December 24, 1806

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the plans and legislative process related to the construction of the Cumberland Road, from Maryland to Ohio. Fearing that his correspondent's state legislature may be out of session before approving the project, Jefferson sends a partial report from the commissioners of the National Road and the related act of Congress (neither included). Asks that the matter be put before the state legislature for approval in order to avoid a delay in construction. Probably addressed to a governor, possibly Pennsylvania Governor Thomas McKean (Pennsylvania lobbied for a different route than the one…

GLC00594

February 6, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. Fry

Note to Provost Marshall Fry about verifying New York draft quota. Includes Lincoln's endorsement later that day recording a conversation with Fry that it cannot be done. Signed twice by Lincoln. Written on Executive Mansion letterhead.

GLC00596

May 12, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: to Edwin McMasters Stanton

On a small card, President Lincoln requests that Stanton, Secretary of War, "see Mr. Dole & others, about the first colored regiment. Please do the best for them you can." Location inferred from outside sources.

GLC00602

August 11, 1799

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

McHenry served as Secretary of War. Mentions appointment of ambassadors to France during Quasi-war and newspaper accusations by William Duane against federalist officials (in a July editorial) for supposedly accepting bribes. Humorous letter (on bribery) with hinted approval of Sedition Act. Marked "Confidential" in the text.

GLC00604.01

June 18, 1797

Pinckney, Thomas, 1750-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Pinckney, former United States Minister to Great Britain, introduces Robert Bird of the House of Bird, Savage, and Bird of London. He states that Bird hopes to pay Washington his respects at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

GLC00604.02

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

December 26, 1866

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James W. Wall

In the letter, James Buchanan is attacking Radical Republicans, whom he sees as self-destructive. Also discusses strengthening the Democrats in New Jersey, and Johnson's failed veto on the Civil Rights Act.

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

In the letter, Jefferson Davis writes about his political future and Reconstruction. Davis upholds the secessionist notion of the Union: "The word Union implies volition among the members...." The location where the letter was written is possibly Mississippi City or Missouri City.

GLC00578

April 24, 1790

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Benjamin Rush sends James Madison a pamphlet and requests that he protect against it being published in a newspaper. He notes that he will send copies of the pamphlet to Thomas Jefferson in the upcoming week. Also sends a sermon by Richard Price. Describes the sermon as "pregnant with noble sentiments" and credits it with inspiring the idea of "your [Madison's] house addressing the national assembly & king of France" concerning the French Revolution. Discusses that he hoped for effects of such an address. Concludes: "The United States kindled the flame of liberty in Europe. It is highly…

GLC00580

November 11, 1840

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger S. Baldwin

Former United States President Adams writes to Baldwin, a lawyer and abolitionist. He acknowledges the receipt of Baldwin's narrative of the Amistad case, to be tried before the Supreme Court. He writes "I consented with extreme reluctance at the urgent request of Mr. Lewis Tappan and Mr. Ellis Gray Loring, to appear before the Court as one of the Counsel for these unfortunate men. My reluctance was founded entirely and exclusively upon the consciousness of my own incompetence to do justice to their cause. In every other point of view there is in my estimation no higher object upon earth of…

GLC00582

July 19, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George H. Thomas

Sherman writes to General Thomas, also engaged in the Atlanta campaign. He refers to a note from General George Stoneman endorsed by Thomas, which reported the advance of troops under the command of Confederate General John Hood. Sherman writes that he can not reconcile information in the note with what he has seen and heard. He thinks it is possible "that the Enemy is crossing in force at the mouth of the Sweetwater. I think it is the cavalry by way of diversion. Please send to Gen Stoneman again and see if he has ascertained the truth..." He writes that Stoneman and General Edward McCook…

GLC00583

1911

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Header Record

Title: Diary of Gideon Welles

Three volume diary of Gideon Welles, with an autograph letter signed from Welles to Andrew Boyd pasted to front of first volume. The diary recounts Welles' tenure as the Secretary of the Navy. Each volume contains several illustrations of photographs of important figures in Welles' life. In the letter Welles denies Boyd's request for documents regarding Abraham Lincoln. Welles says he is unwilling to part with these. The two page letter was written 9 March 1890, from Hartford, Connecticut. Boyd, an author, requested the documents because he wished to publish them in his "Memorial…

GLC00584

January 7, 1779

Greene, William, 1731-1809

Letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Greene, the Governor of Rhode Island, writes to Clinton, Governor of New York, to request that an embargo be lifted so that grain can be transported from New York to Rhode Island. Discusses the grain shortage because of British occupation of parts of Rhode Island, as well as the disruption of normal importation. Notes that Connecticut has refused a similar request.

