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3 June 1861
Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877
to his sister
Written in pencil. Reports that Pensacola is the oldest & dirtiest city. Discusses some illness. Mentions Zouaves. Gives his future address as Richmond.
GLC02082.03
26 June 1861
Written in pencil from Fairfax Court House, Virginia. Comments on the possibility of battle if the Yankees don't run. Expresses desire to capture Yanks and kill them. Describes a hard march to Fairfax.
GLC02082.05
8 August 1861
Written in pencil. Discusses First Bull Run.
GLC02082.07
20 November 1861
to Mary
Writes to his sister Mary about illnesses and camp news.
GLC02082.10
29 January 1862
Gives news of Battle of Cumberland Gap. Reports that Beauregard is to command in the west.
GLC02082.13
11 May 1862
Written in pencil from the "Chickahominy River" on small sheet of paper (appears to have been taken from a pocket diary). Discusses marching 8 days and nights, and military action.
GLC02082.15
6 June 1862
Written in pencil on blue-lined notepaper at Ropers Mills near Richmond, Virginia. Comments on the Battle of Seven Pines.
GLC02082.17
June 4, 1865
Van Valkenburgh, Edward Porter, fl. 1865-1908
to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh
Written by Captain Edward Van Valkenburgh of the 107th New York regiment to his mother. Has not heard from her directly in some time, but has heard through his brother Robert that she is in good health. Says he has not written in a long time, but...
GLC00686.18
18 April 1865
Johnson, Joseph E., 1807-1891
[Draft of the surrender agreement between Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston]
Copy made, certified, and signed by Colonel Alexander Robert Chisolm, Confederate General Pierre T. Beauregard's aide-de-camp. Details the terms of the surrender of the Army of Tennessee.
GLC00689
March 14, 1861
Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885
to Mollie Van Valkenburgh
Written by Gerrit to his sister Mollie. Attempts to justify his decision, as a transplanted Northerner, to side with the South. Mixes support for his adopted home with love for the family he left in the North. References her letter of 12 February...
GLC00686.05
July 1, 1865
Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924
Unsigned. Letter is apparently missing the ending. Written on Waldo, Ody & Van law firm stationery. Written by Frank to his mother. Says he just arrived back from assisting his twin brother Gerrit. It was a two-day stay with 20 days of travelling...
GLC00686.21
May 28, 1862
McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885
to Henry W. Halleck
Informs Halleck of reports that Richmond has been reinforced by troops from the south, and discusses plans for defending Washington. Written during the height of the Peninsula Campaign, when Union forces were closest to Richmond. McClellan states...
GLC00664.01
January 3, 1863
Lewis, Henry, fl. 1863
to cousin Charlie
Lewis describes the destruction in the town from artillery when Union forces occupied it, mentions pickets and surveillance balloons and talks about morale. Written from Camp Opposite Fredericksburg, in Virginia.
GLC00653.25
February 28, 1865
Grant, Jesse R., 1794-1873
to Frank A. Hilton
Written in response to a request for an autographed letter written by his son, Ulysses S. Grant. He writes, "I have no letter from him written for such a purpose..." He also gives a brief history of the family and states concerning his son, "...it...
GLC00655.12
May 19, 1862
Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893
General orders, no. 44
General Beauregard's order rallying Confederate soldiers, in response to Benjamin F. Butler's infamous General Order number 28, signed by Smith as Assistant Adjutant General. Butler's order number 28, stating that New Orleans women showing contempt...
GLC00666
March 18, 1861
Kell, John McIntosh, 1823-1900
to Julia Blanche Kell
Writes that on his arrival at Cumberland Island he was greeted by "a goodly number of ladies & gentlemen, guests & household of Mr. Nightengale" eager "to view the Georgia Steamer of War." Reports that he will be sailing to Fernandina, Florida in an...
GLC00684.08
circa June 1864
Tremlett, Francis W., fl. 1850-1864
to John McIntosh Kell
Mentions a letter from his sister, Louisa Tremlett, and invites Kell and Semmes to visit him for "a regular Southern party of Southern people." Encloses a letter from John Hay, now missing, which describes the response of "the British service, &...
GLC00684.12
February 4, 1869
Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877
Writes that, while in Baltimore, he has inscribed a copy of his book and ordered the publishers to send it to Kell's "little son, my namesake." Fondly inquires after Kell's family. Raphael Semmes, commander of the famous raider CSS Alabama was...
