5 March 1860

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Buchanan

Writes to President Buchanan to forward an enclosed letter [not present] from Reverend William D. Howard, a Presbyterian clergyman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Howard's letter recommends his son, Robert R. Howard, for the position of District Attorney in Nebraska territory. Declares, "He read law under my direction, is a very industrious worthy young gentleman, of more than ordinary ability, a good lawyer and sound democrat, and would be an excellent appointment to the District Attorneyship." Note in pen on verso in different handwriting listing date, authorship of Stanton's letter, and…

GLC02735

27 October 1863

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

Printed document signed

Title: to George Henry Thomas

Partially printed document informing Thomas that he has been appointed Brigadier General by the President of the United States. Signed by Stanton as Secretary of War. A note at the bottom of the page indicates that Thomas accepted this appointment 2 November 1863, the day he received this notification.

GLC03816.02

30 March 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

To an unnamed Union General hoping he improves from his wounds and stating his importance to the Union cause. Addressed simply to "Dear General," who was recently wounded while fighting Stonewall Jackson's forces. States that his recovery is essential to the Union's success in the war. Docket notes "A friendly letter."

GLC03817.01

20 February 1868

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

Document signed

Title: [Deed of sale of excess military sites]

Allows for the sale of lands, buildings, and improvements surrounding Harper's Ferry. Grants conveyance of property to Catharine E. Stipes.

GLC03817.02

22 October 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: [Pass permitting Virginia farmer Benjamin Hummer to bring crops into Washington]

Permits Benjamin Hummer, a farmer from Virginia, to bring his produce to Washington to sell. Also permits him to bring his family, and return with necessary goods. Written on stationery of the War Department. The envelope is an official Secretary of War envelope, also signed by Stanton. Noted at top as "Good for 80 days."

GLC03826

20 April 1865

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

Broadside

Title: [Lincoln assassination reward poster]

Contains a message from the War Department advertising a $100,000 total reward for the capture of John Surrat, John Wilkes Booth and David Herold. Specifies amount rewarded for each capture: Booth ($50,000), Surrat ( $25,000), and Herold ($25,000). Gives a brief physical description of Booth and his accomplices.

GLC04092

11 May 1865 - 13 May 1865

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

Header Record

Title: Letter and two telegrams requesting prosecution of Horace Greeley [Decimalized .01-.03]

Edwin M. Stanton writes one letter and two telegrams to Edwards Pierrepont asking him to prosecute Horace Greeley, who Stanton claims has tried to incite others to murder him.

GLC04452

16 April 1865

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

Manuscript document

Title: General orders no. 66

Secretary of War Stanton announces the death of President Lincoln to the armies. States that "headquarters of every department, post, station, fort, and arsenal will be draped in mourning for thirty days." Also, funeral honors will take place at every military post and at West Point. W.A. Nichols announces that troops and cadets of West Point and all military posts will be paraded at 10 o/clock a.m. Also commands that flags be displayed at half-staff, thirteen guns be fired at dawn, and that officers of the armies of the U.S. wear a badge of mourning. Officers' command and regiment…

GLC04528

18 May 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rev. Herman Dyer

Secretary of War Stanton writes to his friend Reverend Dyer about Union strategy in Peninsula Campaign, responding to criticism in the press. He expresses condemnation of General McClellan. Stanton insists that Lincoln agrees with him concerning the defense of Washington. He also expresses his thoughts about his position: "I knew that everything I cherish and hold dear would be sacrificed by accepting this office. But I thought I might help to save the country and for that I am willing to perish." Written on four folios.

GLC07102

February 24, 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nahum Capen

Less than a month after being appointed Secretary of War, Stanton makes a thinly-veiled attack on Lincoln's economic policies. Excerpt: "No public man, in times like these, can fail to have both his words and acts misunderstood & any one is fortunate whose conduct is so leniently criticized as mine has been. My official position was not sought for; it is held at great personal sacrifice, and aspiring to nothing beyond, having a heart single to the one great object of overcoming the rebellion and restoring the authority of the government in time to save the nation from the horrible gulf…

GLC00008

27 May 1864

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

Pamphlet

Title: Letter from the Secretary of War, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives, transmitting Major General G. W. Morgan's report of the occupation of Cumberland Gap.

Report of General George W. Morgan's occupation of the Cumberland Gap forwarded by Secretary of War Stanton to the House of Representatives. Pages 1-7 consists of Morgan's report. Pages 8-19 consists of supporting correspondence. Dated from the date it was read and ordered to be printed. Cover appears to be missing, or the pages were pulled from a larger book.

GLC00267.289

December 5, 1863

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

Pamphlet

Title: Reports of the Secretary of War and the Commander-in-Chief.

