12 October 1875

Manuscript document

Title: [Case history of the lawsuit over the "Mississippi Plan of 1875"]

Case history of a lawsuit over the "Mississippi Plan of 1875" brought against Gov. Adelbert Ames to prevent him from organizing two companies of "Colored Militia" to protect blacks during the 1875 election. The lawsuit charged that such "Troops kept in peace, in the fear or apprehension that a riot or insurrection will occur, or that the laws will be obstructed, are but a standing army" and thus illegal. The lawsuit was successful, and the Election Day violence was the worst in American history. Blacks were prevented from voting, effectively ending Reconstruction in Mississippi. Seven…

GLC09388

20 December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations]

"…praise to the valor, endurance & patriotism of the noble band of troopers I had the honor to Comd. … they at least did their whole duty in the unsuccessful struggle in which we were engaged." Opening with the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battles, Fitz Lee provides a detailed account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations, fighting practically non-stop from May 4, 1864 to April 9, 1865. Fitz Lee's account is especially informative for the campaigns of the spring and summer of 1864, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the opening of the Petersburg siege, and Philip Sheridan's…

GLC09392

27 July 1871

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Slataper

To friend Eliza Slataper regarding the recent death of Tad Lincoln. "In my great, great agony of mind, I write you. I pray you, by all that is merciful to come to this place - if but for a few days. I feel that I must see you. Can you not come next Monday - each day we could be together."

GLC09393

29 November 1869

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sally Orne

To Sally Orne regarding her pension fight with Congress, friendship with Senator Charles Sumner, and Lincoln: "My bright little comforter Taddie, is of course with me today… The darkness is very great - we can only pray - that the dawn is at hand…If we fail, I fear, I shall sink under the blow. I have grown so nervous."4 p. With additional 4 pages, headed "Private & Burn." Though Turner calls this a separate incomplete letter, which he dates to 12-12-1869, it may be a lengthy postscript to the first letter: "My husband was so richly blessed with all these noble attributes that each day…

GLC09395

1869-1890

Bruce, Blanche Kelso, 1841-1898

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters of the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate] [Decimalized .001- .660]

Over 600 letters and documents received by the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate. Born into slavery, Bruce was elected by Mississippi and served from 1875 to 1881. Includes over 100 letters seeking appointments, political favors, etc.; several House Bills regarding the Mississippi River Improvement Commission; a broadside by James Redpath outlining "A Policy For the Blacks-Letter to a Colored Mississippian-The Present Policy Discussed;" and letters regarding crimes and incidents of a racial nature.

GLC09400

1867

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Pamphlet signed

Title: 50th Annual Report of the American Colonization Society

Fillmore's copy of the 50th Annual Report of the American Colonization Society, Washington. The Society supported returning former slaves to the newly established colony of Monrovia in Liberia.

GLC09287

3 January 1867

Ramsey, Alexander, 1815-1903

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. J.J. Wardlaw

Former Alabama slave owner comments on Reconstruction: "There will be in this country great distress and destitution; hundreds of men who were in good circumstances before the war are completely ruined. Suing and being sued is the order of the day.…And what the Radicals will do, can only be judged of by their former acts, and propositions now in their Congress. I believe they intend to give us a Territorial government, and place the negro over us in point of privilege. I hope however the good Lord may intervene and thwart their designs."

GLC09311

1866-1868

Woodward, York A., fl. 1866-1868

Header Record

Title: [Collection of York Woodward] [Decimalized .01- .18]

15 letters written by a Freedman's Bureau Superintendent, from January 1866 to February 1868. Many are from Abingdon, VA, and reveal the personal responses and official actions of a Pennsylvania veteran who served throughout the Occupied South as a government agent. "Our court met and adjourned till 2 o'clock we disposed of 4 cases I am yet Monarch of all I survey. The folks pass me by on the other side of the way, but if they have any trouble. I am the one they apply to the farmers have been plowing nearly all the week; it looks strange to see people at their farms work in the month of Jan…

GLC09327

4 November 1874

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.H. Howard

To C. H. Howard, an editor/publisher in Chicago, acknowledging receipt of six copies of a "little Letter" he had written. "I very rarely write anything for a newspaper. Almost all my articles appear first in Circulars." He cannot promise to write any further articles; Smith died less than two months later.

GLC09329.01

1867-1869

Thompson, Samuel K., fl. 1867-1869

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel K. Thompson]

Officer diary of a Civil War veteran who had served as lieutenant in the 54th U.S. Colored Infantry during the war. The three diaries were written during service in one of four "buffalo soldier" regiments created after the war, comprising African-American volunteers and white commissioned officers, to occupy the South during Reconstruction and to man frontier forts on the Plains. Each diary includes additional notes and small newspaper clippings and a copy of his will (written April 1867). They provide great insight into the early history of one of the most celebrated "colored" regiments of…

GLC09357

13 October 1871

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cousin

As Commanding General of the Army, after his return to Army Headquarters in Washington DC from a western trip, re the Great Chicago Fire: "…I was traveling from St. Louis to Louisville Ohio during the terrific fire, which has swept away nearly all of Chicago & could only get snatches of news from the smaller telegraphic officers. I got home yesterday and like all the world am amazed to know what to do."

