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31 May 1863
Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865
to Nancy E. Jones
He thinks the war may end soon but wouldn't be surprised if it lasted a year or two more. Their latest news from Grant is favorable. He will rejoin Company F of the 79th.
GLC02739.051
3 June 1863
They drove 40,000 Confederates towards Chattanooga and several corps are advancing behind them. Some Confederates say "they want to quit fighting that they have bin deceived long enough by the leaders of the south." He fears the letter will not...
GLC02739.052
7 June 1863
He has terrible pain in his head and had a tooth removed. He is still with the battery but will be with the regiment soon. "A man cannot git a discharge here until he is four days dead if he wanted it ever so bad."
GLC02739.053
11 June 1863
He expects the Union to take Vicksburg soon. He must sneak out to prayer meetings in town every night and could be punished if caught.
GLC02739.054
12 June 1863
He is still with the battery. Mr. Shorter will hand deliver the letter and tell her more in person.
GLC02739.055
16 June 1863
He has a shelter or dog tent which he stretches out on sticks to cover about five feet of ground. He fashioned a bedstead from an old stable door and uses his oil blanket and dress coat as bedclothes and his knapsack as a pillow. It would be worth...
GLC02739.056
26 June 1863
They have been marching and fighting and drove the Confederates from the mountains and through Liberty Gap. Moving and placing the cannons in the mountains is difficult and the rain makes it more so.
GLC02739.057
30 June 1863
The Confederates are retreating towards Chattanooga. The road is so muddy that they can barely get through. The 79th of Illinois and 77th of Pennsylvania defeated nine Confederate regiments. "The rebs having al advantages in the mountains we have...
GLC02739.058
11 July 1863
They took 200 prisoners from Bragg's army and Grant took 200,000 at Vicksburg. He believes Banks will be "good for port Hudson." Meade defeated Lee at Gettysburg and Lee is retreating with a loss of 30,000 men. "There is no doubt but that lee's...
GLC02739.059
15 July 1863
He believes "Morgan the [guerilla chief] is neer his last end." The whole army is working well together toward a quick end to the war. The Union has control of Port Hudson and Bragg has left Tennessee. "His Armey is very mutch Reduced" and...
GLC02739.060
18 July 1863
He received the children's likenesses. She should not write to the captain asking for a furlough. He believes he has fought his last battle; "this armey may have a hard battle yet with brag but I don't expect to be in the engagement."
GLC02739.061
23 July 1863
He encourages her to go to Indiana with the children and Phebe Jane Walker. He is sending her 21 dollars inside a book of his writings with Lieutenant Williams.
GLC02739.062
31 July 1863
He has the opportunity to change his terms of service by being mustered out and then sworn in again but awaits her opinion. The new terms would offer him a furlough and a change in pay and length of service.
GLC02739.063
7 August 1863
Mentions that he has atteneded prayer meetings led by Black church members. Refers to the educational disaparity between Black and White children. Writes, "if they had the schooling and chance that we have they could take care of their selves and be...
GLC02739.064
22 August 1863
He describes the march from Tullahoma, Tennessee through the mountains. They may follow Bragg to Georgia.
GLC02739.065
26 August 1863
The Union has captured Chattanooga and he heard that Charleston was taken. Their picket line is near the river and the Confederates are on the other side. The Confederates know "more about retreat than anything else." There are rumors that the...
GLC02739.066
31 August 1863
to Nancy Ellen Jones
Jones, a Civil War soldier, replies to a letter from his wife. Expresses joy that Nancy spends time with Brother Millis, possibly a pastor. Traveled the previous day from Bellefont to Stevenson, Alabama. States that divisions led by Generals...
GLC02739.067
3 September 1863
He expects to move to Georgia and fight Bragg. He will look for her cousin in the army.
GLC02739.068
6 September 1863
They are camped between the Sandy and Lookout mountains. The men "almost melt in the day time and freeze stiff at night." He dreamt that they took all of Bragg's men prisoner. Includes note to Phebe Jane Jones.
GLC02739.069
15-23 September 1863
Expectations of battle; taking Chattanooga with the loss of only one man; close proximity to the Confederates; wounding of Cornelius Hanvy. .
