December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]

Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The…

GLC00508.04

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a copy of a letter to the Secretary of War and to Major Wayne (not present), the newly appointed Adjutant General of Georgia. The letters concern an attempt to purchase tents from the U.S. government. Advises that the tents be manufactured in Georgia under Wayne's direction as cheaply as possible and of good quality. Informs that he will report on the status of a proposed contract for 18 pounders to be made in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC00508.05

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with James T. Ames of Chicopee, Massachusetts (Ames Manufacturing) for cavalry equipment, postal pouches, haversacks, knapsacks & straps, Infantry equipment, carbine equipment, cavalry sabers, artillery sabers, and artillery saber belts and plates. With a pencil note signed PS stating he has had a cold since leaving Georgia. Written from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.06

circa December 8, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document

Title: [Estimates of sizes needed for tents]

Size estimates for hospital tents, hospital tents fly, wall tents fly, and servants tents. Docketed by Paul J. Semmes; on top a note in pencil that reads, "Copy sent Gov Brown 8 Dec 1860 PJS - " Otherwise not dated. Blue lined paper.

GLC00508.09

May 12, 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

John Brown writes to his wife enclosing a draft for thirty dollars from Gerrit Smith and his wife, Ann Carrol Fitzhugh Smith. Part of the money is to be used on presents, and the rest on expenses. She must try and make the money last, since he does not know how soon he can send more. He advises her to exchange the money for gold, and hopes to ship her foodstuffs. He asks her to keep the house neat, as some of his supporters may pay her a call.

GLC00516

January 28, 1844

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James T. Armstrong

Advice to West Point Cadet James Trooper Armstrong concerning studies and subordination. He hopes that Armstrong will follow after his father General Robert Armstrong, and his grandfather, John Armstrong Jr.

GLC00520

April 25, 1814

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rachel Jackson

Informs his wife that he has returned "from the junction of the Coosee and Tallapoosee" and that "The Creeks are conquered, some submitting unconditionally, and other whose crimes are great flying towards Pensacola." Outlines his travel plans before he can return to Nashville. Written from camp near Fort Williams.

GLC00522

February 21, 1842

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. C. Paige

Discusses slavery and the Union in relationship to politics. States, in part: "Whilst we cling to the Union we must yield to our sister states all that was intended to be secured to them by the Constitution." Also discusses publication of the letter. Marked "Private."

GLC00529.04

October 19, 1847

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. C. Wood

Zachary Taylor writes to his son-in-law, a U.S. Army surgeon in Baltimore, about the presidential campaign, with doubt about his chances. In regard to the congressional debate over slavery, expresses his hope that a compromise will be achieved, since the outcome will lengthen or shorten the life of the Union. Written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

GLC00529.05

November 7, 1851

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the legal implications of enslaved people seeking emancipation. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Mentions the Democrats of Pennsylvania repealed a law preventing jails providing shelter to enslaved people on the run. He has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause. He concludes…

GLC00529.06

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The address of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln [Cooper Institute address]

Disbound. First edition but third printing of remarks. Annotated by Cephas Brainerd and Charles C. Nott. Not in Sabin but related to B41160. Known as the Cooper Union (Cooper Institute) address. This speech in New York was instrumental in Lincoln's election to the Presidency in 1860. Similar to Monaghan #68.

GLC00533

January 7, 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ward H. Lamon

Abraham Lincoln refuses Lamon's request for him to take on a new case at Bloomington, because he is "so pressed" in Springfield at the time.

GLC00496.048

October 7, 1860

Davis, David, 1815-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caleb Smith

Confirms Smith's much anticipated speaking engagement at Bloomington, Illinois. Davis, a judge of the eighth judicial circuit of Illinois and later a senator, was a close political and personal friend of Lincoln.

GLC00496.050

circa 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: Major Mountflorence

Note to himself about Mountflorence's information-gathering. Mountflorence was a prize agent and former secretary under Minister to France Robert Livingston.

GLC00496.063

5 March 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Land Indenture between Burr Powell, William Noland and Lewis Berkley].