GLC09369

22 August 1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her cousin

Alabama woman writes to her cousin in Michigan about family news and her mother's illness, and how life has changed since Emancipation: "It does not seem possible that I could go through the same amount of labor and endure the anxiety and suspense of the past two months again. But one has not the most distant idea of what they can perform until circumstances forces them to exertion. Until our servants were freed, I was considered entirely too delicate to perform any kind of household work. And had any one told me that I could, or would in a few years, perform the entire work that was then…

GLC09375

February 15, 1866

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Letter typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Captain Brisbin informs Stanton, Secretary of War, of the battles he participated in during the Civil War. Relates in detail injuries he obtained and various events and engagements which marked his service. Includes the details of 1862's Battle of Malvern Hill (described also in GLC01504.01). Refers Stanton to Generals Alfred Pleasanton, Stephen Burbridge, Nathaniel Banks, and Devens (possibly Charles Devens) for other details of his service. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-…

GLC01504.02.08

February 28, 1866

Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

Typed letter

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Cameron, former Secretary of War, and John Cerode request that President Johnson appoint Brisbin as a Colonel or Brigadier General in the regular army. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.09

April 21, 1866

Meigs, Montgomery C. (Montgomery Cunningham), 1816-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Meigs, United States Quartermaster General, recounts that General Brisbin and a small squad of recruits made "great efforts to rally the retreating and disorganized soldiers on the road near Centerville on the night of the first battle of Bull Run." Declares that he "was so much pleased with [Brisbin's] conduct that [he] mentioned it to the Secretary of War, who promoted him." States that he has not been familiar with Brisbin's service since that time, but is confident that Brisbin will be able…

GLC01504.02.12

April 25, 1866

Burbridge, Stephen Gano, 1831-1894

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Major General Burbridge wishes to aid Brisbin in preserving his reputation following recent slander. Recounts Brisbin's meritorious service as Burbridge's Chief of Staff and as "Superintendent of Organization of Colored Troops of Kentucky, at a time when it was especially unpopular there to enlist colored men or induce any other troops for the Union service." Refers to Brisbin's successful recruitment of 25,000 African American soldiers. Praises Brisbin's courage and excellent judgment in the…

GLC01504.02.13

January 25, 1866

Howe, Charles E., fl. 1866

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. The Officers of the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery have invited Brisbin to serve as Colonel of that regiment. Assistant Adjutant General Howe reports that he has forwarded the invitation to the Adjutant General of the Army along with the Commanding General's recommendation. Letter written from Headquarters, Department of Arkansas. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.06

January 25, 1866

Howe, Charles E., fl. 1866

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. The Officers of the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery have invited Brisbin to serve as Colonel of that regiment. Assistant Adjutant General Howe reports that he has forwarded the invitation to the Adjutant General of the Army along with the Commanding General's recommendation. Letter written from Headquarters, Department of Arkansas. Identical to GLC01504.02.06. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.07

March 9, 1866

Bell, T. S., fl. 1866

Typed letter

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Bell, Bland Ballard, and W. C. Goodloe (possibly William Cassius Goodloe) request President Johnson to appoint Brisbin as a Colonel or Brigadier General in the Regular Army. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.10

April 20, 1866

Reynolds, Joseph Jones, 1822-1899

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Major General (Joseph Jones) Reynolds informs Stanton, Secretary of War, that Colonel Brisbin served in the Department of Arkansas for the past five months and "has shown himself at all times an efficient, able and reliable Officer." These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.11

August 20, 1866

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Major General Hooker recommends Colonel Brisbin "for the Colonelcy of one of the new colored regiments" to Stanton, Secretary of War. Praises Brisbin's service in the Civil War: "He served under me and has been one of the successful Generals of the War." These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.14

December 22, 1867

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Captain James S. Brisbin informs General Grant, Secretary of War and Interior, that he has "not received the Brevets in the Regular Army generally conferred on regular officers, who held like rank in Volunteers during the late War." Recounts a list of the Generals he served under, engagements he participated in, and regiments he led. Stresses that he organized many colored regiments at a time when soldiers were desperately needed. States "a bill has been offered in Congress, which, if passed,…

GLC01504.02.15

January 12, 1868

Hatch, Edward, 1832-1889

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. General Hatch states that he was informed of Brisbin's promotion following the death of Major Thompson, 4th Cavalry. Expresses regret at losing Brisbin's services, and instructs Brisbin to remain as a recruiter at Lexington, Kentucky until Hatch can send Brisbin's replacement. States "those [soldiers] sent us from Kentucky are far superior to recruits obtained in other States." These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.16

January 13, 1868

Hatch, Edward, 1832-1889

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. General Hatch personally expresses his regret in losing General Brisbin as a recruiting officer in Lexington, Kentucky. Writes, "I think the Regiment is indebted to you more than any Officer." These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.17

27 May 1866

Johnston, Witter H., fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Dora Johnston

He describes his day, first stopping at the Falls for over four hours, then meeting, Mr. Kellog's in Jackson. He is sorry he did not see Hattie. Cousin Theodore died.

GLC02167.48