Includes reports submitted to President Abraham Lincoln by Stanton, Secretary of War, and Halleck, General-in-Chief. Stanton states "The colored troops have been allowed no bounty, and, under the construction given by the department, they can only, by existing law, receive the pay of ten dollars per month, white soldiers being paid thirteen dollars per month, with clothing and a daily ration. There seems to be inequality and injustice in this distinction, and an amendment, authorizing the same pay and bounty as white troops receive, is recommended." Stanton discusses items purchased for…

GLC00267.325

May 7, 1867

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepoint

Stanton, Secretary of War, updates Pierrepont regarding the activities of Mrs. Pierrepont, who was visiting Washington, D. C. Denies charges leveled in the Tyler case, in which a woman claimed property injury sustained from "Yankee barbarians."

GLC01428

1 May 1865

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

Autograph document

Title: Order for a military commission

Written on War Dept. stationery, with "War Department" struck and substituting "Executive Chamber." Title taken from docket. A draft for the orders by which the Booth conspirators were given military trial. Written as Secretary of War.

GLC01975

2 June 1865

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

Document signed

Title: Pass for John Ford

Signed by Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. Pass for John Ford to visit the stage and private boxes in Ford's Theatre.

GLC02011

16 April 1865

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

Broadside

Title: General orders no. 66

Secretary of War Stanton announces the death of President Lincoln to the armies. States that "headquarters of every department, post, station, fort, and arsenal will be draped in mourning for thirty days." Also, funeral honors will take place at every military post and at West Point. W.A. Nichols announces that troops and cadets of West Point and all military posts will be paraded at 10 o'clock a.m. Also commands that flags be displayed at half-staff, thirteen guns be fired at dawn, and that officers of the armies of the U.S. wear a badge of mourning. Officers' command and regiment…

GLC02031

November 28, 1863

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

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of George B. Drake]

Partially printed document promoting George B. Drake to the rank of First Lieutenant.

GLC02320.07

ca. 16 April 1865

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

Envelope

Title: [Envelope addressed to Major Vincent]

A free franked envelope (War Department stationery) signed as Secretary of War, allowing the bearer, Major Vincent, to see the Board of Inquiry into Lincoln's assassination.

GLC02256

24 September 1854

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah S. Black

Informs Black of the cholera epidemic in Pittsburgh, and warns him not to return to the city until it has abated. States a hundred people a day are dying. Jeremiah S. Black was chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and later U.S. attorney general and Secretary of State. Excerpt:  "The cholera has been more fatal since I wrote to you, the reported deaths on Thursday and Friday being each day a hundred or over. Saturday there was some abatement there not being over fifty - and yesterday about forty. But there is no reason to believe that a decided improvement has taken place……

GLC02229

26 September 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

In this telegram Stanton, Secretary of War, writes "The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday rejoices that 'Beauregard has been assigned to the Command of the Army in Georgia, that his star ever led to victory and his very name inspires confidence of success.' A report comes to the Navy Department via Memphis and Cairo that Mobile has surrendered. I do not credit it." Mentions Union General Philip Henry Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

GLC01583

circa 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George B. McClellan

Stanton explains why McClellan's request to send "Todd," an officer, to Buell has not been fulfilled. Generals Ripley and Thomas had accused Todd of "habitualy shirking duty," and Stanton had been investigating the matter. Stanton notes that "Genl Thomas acted on my order, and not out of any disrespect to your wishes...."

GLC02490.17

2 December 1864

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

Document signed

Title: [Brevet appointment of William R. Smedberg]

Partially printed document appointing William R. Smedberg as "a Major, by Brevet," for "gallant services at the battle of the Wilderness." While the President has appointed Smedberg, he must also be confirmed by the Senate before assuming his new rank.

GLC08574

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

April 1865

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

Header Record

Title: [Deposition of Edwin M. Stanton and related legal documents] [decimalized]

Six documents relating to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton's deposition as a defense witness in the case of John Benjamin (plaintiff) vs. Robert Murray and Jacob H. Perkins (defendants), being heard before the New York Supreme Court. The case, and Stanton's deposition, concerned Lincoln's 1862 call for a draft and Stanton's order to arrest anyone discouraging enlistment. At the top left of each page is the identifier "761-A" (the number is stamped; "-A" is handwritten), followed by a stamped page number (beginning with 86 and ending with 108). Documents (decimalized .01-.06) held together…

GLC00720

March 24, 1867

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepont

Stanton says he cannot help Edwards Pierrepont with collectorship. The letter also discusses lack of influence with President Johnson. Letter written on War Department stationery.

GLC00871