William Nolan and his wife deeded a tract of land in Loudoun County Virginia on May 17, 1822 to Burr Powell and Thomas R. Mott. In order to satisfy a debt owed to Lewis Berkeley, Nolan "has resolved to release all equity of redemption in the lands" and requests that Powell convey the land to Berkeley, who had also paid Noland and Powell. Thomas R. Mott had died and was not involved in this indenture. Notes by Justice of the Peace James Monroe and Abner Gibson, representing the Trustees of the Peace for Loudon County verify the transaction.

GLC00496.074

September 27, 1843

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Henshaw

Requests permission from Secretary of the Navy Henshaw to appoint Charles F. Cady a master's mate. Written on board the USS Poinsett.

GLC00496.084

October 25, 1834

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McGill

In the letter, declines invitation to speak about public affairs. Docket has the name Thomas D. McGill.

GLC00496.092

circa July 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Speech fragment on the proposed annexation of Texas]

Report of Adams to his constituents on events in the 25th Congress, intended for newspaper publication. Adams mentions the speech of Vermont Congressman William Slade, which so offended southerners that they walked out. Discusses annexation of Texas, abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, duplicity of administration and Southern slave states as well as the suspension of the rules of the House of Representatives for debate. Beginning on 16 June 1838, Adams filibustered Congress for three weeks, giving up the floor only when Congress adjourned for the summer recess. He spoke…

GLC00567

10 September 1840

Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter announcing the establishment of Smithsonian Institution]

Sends a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science (the Smithsonian). Requests information on geography, natural history, and ethnology from the unknown recipient's area of the United States. Specifically requests information on Native Americans in the area.

GLC00573

1834-1866

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of Paul J. Semmes, 2nd Regiment, Georgia, infantry [Decimalized .01-.38]

Documents relating to the arming of Georgia and Semmes's militia and early Civil War service. Most documents are housed together, although .4 and .18 are in oversize documents and .38 (button) is housed separately. Includes his Univ of Virginia instruction certificate, pre-war militia training, manuals.

GLC00572

21 April 1834

Partridge, N., fl. 1834

Document signed

Title: [Recommendation letter and certification of military instruction for Paul J. Semmes]

Partridge certifies that Semmes attended his course at the University of Virginia on military instruction "embracing the practical drills of infantry; permanent & field fortification; artillery; the attack & defense of fortified places; Ancient & Modern Tactics ..." Recommends Semmes and praises him as "attentive to the Instruction, correct in his deportment and his conduct that of the Gentleman and the Soldier." Docket crossed out on verso.

GLC00572.01

April 21, 1853

Gallie, John B., 1806-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roswell Ellis

Addressed to Lieutenant Roswell Ellis, commanding officer of the Columbus Guard (Georgia). From Gallie as the Captain of the Chatham Artillery, W.H.C. Mills as the Captain of the Phoenix Riflemen, and C.A. Lamar as Captain of the Georgia Hussars. Invites the Columbus Guard to join the Oglethorpe Infantry of Augusta in a joint parade and picnic when they visit Savannah. Paul J. Semmes was the Captain of the Columbus Guard. Gallie reached the rank of major during the Civil War; he was killed in action at Fort McCallister in 1863.

GLC00572.02

30 June 1853

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: Orders no. 1

Semmes's working draft of an order that gives instructions on baggage trains, ammunition and pitching tents for the move of the Columbus guard to Camp Montgomery. Possibly a draft as there are cross outs and insertions. By orders of Captain Semmes and Captain Cooper. Written from the headquarters of the Volunteer Battalion, Columbus, Georgia. On blue paper.

GLC00572.03

July 1, 1853

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Broadside

Title: Headquarters: Volunteer Battalion. Order no. 2. Camp Montgomery, July 1, 1853.

Orders for the daily schedule and other information for the volunteer battalion. Signed in print by Semmes as Captain of the Columbus Guard, A. H. Cooper, Captain of the City Light Guards, and T. Lomax, Adjutant. Semmes corrected version with autograph manuscript annotations and corrections, in his hand including an "s" after "Order." Written in Camp Montgomery

GLC00572.04

24 June 1858

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Printed document

Title: Orders, No. 26.

Printed orders for the Columbus Guard with three page autograph additions in Semmes hand, plus an autograph docket signed in Semmes hand on 25 June 1858. On blue paper. The orders concern assembling the company to celebrate the Anniversary of American Independence on 5 July 1858. Semmes's notes detail instructions for the day.

GLC00572.05