16 July 1863

Kelley, Benjamin Franklin, 1807-1891

Manuscript telegram

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Recipient's copy of a telegram in the hand of the telegrapher on stationery of the U.S. Military Telegraph. Says that he asked Governor David Tod [of Ohio] to contact Scammon about sending two new regiments to protect the Kanawha Division. Asks if he has heard about a gunboat. He requested one from the War Dept., but never heard back. Informs Scammon that the result was that Confederate General Robert E. Lee has escaped across the Potomac; "Lee escaped across Potomac with his whole army our forces are pursuing." Docket on verso by Scammon.

GLC01907

4 May 1865

Steele, Frederick, 1819-1868

Broadside

Title: General Orders no. 3

Signed official at bottom by Lieutenant Joseph Lyman, A.D.C. Orders that Federal troops are not to pillage homes and plantations since the hostilities of the Civil War have ended. Advises newly freed blacks to stay on their plantations with their former masters as the United States Government cannot feed them. "...they are advised to remain on the plantations, and to assist to raise crops, to keep themselves and their children from starving. The fact of their remaining with their former masters, does not deprive them of their freedom." Signed in print by order of Major General F. Steele…

GLC01908

18 September 1864

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Andrew Gregg Curtin

Butler writes to Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, from the field. Recommends John Cassels, Provost Marshal at Fort Monroe, for promotion to Major in the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment. Notes, "I take the liberty to do so, because it has been perhaps, partly my act that he may not be considered within the line of promotion." Attests there is no post which requires more responsibility than that of Provost Marshal. Writes, "After carefully watching Capt Cassel's course, for many months, I am satisfied not only in his efficiency and energy, but also with his integrity and patriotism."…

GLC01910

December 15, 1863

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Approval of request for leave]

Hooker endorses an autograph letter signed on verso from Captain Samuel B. Sherer, of Company K, 15th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, to William H. Perkins, Assistant Adjutant General for the 11th and 12th Corps. Sherer applies for twenty five day furloughs for Sergeant Daniel Rettis and Private Henry Wilson of Company K, 15th Illinois Cavalry. Reports that Rettis was recently informed of the death of his child and severe illness of his wife, and that Wilson is having trouble with the lessee of his farm. Hooker approves of the request. Autograph endorsement signed on verso of a document.

GLC01911

8 January 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bishop Wittingham

Burnside, commander of the North Carolina Expeditionary Corps, writes, "...I was so occupied with my military duties that I was compelled to forego the pleasure of attending to my private correspondence; but I can assure it was and has been ever since its receipt a great source of comfort, and encouragement to me- notwithstanding the dark clouds that may intervene, I have a faith that God will in His own good time bring all our troubles to a happy issue, and that if we do our whole duty with a firm reliance upon Him for support, all will be well with us..."

GLC01912

1862-1865 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph signed

Title: [Carte de visite of W.S. Roscrans]

Signed as William S. Rosecrans on mount as Major General. Published by E. & H. Anthony from a Brady negative.

GLC01914

1862-1865 ca.

J. Gurney & Son

Photograph signed

Title: [Carte de visite of Amrbose Burnside]

Signed on mount as Major General. Published by J. Gurney & Son. The image's edges have been cropped.

GLC01915

1863

Photograph signed

Title: [James A. Garfield]

Carte de visite of James A. Garfield. Signed on mount as Brig. Gen., Chief of Staff

GLC01916

29 April 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

General Meade writes from Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. A previous assessment indicates this letter, directed to "Genl Cmd'g," is written to General William T. Sherman. Marked "Personal" on docket. Meade declines to send the 3rd Cavalry, since he has no other cavalry. His other cavalry units were previously sent to General Sheridan, and even after applying to General Grant, no cavalry returned. In the area (possibly near Appomattox Court House, Virginia), some blacks have been pillaging the homes of their former masters. Meade notes "there is really some danger of an insurrection…

GLC01918

8 September 1862

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown recipient

Addressed only to "Dear Sir" but probably written to Brigadier General Eliakim P. Scammon (based on similar material in the Gilder Lehrman Collection). Reports that the Confederates, 200,000 strong, are marching upon Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania by way of Chambersburg in order to capture Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Wonders what the Union forces are doing to prevent this invasion. "The excitement here is very great. It is understood that the rebels are marching upon Cumberland Valley in the state ... Our forces don't seem able to check them up at all. What our leaders Civil and…

GLC01919.01

1864

Header Record

Title: [Four manuscripts on the Confederate Navy] [decimalized .01-.04]

Dated October 1864-December 1864.

