract. Advises that Mr. Kemble of New York will appoint an inspector for the cannons in case Lieutenant Balsh cannot find one. Viele might have been worried about getting his payment as the war drew nearer.

GLC00508.07

January 15, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimates of camp & garrison equipage for 10,000 men]

List of estimated costs of equipment for 7,500 Infantry, 1,500 Cavalry, and 1000 Artillery according to United States standards. Not in Semmes's hand but with additions by him. Includes items such as knapsacks, bedsacks, hatchets, camp kettles, tents and other equipment. Total cost of $109,436.80. (See 00508.11 regarding Georgia's decision to raise 10,000 troops.)

GLC00508.08

circa December 8, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document

Title: [Estimates of sizes needed for tents]

Size estimates for hospital tents, hospital tents fly, wall tents fly, and servants tents. Docketed by Paul J. Semmes; on top a note in pencil that reads, "Copy sent Gov Brown 8 Dec 1860 PJS - " Otherwise not dated. Blue lined paper.

GLC00508.09

February 1, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel H.C. Wayne

Semmes's retained copy. Encloses letters (not present) from Augustus Viele, Mr. Kemble, Captain J. G. Britons, and E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co in Wilmington, Delaware. The letters concern the inspection of gun carriages and the shipment of powder, cannon and cartridges. Addressed to Wayne as Adjutant General, Milledgeville, Georgia.

GLC00508.10

March 11, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copies. Writes to the Governor of Georgia to advise that Jefferson Davis is calling for only 2000 troops from the state of Georgia, instead of the 10,000 volunteers the state had planned to raise. Also advises that Davis planned to make all appointments of general officers in the state troops and gives Brown the opportunity to reconsider his commission of Semmes as brigadier general, lest it "might embarrass you and place us in an awkward position." This letter documents the start of the friction between Jefferson Davis and Georgia Governor Joseph Brown that lasted…

GLC00508.11

January 5, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Marked copy but possibly a draft as it contains cross outs. Writes to the Governor of Georgia concerning the purchase of cannons from Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia. Encloses a contract (not present; possibly GLC00503) made with Mr. J.R. Anderson & Co. for six 18 pounder guns and projectiles. Informs that James T. Ames Co. of Chicopee, Massachusetts is requesting an extension as he says he cannot have the knapsacks ready for delivery in the time stipulated in the contract.

GLC00508.12

January 18, 1861

Dupont de Nemours, E. J., fl. 1861

Manuscript document

Title: [Bill from E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co. for the State of Georgia]

Duplicate addressed to Governor of Georgia Joseph E. Brown. Bill for cartridges totaling $2119.50.

GLC00508.13

January 22, 1861

Dupont de Nemours, E. J., fl. 1861

Manuscript document

Title: [Bill from E.J. Dupont de Nemours & Co. for the state of Georgia]

Bill for Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia for cannon, muskets, cartridges and other munitions. Totals $8452.12.

GLC00508.14

August 28, 1823

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas I. Wharton

Henry Clay discusses his position in favoring emancipation 25 years earlier and how his continuing feelings defeated him at the polls several times due to the interest and demand of continuing to enslave people. He writes, "My opinion is unchanged...the African portion of the community is not so large as to make any hazard to the purity & safety of Society by a gradual and prepared emancipation of the offspring." Also discusses the political situation especially as it was affecting his first candidacy for president in the 1824 presidential election. He assesses the support he might have…

GLC00509

6 May 1865

Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879

Broadside

Title: General Order No. 54

Printed broadside of Confederate General Richard Taylor's surrender to Union General Edward S. Canby on 4 May 1865 at Citronelle, Alabama. Under the terms of the surrender officers retained their sidearms and horses, but property and equipment were to be turned over to the Federals, and the men were paroled to return home safely. The orders were issued from the headquarters of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.

GLC00512

November 3, 1781

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Davies

Written by Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a legislator in the Virginia Assembly to Davies as Commissioner of the Virginia War Office in Richmond. Asks Davies to see that arms taken from militiamen at Gloucester, probably used at the battle of Yorktown, be returned to them. Says near 200 arms were taken from the militia and they have returned home unarmed. Says the situation leaves 40 miles along the shores of his county "exposed to the ravage of piratical vessels." Says General George Weedon told him that the government detained the arms to furnish militia rotations, but…

GLC00513

May 12, 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

John Brown writes to his wife enclosing a draft for thirty dollars from Gerrit Smith and his wife, Ann Carrol Fitzhugh Smith. Part of the money is to be used on presents, and the rest on expenses. She must try and make the money last, since he does not know how soon he can send more. He advises her to exchange the money for gold, and hopes to ship her foodstuffs. He asks her to keep the house neat, as some of his supporters may pay her a call.

GLC00516