December 3, 1861

Whiting, Jasper S., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

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

4 February 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

December 26, 1866

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James W. Wall

Attacking Radical Republicans, whom he sees as self-destructive. Also discusses strengthening the Democrats in New Jersey

GLC00576

February 21, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Chase

Lieutenant General Sherman replies to a letter from Chase, wife of Franklin Chase, United States Consul in Tampico, Mexico. States that his "connexion with Mr. Campbell's mission is not generally understood," possibly referring to President Andrew Johnson's 1866 order for Sherman to command troops in the absence of General Ulysses S. Grant, while Grant escorted Minister Plenipotentiary Lewis Campbell to Mexico. Predicts that the government set up by France in Mexico, headed by Archduke Fernando Maximilian, will "return to Europe leaving the Mexicans substantially free to choose their own…

GLC00577

December 8, 1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General C.J. Wright

Davis upholds the secessionist notion of the Union: "The word Union implies volition among the members...."

GLC00578

29 March 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization to the Secretary of State to affix the seal of the United States to the pardon of Milo Thornton for counterfeiting coins].

In Ohio, Thornton had been convicted in 1859 and sentenced to the Ohio State Penitentiary for ten years. According to D. R. Kinsell, his physician, his health was quickly failing and he would soon become a lunatic if not released. The release was supported by Ohio representative John Hutchins, Marshall of the United States for the Northern District of Ohio Mathew Johnson, R. P. Rammey (the district attorney who had prosecuted him), and others.

GLC00613

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. Notes that this will leave him in command of two batteries of Horse Artillery without support. 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…

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 Gov. 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

Regarding raising 14 regiments, reinforcing Ft. Monroe. Marked "Private."

GLC00635

April 18, 1881

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

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel J. Kirkwood

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." Asks that Hopkins be interviewed. 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

re: 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

April 24, 1781

Balfour, Nisbet, 1743-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Saunders

Written by Scottish officer Colonel Balfour as commandant of Charlestown, South Carolina to Captain Saunders, a Loyalist, as commandant of Georgetown, South Carolina. Written in numeric code. Cypher included in collateral file. Says: "You wil inform Colonel Watson that he is to remain at Georgetown as Greens Army is before Camden, that he wil join Lord Cornwalis on his march if he posibly can get to him and if not he will wait at Georgetown til further orders." Marked "No. 13" at address.

GLC00609

August 29, 1873

Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Raphael Semmes

Early, a former lieutenant general in the Confederate Army, writes to former Confederate admiral and brigadier general Raphael Semmes regarding correspondence with a German who has created a flying machine that could be used to bombard northern cities. Says "...I have this day received an offer from a German who says he has invented a flying machine, to dedicate to the Southern Cause, which he says is not lost...he says we can bombard and destroy...Northern Cities with his flying machines. I will publish the letter as a fitting comment in all the fit Northern papers are raising, and some…

GLC00610