GLC02739.070
21 September 1863
to Elizabeth Jones
5,000 troops marched with six pieces of cannon to find the Confederates. He tries to convey what it is like to be in a soldiers' camp; "I could lay down in sight of the rebels and go to sleep without any feer." Their course is towards Mumfordsville...
GLC02739.071
24 September 1863
They defeated Bragg, Johnson, and the Richmond army even though they were outnumbered five to one. They fell back here to fortify as the Confederates are planning to attack. He calls Stones River a skirmish in comparison with this battle. He has...
GLC02739.072
29 September 1863
The fighting has subsided but they are often shot at on picket. He "would not give what I have lernt and seen since I have bin in the armey for ten thousand dollars."
GLC02739.073
8 July 1856
Dobbin, James Cochran, 1814-1857
[Commission for Edward R. Archer as a Third Assistant Engineer in the U.S. Navy]
Commission appointing Archer as Third Assistant Engineer in the U.S. Navy as of June 26th 1856.
GLC01896.017
1856/07/12
Welsh, Charles W., fl. 1850-1856
[Navy Department orders for Edward Archer]
Request for a signature on Archer's oath of office.
GLC01896.018
1857/04/07
Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869
[Navy Department orders to report for duty]
Orders to proceed to Norfolk, Va. and report to Captain Dornin for duty onboard the U.S. Steam Frigate Roanoke. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/04/17 and by J.B. Montgomery [?] on 1857/05/04, certifying that Archer reported for duty.
GLC01896.019
1857/08/29
to Edward R. Archer
Grants Archer a one week extension for a leave of absence.
GLC01896.020
1857/09/17
Orders to report for duty to the USFS Powhatan. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/09/24, certifying that Archer reported for duty.
GLC01896.021
1857/09/18
Dayton, A.O., fl. 1857
Advises Archer to contact "the purser on whose books [his] name is borne" regarding any funds deposited with him. Also states that the U.S. Steam Frigate "Roanoke's" purser has not yet transferred Archer's account.
GLC01896.022
27 July 1779
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
[Knox's working draft of opinion delivered to his Excellency General Washington]
Knox answers the question of "the position that it will be proper for our Army to take, on the Question whether any and what offensive measures can with propriety be pursued at present, and of the line of Conduct necessary for us to pursue under the...
GLC02437.00778
30 September 1779
to George Washington
Working draft of Knox's report to George Washington. Describes British fortifications at Stony Point and Verplanck, New York. Advises Washington regarding the feasibility of attacking British posts in the area. Docket reads, "Knox to Washington No...
GLC02437.00784
1836/03/15
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848
to Aaron Hobart
Discusses disagreements in Congress over his positions at a time when, in his capacity as congressman, he was opposing patronage policies and the proposed "Gag Rule." Comments that "It was unfortunate for Mr. [Daniel] Webster that in the position...
GLC06313.01
20 April 1850
Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852
Thanks Hobart for a letter and his approval of one of Webster's speeches. Comments: "If we cannot subdue, or restrain, this fanatical abolition Spirits, I know not how we shall get along, without great trouble, or be able to carry on the Govt."...
GLC06313.02
3 March 1820
Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828
Briefly reports the passage of the Missouri Compromise: "The question, so long debated in Congress of excluding slavery from our territories is settled, by the passage of a bill...which excludes slavery forever, from the whole of the American...
GLC06313.03
1847/03/22
Archer, Robert, fl. 1842-1875
to William Maxwell
Response to previous letter regarding the Virginia Historical & Philosophical Society, providing a description and historical account of Fort George, on Old Point Comfort, Va. The fort was first ordered built in 1629-30 by Sir John Henry, Govenor of...
GLC01896.014
1858/06/12
Jeffery, Roberta, fl. 1850-1899
to Aaron Jeffery
Regarding his bad headaches and the well being of the children, a party given for them, Archer's handling of the farm, death of aquaintance [Sandie Parker] from paralysis of the spine.
