27 November 1797

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Tazewell

Addressed to either Henry Tazewell or John Dawson. Written by Madison, who left the Congress in March 1797. Apologizes for not being a better correspondent. Expresses concerns for Tazewell's health because of "autumnal pestilence of your marshes." Says he has not received word from Philadelphia in quite some time. Alludes to the uncertain political situation in France. Says it is too early to understand events there and how the American public will react to them. Mentions not seeing Jefferson. Believes he is busy with his architectural work at Monticello. Asks that enclosed letters be…

GLC04373

January 11, 1757

Old Sam, fl. 1757

Document signed

Title: [Deed of land sale signed by Nottoway Chiefs]

Nottoway Chiefs Sam, Scholar, Skipper, Will, Turner, Step, Gray, Taylor, and Edmunds sign a deed selling Virginia land to Charles Simmons. Wood, Williams and Briggs sign as witnesses. Features paper and wax seals next to each of nine signers' names.

GLC04375

1775-1779

Header Record

Title: Correspondence between Cyrus Griffin and Burgess Ball [Decimalized .01-.05]

GLC04377

7 November 1864

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

Letter signed

Title: to Oliver Edwards

Sheridan, commander of the Army of the Shenandoah, discusses troop movement with Colonel Edwards, in charge of troops at Winchester, Virginia. Relates that forces were ordered from New Creek to Moorefield, and from Cumberland to Wardensville (all in Virginia or West Virginia). Reports on other troop movement, including the gathering of a large cavalry force on the East side of Blue Ridge. Writes "Should you be attacked by Cavalry, you must whip it, if you can...as you turn line to Harpers Ferry..."

GLC04378

1783-1788

Header Record

Title: [Twenty-Six documents related to the founding and early history of the Society of Cincinnati] Decimalized

GLC04379

circa March to May 1847

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Sends Davis newspapers and notes he has had no news from Secretary of War Marcy. Sends along Colonel Taylor's wishes for a speedy recovery. Hopes he has received letters from Mrs. Davis and that everyone is well. Says that he received a letter from Captain John S. Allison (Taylor's brother-in-law) that mentioned seeing "your good old lady," Mrs. Davis, and that she was well. Place of writing and date range is per Lynda Crist, Davis Papers, inferred from the period of Davis' recovery from the Battle of Buena Vista. The envelope postmarked New Orleans June 19 belongs to a later letter or…

GLC04380

17 December 1848

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Julia Knowlton

President-elect Major General Zachary Taylor writes to her to acknowledge receipt of a letter from her. Mentions his gratitude for the support of women in his election: "it was but rarely have I had intercours[e] with one of 'heaven's best gifts to man' but was a staunch Whig." One full length seated engraving of Taylor included.

GLC04381

1863-1880

Various

Header Record

Title: Collection related to Civil War generals, including Ambrose Burnside, Ulysses S. Grant, John Logan, John Pope, and others [Decimalized .01-.06]

GLC04385

1698

Locke, John, fl. 1690-1698

Book signed

Title: An Historical and Geographical Account of... Pennsylvania / By Gabriel Thomas

With Map. Includes western New Jersey

GLC04391

1758

Book

Title: The grants, concessions, and original constitutions of the province of New-Jersey.

Title continues: "The acts passed during the proprietary governments, and other material transactions before the surrender thereof to Queen Anne. The instrument of surrender, and her formal acceptance thereof. Lord Cornbury's commission and instructions consequent thereon." William Alexander, Lord Stirling's copy; signed on the title page. Compiled by Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer. "Printed by W. Bradford, printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty for the province of New-Jersey." Evans 8205.

GLC04392

1860

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Pamphlet

Title: The Dred Scott Decision

A pamphlet containing Taney's ruling in the Dred Scott case, as well as two articles asserting the inferiority of "the negro race." One is an introduction by Van Evrie stating "the Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott decision, has defined the relations, and fixed the status of the subordinate race forever-for that decision is in accord with the natural relations of the races, and therefore can never perish. It is based on historical and existing facts, which are indisputable, and it is a necessary, indeed unavoidable inference, from these facts." The other is an essay by Cartwright entitled "…

GLC04393

1786

Pamphlet

Title: Resolves of the General Court of... Massachusetts

Contains messages of Gov. James Bowdoin on Shays' Rebellion and discussion re: appointing representatives to the Constitutional Convention

GLC04395

1794

Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824

Book

Title: A View of the United States in a series of papers...

First edition. Contains papers on commercial policy, American manufactures, cotton industry and conditions in Pennsylvania. Copy owned by Joseph Humphreys Jr. with bookplate of Historical Society of Pa. References: Evans 26829 and Sabin 17307.