GLC00585

June 1864

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: [Ulysses S. Grant and staff after Battle of the Wilderness]

Twelve men with Grant, in front of tent, holding map. At Cold Habor, Va. Meade is seated with map on knee. Sedgewick standing at right with map, with other staff members; he was killed shortly after this picture was taken. Also included in the photograph is Ely Parker. Col. Rawlins sits at far left, John G. Barnard sits with hands in lap at center near Parker. Published in William C. Davis Photographic History of the Civil War v.2 p.679. (Previously printed as The Image of War).

GLC00588

1858 ca.

Cole, Henry, fl. 1858-1862

Photograph

Title: Salt print photograph of Abraham Lincoln, attributed to H. H. Cole or R. M. Cole

Clean-shaven. Oval salt print. O-14 Ostendorf 14 (who suggests attribution to Roderick M. Cole of Peoria), Mellon pl. 8. This picture was widely reproduced in campaign ribbons of 1860. Attributed to Henry H. or Roderick M. Cole. (See also GLC 3950, tintype based on this image.)

GLC00590

July 6, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Cooper

Enclosing the Declaration of Independence, with personal notes to his friend and description of sabotage of a captured American ship. Cooper was town clerk of Boston. Also, discusses military matters.

GLC00595

August 23, 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick T. Dent

Written, most likely, to his brother-in-law, Frederick Dent. Replying to Dent's letter. Describes his feelings after capturing Vicksburg. States that he "wanted a little vacation" and that Julia, his wife, has to go to St. Louis. Comments that "[t]he health of my command is remarkably good considering all they have gone through" and responds to Dent's request for a position in the Army saying that "My staff is entirely filled up so there would be now place except as addition Aid and I do not suppose you would like such a position." Postscript states that he will apply for Dent to be assigned…

GLC00597

October 14, 1784

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to John Hancock

Written by von Steuben in retirement after resigning his commission in March 1784 to Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts. Says he is writing to secure his prospects for a satisfactory retirement. Says he is waiting to hear if the United States government will provide him with monetary support for his service during the Revolution. Says he is tired of the "bussle of ambition" and hopes for rest, but wants to remain in America as a citizen. If he is not made a citizen he will have to return to Europe. Lists his merits, even though he says it is "an undelicate task." Says "It is the practice…

GLC00598

December 8, 1812

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

"The history of the hobby horse" -page 4 (Adams's humorous name for the story he tells in this letter). Free frank on page 4. The letter also discusses the dream of American glory and early history.

GLC00599

1752

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Caroli Carroll, Liber Anno 1752

Title is printed by hand on mauve colored wrapper, "Caroli Carroll, Liber Anno 1752." Latin school exercise book. Contains rhetoric and poetry exercises in Latin. Signed "Charles Carroll" twice on the last page.

GLC00600

October 22, 1856

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah S. Black

Stanton compliments Black on the address on religious liberty that he gave before the Phrenakosmian Society of Pennsylvania College. He argues with some points of the essay concerning the judgment of history on William Penn, Oliver Cromwell, and St. Francis Xavier. He asks in his postscript, "Who is it that believes in Maria Monk?" (a fictitious woman created by anti-Catholic propagandists). Date from docket. At the time of this letter Black was a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He became Attorney General of the United States under James Buchanan, and in that position moved Stanton…

GLC00605

July 27, 1855

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anson L. Brewer

Abraham Lincoln writes to fellow attorney Brewer about the status of James Kelly v. Jesse D. Blackledge in the Logan County Circuit Court. He describes how the judge delayed the suit by taking the case under advisement. He questions the trial, "if it could be called a trial," and is astounded by the judge's eventual ruling against him. At the time this letter was written Lincoln and his partner Herdon were appealing the ruling, and they later won.

GLC00606

July 20, 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. McPherson or John A. Logan

Also addressed to John A. Logan, commander of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee. Sherman explains his own position and the positions and plans of the divisions under the command of John McAllister Schofield, Oliver O. Howard, and George H. Thomas, as well as the location of the enemy. He instructs McPherson to attack Atlanta with 20-pound Parrotts. Written in pencil on stationery: "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi." Written two days before McPherson's death.

GLC00607

November 15, 1871

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. L. Sanderson

Serving as editor of the New York Tribune, Greeley offers advice to Sanderson: "...I say to all who are in want of work, Go West!" Written on New York Tribune stationery.

GLC00608