10 March 1762

Hardy, Josiah, 1822-1900

Document signed

Title: An act to Compleat the New Jersey Regiment to Six Hundred and Sixty Six effective volunteers, Officers included.

Document aims to raise additional men for the French & Indian War, with inducements including pardons. Details provisions for recruiting minors, slaves, and Indians. Additionally, allows Quakers to affirm, rather than swear, an oath. Signed by Hardy as British colonial governor, countersigned by R. H. Morris and Samuel Nevill. Pages numbered at top by author, eighteenth page docketed March 8, 1762 on verso by R. Smith, Clerk.

GLC00903

5 June 1781

Livingston, William, 1723-1790

Document signed

Title: An Act to preserve buildings in this State belonging to the United States from being destroyed and for the Punishment of those that shall seize on or injure the same.

Signed by William Livingston as Governor of New Jersey. Countersigned by Josiah Hornblower, Speaker of the New Jersey House of Representatives. Endorsed on verso near docket by Bowes Reed and Maskell Ewing, clerks of the Assembly, stating the document was read three times and has passed the House. Resolution written because of Congressional recommendations of 3 July 1779 asked the various states to preserve buildings owned by the United States. Says any person convicted of damaging or destroying a building or fortress owned by the United States will pay no more than a 20 pound fine and…

GLC00904

23 January 1776

Massachusetts Colony Legislature

Broadside

Title: By the Great and General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay: A Proclamation.

This document explains the Revolutionary views of the House of Representatives of the colony of Massachusetts Bay. The writing covers the philosophy behind Massachusetts as a colony and as a free state. Signed at end: "God Save the People"

GLC00905

August 24, 1864

Gilmer, Jeremy Francis, 1818-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Victor von Sheliha

Marked unofficial. Gilmer writes as Confederate Major General about Lieutenant Colonel Sheliha's resignation and his appointment of a successor. Believes that it is unfortunate that Sheliha is resigning while Mobile, Alabama is besieged by Federal forces. "This is a serious step for any officer to take in the present condition of our affairs - and I regret that you should have thought it proper to take it ... even while the Enemy was knocking at the doors of Mobile ... " Explains that it was absolutely necessary to appoint a replacement immediately, " ... one who would struggle against…

GLC00908

March 15, 1868

Harris, Isham G. (Isham Green), 1818-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas C. Reynolds

Discusses his return to Tennessee after escaping to Mexico after the Civil War. Describes how he went to England to investigate the prospects of making a living there in the cotton industry. After a three year absence he realized "I should never be contented separated from the ties and associations of my former life." Consequently, he "resolved to brave all the consequences and return to Tennessee and share the fortunes of her people." Discusses turning himself in to face the indictments against him, his anticipation of the charges being disposed of, and his view that he will be able to…

GLC00909

April 3, 1862

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza B. Ellis

General Bragg writes to his wife Eliza on the eve of the battle of Shiloh. He discusses preparing to engage the enemy, gives his own estimation of Union troop strength, and discusses Confederate deficiencies. Praises his own command as the best in the army. Bragg hopes to destroy the enemy forces nearby, then attack their reinforcements, which are only a few days off. Crossing the Mississippi River is their biggest obstacle, because the Union forces have all the boats. He writes that he wishes to share the fate of his army and his country.

GLC00910

18 February 1847 - 23 May 1848

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Header Record

Title: Mexican War Orderly Book, 26th Infantry , USA 1847-1848 [Decimalized .001- .085]

Disbound orderly book containing printed orders issued by Major General Winfield Scott and General William Orlando Butler during the Mexican War. Orders are signed by their aides, Henry Lee Scott and Lorenzo Thomas, respectively.

GLC00911

1781

Morris, Roger, fl. 1781

Book signed

Title: The Constitutions of the several independent states of America [...]

Roger Morris's copy, signed on t.p. Bound in contemporary calf. Howes C716, Evans 17390, Sabin 16086. First edition limited to 200 copies.

GLC00912

April 28, 1864

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

General Beauregard, commander of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, gives his opinion to General Bragg (at this point in the war in Richmond, Virginia, and functioning as Confederate chief of staff ) concerning the proper proportion of light artillery. He concurs with the recommendation of Confederate chief of ordnance Colonel Josiah Gorgas. Comments on the proportions in detail.

GLC00913

March 28, 1863

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Johnston, Commander of the Department of the West, replies to two recent communications from Davis, President of the Confederacy. States "At Mobile, in Mississippi, & in Middle Tennessee, we cannot foresee attack long enough before hand to be able to reinforce the Threatened Army from either of the others. At the two first the enemy's appearance May, & probably would be, the first indication of this intention to attack." Estimates the amount of time it would take to transport wagons, infantry, and horses from Jackson to Tullahoma. Possibly referring to General Simon Bolivar Buckner…

GLC00914

February 28, 1862

Nelson, Samuel, 1792-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. W. Stoughton

Discusses the issue of presidential power to disregard district judges in the case of vacancy of the office, sickness, or disease of the district judge.