GLC01896.015
1856/05/20
[Request for examination by the board of Naval Engineers]
Requests that Archer report to Daniel B. Martin, Esq., Chief Engineer, to be examined by the Board of Engineers. The form is to be given to the care of J.R. Anderson, Esqr., Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond, Va. Document co-signed by Daniel B. Martin...
GLC01896.016
1858/01/31
Three separate entries [one written by Robert Archer, another by Frances Archer, and the third by an unidentified writer which is incomplete] to their son, Edward, all written on the same date. Mr. Archer writes of his son's arrival in Madina...
GLC01896.023
1858/08/07
to Edward Archer
Astonishment and joy over Sue's marriage to William [Jones], the sentiments of Kate, Sally, and Dr. A., news of family and friends, construction of a new Catholic church, Richard [Jeffery]'s request for Chinese pegs and Edward's bad fortune in love...
GLC01896.024
1859
Wood, William W.W., ?-1882
General Orders for the Engineers Department of the U.S.S. Sloop "Lancaster"
The General Orders includes 7 articles regarding duties assigned according to rank, 19 articles on day-to-day operations and procedures, and orders while "In Port," "At Sea - Steaming," "At Sea - Not Steaming," "Coming to," "Loading Ship," and orders...
GLC01896.025
1858/10/06
to Edward R. Archer, Esqr.
Envelope is addressed to "E.R. Archer, 3rd Assit. Engineer, U.S.S. Steam Ship Powhatan, Hong Kong, China. / Care of [illegible] Speiden, Naval Store [illegible] / Answered Jan'y 14th/[18]59." Reverse: "Written 6th Octr. / Rcd. 29th December/[18]58...
GLC01896.026
14 June 1779
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794
[News of British defeat in South Carolina]
Written in the clerical hand of Samuel Shaw. Begins with a note attesting that General Nathanael Greene received payment on an account from Colonel Cox in Philadelphia. The second copied document, also on page one, is an extract of a letter from...
GLC02437.00770
29 June 1779
to Lucy Knox
Laments at length that he can not be with his wife and family (both Lucy and their infant daughter, Julia, are extremely sick). Has reason to believe the British have traveled down the river (the Hudson). Remarks that Continental posts near New...
GLC02437.00771
16 March 1779- July 1779
Memo of sundry bills forwd to France
Includes dates of bills, names of whom the bills were drawn in favor of, and countersigners' names. Verso contains two similar accounts.
GLC02437.00772
8 July 1779
Knox, William, 1756-1795
to Henry Knox
Makes financial plans before embarking for Holland on a business venture. Encloses an inventory of "the stock on hand, which amounts nearly to as much sterling as it did upon my taking it after returning from the Army ... " Informs Knox he has only...
GLC02437.00773
Oliver, Ebenezer, fl. 1779
to David Sears
Encloses four bills of exchange (not included) for Sears in Amsterdam. Requests a variety of goods, including cream colored tea cups and saucers, "small plain common wine glasses," apron tape, leather gloves, thread, shoe bindings, and gauze, among...
GLC02437.00774
10 July 1779
Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806
[Knox's copy of a letter from Horatio Gates to Silas Talbot]
General Gates declares, "The Glory you and all under your Commd. have gained will be a lasting honour to you & them. I desire you will present my thanks to the Officers & seamen, and acquaint them how Sensible I am of the good service they have done...
GLC02437.00775
Jay, John, 1745-1829
[Promotion for John Moseley to Second Lieutenant]
Partially printed. Congress promotes Mosely to Second Lieutenant in Colonel Harrison's regiment of artillery. Countersigned by P. Scull, Secretary of the Board of War. Vellum with a covered seal.
GLC02437.00776
26 July 1779
Greene, Joseph, 1712-1790
to [William Knox]
Recipient inferred based on content. Gives detailed instructions regarding bills and a shipment of tobacco. Notes, "any Commission business you may send this way, if agreable [sic] to you shall be done on our joint Acco ... " In a post script...
GLC02437.00777
5 August 1779
Commissions received from the Board of War
Unsigned retained copy in Samuel Shaw's hand. A note states that the creator encloses a commission for Lieutenant Porter by order of Henry Knox. Relates that a Mr. Savage declined his commission, and will continue in the regiment to which he...
GLC02437.00779
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