GLC01920

7 October 1864

Collins, Napoleon, 1814-1875

Letter signed

Title: to Lester A. Beardslee

Signed by Collins as the commander of the USS "Wachusett." Written to Lieutenant Commander Beardslee. Collins tells Beardslee to take command of the prize steamer "Florida," and proceed with the "Wachusett" to the nearest northern port. He is only to stop at a neutral port in the West Indies out of great necessity. If they become separated he has permission to run into Key West, Hampton Roads, or any other port controlled by Union forces. Says he is to be vigilant, especially at night. Asks to have duplicate inventories made of everything on board. Collins had captured the "Florida" earlier…

GLC01920.01

31 October 1864

Beardslee, Lester Anthony, 1836-1903

Letter

Title: to Napoleon Collins

Copy of letter written by Lieutenant Commander Beardslee to Commander Collins. Beardslee's signature is in a clerical hand. Is disappointed to learn that Collins thinks poorly of his conduct while in charge of the captured Confederate ship "Florida." The ship was captured on 7 October 1864 and was steaming north. Says he has given the ship undivided attention since the arrival of the "Florida" in Bahia, Brazil. Says they are undermanned because of the many prisoners on board. Says he has been on such vigilance that he has not even taken off his clothes, except to bathe. Collins was angry that…

GLC01920.02

7 November 1864

Barclay, Charles J., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lester A. Beardslee

Written by Acting Ensign Barclay to Lieutenant Commander Beardslee. Both were serving on the recently captured ship "Florida." As requested, Barclay is submitting his version of events from the night of 29 October, which have caused accusations of dereliction of duty from Beardslee's superior Commander Napoleon Collins. Says he was officer on deck that night and gives description of the sails that night. Says he noticed the "Florida" was drifting from the "Wachusett," where Collins was, but that it was nothing out of the ordinary. Describes how the "Wachusett" caught up to the "Florida."…

GLC01920.03

1861

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Sergeant in 2nd Vermont Vols.]

Mentions first Bull Run.

GLC01921.01

1862

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Sergeant in 2nd Vermont Vols.]

Mentions McClellan, Fair Oaks, Lincoln visit.

GLC01921.02

1863

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Sergeant in 2nd Vermont Vols.]

Gettysburg, service in Virginia. Mentions coming late to Gettysburg, hard fighting there in Hancock's brigade and rumored loss of Confederate General Longstreet.

GLC01921.03

1864

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Sergeant in 2nd Vermont Vols.]

Service in Virginia. Approximately 190 pages.

GLC01921.04

1865

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of Sergeant in 2nd Vermont Vols.]

Autograph manuscript signed. About Petersburg.

GLC01921.05

14 June 1861

Gist, States Rights, 1831-1864

Letter signed

Title: to Arthur M. Manigault

Orders that Captain White's company, which had been ordered to fill a vacancy in Colonel Bacon's regiment, be furnished with supplies and ordnance "as tenth company of the 7th Regiment S.C. Vols." Indicates that the "Confederate authorities will furnish transportation" to Virginia.

GLC01922

27 September 1861

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Petition for the removal of General David E. Twiggs from the command of the District of Louisiana]

Cosigned by Charles M. Conrad, a delegate to the Provincial Confederate Congress. Benjamin, Acting Confederate Secretary of War, represents the citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana. Speaking of Twiggs, writes: "advancing age has impaired his faculties to such an extent as to render it evident that he is incompetent to the command assigned him... We are his friends and always have been, and it is with pain but with a sense of public duty, that we feel compelled to solicit his withdrawal..."

GLC01923

circa 1864

Map

Title: [Manuscript Civil War map of Atlanta and vicinity]

Detailed map on blue lined paper of Atlanta and environs from General Sherman's Atlanta campaign. Shows roads, railroads, forests, and rivers. Directions and latitude not given.

GLC01924

January 31, 1863

Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Hill Watts

Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War, writes to Watts, Confederate Attorney General. Seddon states, "You are respectfully informed in reply to the applications of D H Parker submitted by you, that the Exemption Act has not embraced overseers of negro hounds among the exemptions and the Department cannot supply the omission."

GLC01925

24 September 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement submitting a proposal for the recovery of arms to Brigadier General Henry Alexander Wise]

Endorsement on a 22 September letter from [J. J. Frey?] to Major Smith Stansbury. Frey reports that he recently delivered rifles and muskets. Relates that a Mr. Sims, who resides near Turkey Island Creek (15 miles from Richmond), recently reported that Union General George Brinton McClellan's army threw 15,000 to 20,000 small arms into the creek. Sims is under the impression that it may be possible to recover the disposed arms. Major Stansbury signs, noting that the proposal for recovering arms has been forwarded to department commander General G. W. Smith. General Smith signs,…

GLC01926

4 April 1863

Jones, Samuel, 1819-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliakim Parker Scammon

Confederate General Jones, Commander of the Department of Western Virginia, writes to Union General Scammon. Transmits two letters (not included) regarding William Hughart and W. M. [Lydenstriker?], two prisoners taken from the Union Army. Reports that the captives were recognized as Confederate deserters, and will be tried before the proper tribunal. Relates that Union officers have threatened the Confederate captors, attempting to persuade them to parole Hughart and Lydenstriker. Jones declares, "I need hardly say that the threats of those men will have no weight whatever. I send the…

GLC01927