GLC00839

16 October 1862

White, Jonathon C., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The Weekly junior register. [Vol. 1, no. 43 (October 16, 1862)]

Several articles and ads are in both English and French. Content includes "Late News" on the Battle of Corinth, Butler's order from occupied New Orleans, requiring all adults who have not taken the oath of allegiance to report to the nearest Provost Marshal with a descriptive list of all property for taxation and for a certificate citing them as an enemy of the United States, news of a telegraph line connecting Washington and California, report of planned protest in New York against Lincoln's [preliminary] Emancipation Proclamation. An editorial examines Northern motivations. Printed on outer…

GLC00846

25 October 1861

Haldeman, Walter N., 1821-1902

Newspaper

Title: Louisville daily courier. [No. 11 (October 25, 1861)]

Pro-South newspaper published by Green & Co., publishing and sale agents in Nashville, Tennessee. Edited by Robert McKee and Haldeman. Mention of imprisonment of P. Phillips Family in Washington and of American-British correspondence over imprisonment of British nationals. States that "Northern opposition to the administration is hushed in the Bastiles of the tyrant. It is deemed a crime to condemn the monstrous usurpations of Abraham the infamous." Reference to an address by John C. Breckenridge to the people of Kentucky. Page 2 is filled with correspondence between Haldeman and Dr. T.S…

GLC00847

1871

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Book signed

Title: Democratic Vistas

First edition inscribed to Matthew Brady, the Civil War photographer. In this essay, Whitman discusses the theory of democracy and its possibilities in America after the Civil War. He criticizes America for its unrestrained wealth, materialism, and corruption. With 3 bookplates tipped in or mounted to inside front cover & front end paper of William F. Gable, Thomas J. McKee, and B. George Ulizio. With two pages of notes by Whitman in pencil describing his directions for revisions of the book and an autograph letter by Horace Traubel dated 20 February 1908 relating to this copy and…

GLC00865

4 April 1861

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph document signed

Title: [Selecting officers to expedite the U.S.S. Powhatan]

He "ordered by the President to select such officers as may be necessary to expedite the ship." Porter was initially supposed to take his ship, the steam frigate Powhatan, to South Carolina to reinforce Fort Sumter in case the Confederates chose to attack. At this time Secretary of State William Seward was still working towards reconciliation with the South. He worried that sending a warship to Sumter might increase Southern hostility, so with Dixon's help he managed to ensure that the Powhatan was not sent to Sumter. Instead it was sent to aid Fort Pickens in Pensacola, another Federal…

GLC00866

18 September 1920

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Isaac Sorin, convicted of possession of stolen goods 3 February 1919 and sentenced to five years]

Isaac Sorin was convicted of possession of goods stolen from interstate shipments in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and sentenced to five years in the State penitentiary in Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to expire 3 October 1920, no reason given. Countersigned by Acting Attorney General William L. Frirnson. Printed document with blanks filled in with type.

GLC00868

18 January 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of John H. Craigmiles by Abraham Lincoln]

Tennessean rebel whose pardon was recommended by Andrew Johnson. Unusual Civil War pardon date for a rebel. (c/s Seward)

GLC00870

December 9, 1861

Pendleton, Alexander S., 1840-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rose

Writes to his sister. Discusses personal news, a skirmish, and General Rosecrans at Cumberland. Requests she send him a song. Written on blue paper.

GLC00835

August 10, 1862

Pendleton, Alexander S., 1840-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Written in pencil, just after the battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia. Discusses their victory over Banks and the death of Morgan.

GLC00836

November 1860

Ferrill, Julius A., ?-1861

Manuscript signed

Title: [Resolutions of the Southern Rights Vigilance Club]

Signed by Ferrill with over 25 others. Concerns their opposition to Abraham Lincoln and abolitionism. Resolves to "resist and prevent" Lincoln's inauguration (if elected), to offer their services to any seceding state, to resist anyone who would take office in Savannah under a Lincoln administration, and to join any organization dedicated to "protecting Slave property in the territories." Legal folio with six blank sheets.

GLC00837

8 January 1800

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Commission for privateer "Active."]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Partially printed document. John Adams, as president, gives permission to David Stewart, a Baltimore merchant, to use his ship "Active" as a privateer during the Quasi War with France. The ship has a crew of 20, is armed with 10 guns, and is captained by William Storey. Large embossed paper seal of the United States at the bottom. Docket on verso is illegible because of cardboard backing added at an unknown date.

GLC00838

July 28, 1887

Grant, Lewis A., 1828-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Norton Galloway

Disputes Captain Galloway's account of Upton's Brigade at "Bloody Angle" at Spotsylvania during the Civil War, which Galloway has published in June in The Century Magazine. Grant thought more should be said about the other brigades involved, especially Edwards' Brigade, which "remained and fought out the battle that night" after Upton had retired in the afternoon. Also considers other questions: "Who was the first at the angle?--Who was in commend then?--And who contributed most towards saving the day?" Provides a brief account of hand-to-hand combat in the battle.

GLC00840

1865

Header Record

Title: 2 documents related to the Army of Tennessee [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00841

17 January 1865

Bryan, Henry, fl. 1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: Memorandum of condition of the Army of Tennessee, Jan. 17/19th 1865

A report on the general condition of Confederate General Stephen D. Lee's corps of the Army of Tennessee. Documents corps, divisions, brigades, number of soldiers, supplies needed by soldiers, health, and general remarks following Confederate losses in the Franklin-Nashville campaign of November-December 1864. Reports on the condition of soldiers under the command of Generals Carter L. Stevenson, Edward Johnson, and Henry D. Clayton. In the "General Remarks" for Clayton's division, states: "they lack confidence in Army commander, which tended to keep back the absentees - would agree to…

GLC00841.01

20 January 1865

Otey, John M., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Returns of the Army of Tenn Commanded by Gen. J.B. Hood for period ending Jany 20 '65

Table of present and absent for each section of John Bell Hood's army. More that three fourths of the men listed as absent. Written just after the battle of Franklin, where the Army of Tennessee suffered heavy losses.

GLC00841.02