GLC04396

1861

Ord, Edward Ortho Cresap, 1818-1883

Book signed

Title: Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States

Signed by Major General Ord on the title page. Published by J.B. Lippincott & Co. at 22 & 24 North Fourth Street in Philadelphia. Published by the authority of the War Department, Simon Cameron Secretary of War. Signed on title page "Major Gen E.O.C. Ord, Comg Cornith, Miss. Do not remove this book from Head Quarters." Divided into 52 chapters on every type of military activity, regulation, and equipment. Some of the chapters deal with: "Military Discipline," Deserters," "Courts-Martial," and "Ordnance Department." Has 3 appendices at the back: "Articles of War," "Extracts from Acts…

GLC04397

24 September 1863

Pickett, George Edward, 1825-1875

Document signed

Title: General orders no. 1

General Pickett assumes command of the Department of North Carolina and announces his staff appointments. Sent to Major General William H. C. Whiting, commanding at Wilmington, North Carolina.

GLC04399

1778

Massachusetts Bay Council

Printed document

Title: An Act, For apportioning and assessing a Tax of Two Hundred and Fifty-four THousand, Seven Hundred and Eighteen Pounds, Sixteent Shillings and Eleven Pence, upon the several Towns and other Places in this State, for defraying the public Charge.

Enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of Massachusetts. Breaks down the amount to be raised by county and town. Also enacts many rules for determining tax liability. Copy for Selectmen of Gorham. Printed by Benjamin Edes.

GLC04401

10 April 1786

Ivers, Thomas, ?-1800

Broadside signed

Title: [Massachusetts document assessing a tax]

A copy for the selectmen or assessors of the town of Gorham, Massachusetts. Signed by Thomas Ivers as Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Docketed on verso: "Treasurer Warrant for Assessing 1037:19/ March 1786. Select Men or Assessors of Gorham. Rec'd. May 3rd 1786." Associated with the series of burdensome tax laws which led to Shay's Rebellion.

GLC04402

17 July 1798

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Silvanus Bourne

Refers to letter of Bourne's from 10 July 1798. Written to the American General Consul in Amsterdam. Tries to console Bourne about the publication of one letter and the false statements made about the contents of another that made him appear pro-French by Russell (possibly Boston newspaper publisher John Russell). Says the controversy is minor but that the explosive atmosphere in America after the XYZ affair will make it appear worse than it is. Claims the real letter would have been innocuous and the real controversy is the breach of trust of his correspondent. Says letter is short because…

GLC04403

February 11, 1862

Rowan, Stephen Clegg, 1805-1890

Letter signed

Title: [Congratulatory address to his men after capturing Elizabeth City, North Carolina]

Congratulating his men on the Union's naval victory and capture of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. During this battle the Union also destroyed what little was left of the Confederate navy, for the time being. Applauds his men's "coolness, gallantry and skill." Commends their "strict observance of the plan of attack, and the steady but onward course of the ships without returning a shot until within 3/4 of a mile of the Fort." Congratulates them for "refraining from trespassing in the slightest degree upon the private property of defenseless people in a defenseless town." Believes "the…

GLC04405

12 October 1864

Lydston, William, fl. 1813-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Forbes

States he was requested by H. P. Brothers to write to Forbes and send his watercolor drawing of the siege of Petersburg which he drew while watching the action that night. Gives a description of the siege and explains what is depicted in his drawing. " ... the cannonading, musketry and shelling lasted a full hour and a half. These shells were above, below all around and about us, but these are familiar scenes and one can trace at night the course of the shell in the air as the lighted fuse leaves a long trail in its course, you see them coming and going, but know not how they are timed, or…

GLC04406.01

28 September 1864

Lydston, William, fl. 1813-1881

Painting

Title: [Watercolor drawing of siege of Petersburg, Virginia]

Watercolor drawing on brown paper. Shows members of the band watching the siege from a distance. The sky is filled with missiles and explosions highlighted in white. See GLC04406.01 for the artist's description of the siege and his drawing.

GLC04406.02

9 April 1865

Broadside

Title: Union Sentinel - Extra

Announces the surrender of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox and publishes the correspondence between General Ulysses S. Grant and Lee leading up to the surrender, including the terms and Lee's acceptance.

GLC04407

circa April 1861

Perine, George Edward, 1837-1885

Sketch

Title: [Charcoal illustration of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina]

Depicts the 12-13 April Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. Illustrates cannonballs soaring toward the Fort, which was situated in Charleston Harbor. Reveals firing cannons emerging from windows of the Fort as smoke billows above the building. An American flag remains flying on the roof of the Fort. The outline of a city (possibly Charleston, South Carolina) is evident in the background. Possibly created by an eyewitness, and reveals similarity to other depictions of the battle that were published in Harper's Weekly.

GLC04408

14 March 1942

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Lucien Cazebonne (c/s Francis Biddle)

Convicted of illegal sale of whiskey and maintenance of a public nuisance.

GLC04280

July 1778

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Letter signed

Title: to Lord George Germain

Written by Clinton as Command of Chief of British forces in America to Germain as British Secretary of State for the American Colonies. Detailed report of his recent activity. Says he evacuated Philadelphia on 18 June 1778. Details the problems of the retreat across New Jersey. On page three lists the units undertaking certain actions in the margin. Mentions tough crossing of the Raritan River. Believes Washington's army to have 20,000 troops. Says the Queens Light Dragoons repulsed the American calvary under Lafayette, which was the opening movements in the Battle of Monmouth. Describes…

GLC04283