GLC00684.16
October 20, 1899
Galt, Francis L., 1831-1915
Writes to congratulate Kell on his daughter's marriage and to request help in finding his own son a job in business. Mentions "the Charleston Reunion last spring" and a circular he has received from one of the men who attended, who intends to...
GLC00684.20
January 11, 1865
to his brother
Written by Gerrit as a Confederate prisoner of war. References his brother's letter of 23 December 1864. Is glad because the letter was "the first word of tiding I have had from you in answer to my letter & I began to fear that your displeasure at my...
GLC00686.12
Refers to his mother's letter of 28 January 1865. Says he is sorry that the letters he writes to her are not arriving. Updates her on family information. Reports that he has contracted Erysipelas and that his face has been swollen for a week. Adds...
GLC00686.16
December 4, 1805
Adams, John, 1735-1826
to Benjamin Rush
Writes concerning his and George Washington's administrations by referring to those "melancholly books" such as "Tully's Memoirs" and "Cicero's Life" from which he compares the first and second triumvirates to Hamilton's "Schemes, to get rid of...
GLC00747
May 29, 1862
Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870
to Governor Francis W. Pickens
Written to South Carolina's governor, Pickens in response to Pickens concerns about the city of Charleston. Lee writes in part, "The loss of Charleston would cut us off almost entirely from communication with the rest of the world and close the only...
GLC00751
28 June 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919-1920
Peace Congress, Versailles 1919, Session of 28 June 1919: Agenda. Signature of the Treaty of Peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany
Printed souvenir program signed by Wilson, Lansing, Balfour and others, including Paderewski (Polish premier and pianist) and the new leaders of the new nations of Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia.
GLC00752
11 March 1861
Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868
Constitution of the Confederate States of America
First printing, signed by Howell Cobb, President of the Constitutional Congress at end. Parrish & Willingham 8 is a variant with space for signing by Cobb, for private distribution (cf. Parrish 1)
GLC00759
18 August 1862
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States
Address on state of Confederacy and conduct of the war. In the hand of Burton Harrison, Davis's private secretary and signed on last page by Davis.
GLC00699
August 17, 1861
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
to E. A. Collins
Grant discusses surrounding Rebel forces and writes that he only has the power to appoint two officers. These two men will be his aides-de camp, and he wishes to appoint John A. Rawlins and "Thompson" from his previous command. Also states "The...
GLC00705
January 23, 1861
Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863
to William Henry Chase
Retained copy. Writes to Major Chase about some telegrams sent and received. Regrets that he cannot go to Pensacola right now because of business. Informs that 20 years ago he was a brigadier general in the militia in eastern Georgia but was...
GLC00715.01
1855
Infantry tactics.
Semmes wrote this for the Columbus Guard, of which he was captain. Concerns "Rules for maneuvering a detached company by the rear rank; and from the front rank to the rear rank, and reciprocally, when in march; together with general rules and...
GLC00715.05
June 1, 1863
Semmes, Emily J., fl. 1862-1863
to Paul J. Semmes
Writes to her "dearest husband" as he is on his way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was mortally wounded in battle. Hopes that he is over his cold and fatigue. Asks if he would be able to come home if one of the family got sick because knowing...
GLC00715.10
May 20, 1863
Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880
to Sarah B. Seddon
Sends news home to his wife from wartime Richmond. Comments on working with Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Laments recent military engagements in Mississippi under generals John Pemberton and Joseph E. Johnston. Notes his anxiety about...
GLC00761
1866
Melville, Herman, 1819-1891
Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.
First edition of Melville's only book of poetry. Inscribed on inital blank facing the titlepage: "Major Edward Y. Lansing from H. Melville. As a souvenir of his soldier hospitality at the cavalry camp in the Virginia woods, April 1864." Also...
GLC00768.01
1865
Wilson, William L., 1843-1900
[Diary of William L. Wilson, B company, 12th regiment, Virginia, cavalry]
Diary of a Confederate private in the 12th Virginia cavalry which includes detailed entries on the Appomattox campaign leading up to General Robert E. Lee's surrender. Begins entries for 1865 by saying that the end of the war seems farther away than...
GLC00653.17
20 December 1876
[Appointment of Thomas Ward, Captain in the First Regt. Artillery]
Appointment of Thomas Ward as Captain in the first Regiment of Artillery, beginning on November 1, 1876. Signed by Ulysses S. Grant as President, countersigned by James D. Cameron ("J.D. Cameron") as Secretary of War. No reason given for promotion...
GLC00778.08
18 December 1902
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
[Appointment of Thomas Ward, Brigadier General]
Appointment of Thomas Ward to Brigadier General, beginning July 22, 1902. Signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President, countersigned by Elihu Root as Secretary of War. Docketed at top by Acting Adjutant General, reads "Recorded Adjutant General's...
GLC00778.12
26 December 1900
McKinley, William, 1843-1901
[Appointment of Philip R. Ward, First Lieutenant of Artillery]
Appointment of Philip R. Ward to First Lieutenant of Artillery, beginning August 10,1900. Signed by William McKinley as President, countersigned by Elihu Root as Secretary of War. Docketed at top by Adjutant General, reads "Recorded Adjutant General...
GLC00778.17
11 June 1863
Mahan, D.H., fl. 1863
[Diploma of Thomas Ward from West Point]
Signed, amongst others, by D.H. Mahan.
GLC00778.03
April 30, 1818
Glascock, Thomas, 1790-1841
to Andrew Jackson
A brigadier general in the Seminole War, Glascock tells Jackson of his return to Fort Early during the first Seminole War and gives an account of the Chehaw Affair. Discusses the misunderstandings that lead Captain Obediah Wright, who was in the...
GLC00782.11.03
May 25, 1862
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
to Gen. Rufus Saxton
"If Banks reaches Martinsburg is he any the better for it?" re: Gen. Banks's retreat before Jackson.
Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. V 1861 - 1862, p. 237
GLC00790
11 January 1863
Wood, Sterling Alexander Martin, 1823-1891
[Report on the Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River]
Written from the Headquarters of Wood's Brigade, General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne's Division, Army of Tennessee (Confederate). Brigadier General Wood directs this report to Captain Irving A. Buck, Cleburne's assistant adjutant-general. Discusses...
GLC00784
1878-1892
Lansing, Edwin Y., fl. 1878-1892
Letterbook of outgoing correspondence with memoirs of military
Containing pressed copies of Lansing's letters and an account of his military career, pp. 73-78 (5/19/1882). These include military letters as clerk in the Depot Quarter Master Dept (1870s), business letters and family letters to his brother Abraham...
GLC00768.02
30 November 1859
War Department, United States
General Orders, no. 23.
With manuscript notes of Paul Semmes on front page. Statement of costs for clothing, camp and garrison equipment for the Army of the United States for the year starting on 1 July 1859. From the Adjutant General's office, S. Cooper. With fold out...
GLC00508.01
March 1, 1863
Wilkes, Jane J., fl. 1863
to Charles Wilkes
Incomplete letter from which author has been inferred (says "Mrs. Wilkes" in the body). Mrs. Wilkes discusses her meetings with President Lincoln, Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, Secretary of State William Seward, Senator Issac Arnold, and General...
GLC00496.265
27 December 1860
[Contract with Tredegar Iron Works]
Semmes's autograph retained copy, marked as a copy. Contract with Joseph R. Anderson, owner of Tredegar Iron Works, in preparation for war. Semmes was acting as agent for the State of Georgia. Orders six 18 pounder cannons, 1500 rounds of solid...
GLC00503
October 24, 1775
to unknown
May have been source for Declaration of Independence's list. Cosigned by George Wythe and Silas Deane, with an AMS copy of the resolution signed by Charles Thomson.
GLC00505.01
1860?
Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875
Carte de visite signed by Lorenzo Thomas, photograph by Gutekunst
Signed at bottom: "L. Thomas / Adjt. Gen. U.S.A."
GLC00562
15 May 1862
Mallory, Stephen R., 1813-1873
to Edward S. Ruggles
On Confederate Navy Department stationery. Signed by Confederate Secretary of Navy Mallory. Endorsed by Admiral Franklin Buchanan and Commodore Charles McBlair. Letter appointing Ruggles, who was in Jackson, Mississippi, as Acting Midshipman in the...
GLC00571.01
April 21, 1853
Gallie, John B., 1806-1863
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....
GLC00572.02
24 June 1858
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...
GLC00572.05
June 27, 1860
Lomax, Tennent, Sr., 1820-1862
States that they are forming a volunteer regiment in Montgomery and that he expects to be elected Colonel. Asks Semmes's advice on the positioning of certain companies in parades and in order of battle. Hopes Semmes can help him as he is "anxious...
GLC00572.10
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