4 May 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: [Lincoln note on military forces].

Recommends a division be admitted to the new corps of volunteers. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. IV 1860 - 1861, p. 355

GLC01739

2 May 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to California Delegation in Congress

Asks the delegation to take a case off his hands because he does not have time to get acquainted with it. The case referred to is not identified. Written on Executive Mansion stationary. One bust engraving of Lincoln included.

GLC01741

18 April 1863

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster in Washington, D.C. Pertains to pay for the month of March 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins and John Brockenberry, whose complexions are described as "cold," and Albert. Servants' eyes and hair are "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield…

GLC01762.01

14 January 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Abraham Lincoln endorsement]

Lincoln endorsement written on the fourth page of an autograph letter signed of P. Golden from Bangor, Maine to John H. Rice of Washington dated 29 December 1864. Golden asks that a cousin John Murphy, a prisoner of war, be discharged. Golden explains that Murphy was forced into Confederate service and tried to escape but did not succeed. He had to rejoin under another name in the 42nd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, where he was taken prisoner. He is being held at Point Lookout in Maryland. Calls Murphy a "true Union man" and refers Rice to Vice President Hannibal Hamlin for further…

GLC01772

4 November 1787

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Mecom

Writes to his sister in Boston about his feelings on his life of public service. Tells her that she should be direct in letting him know what she needs as he is willing to help her in any way. States that he planned to decline serving another year as President (possibly of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania) but that the country demanded him. Informs that he has been in public office for 50 years now. Writes that upon being sent to France, he observed to a friend that " ... the Publick having as it were eaten my Flesh, seem'd now resolv'd to pick my Bones ..." He gently complains of…

GLC01721

1861/09/05

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Col. A. C. Moore re: preparations for Battle of Cheat Mountain

Moore commanded the 29th Regiment of Va. Vols. The Battle of Cheat Mountain was Lee's first campaign of the war.

GLC01769

19 April 1773

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Describes the contest between Massachusetts Governor Hutchinson and the Assembly over the question of Parliament's control. Denies sovereignty of Parliament over American rights.

GLC01785.01

28 June 1773

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Adams also takes the opportunity to thank Macaulay for her help in supporting American interests. He discusses the deteriorating relations with Britain.

GLC01786

28 December 1774

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Adams describes the effects of the Boston Port Bill upon the government and people of the colony. He warns that the arrest of Parliament's opponents "will produce Resistance, and Reprisals, and a Flame through America, Such as Eye hath not yet Seen, nor Ear heard nor hath it entered into the Heart of the Minister or his Minions to conceive." He prophesies resistance and reprisals.

GLC01788

20 April 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Victor Howard Metcalf

Writes as President to Secretary of Navy Metcalf regarding a meeting designed to take stock of America's natural resources. Also invited were the justices of the Supreme Court, both houses of Congress, and his cabinet. Includes a stamp of receipt from the Navy Department dated 23 April. Written on White House letterhead.

GLC01619

6 March 1920

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Sentence commutation for Charles Manfri, convicted of selling heroin in New Jersey 19 December 1918, and sentenced to four years imprisonment]

Charles Manfri, alias Charles Mansfield, was convicted of violating the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Act in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and sentenced to four years in the State penitentiary in Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to end April 3, 1920 and signed in purple pencil, no reason given for clemency. Countersigned by A. Mitchell Palmer. Printed document with blanks filled with type.

GLC01622

9 May 1902

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Document

Title: Instructions of the Secretary of War to Governor William H. Taft in the matter of the purchase of the Friar Lands in the Philippines.

Because Congress has not yet acted on recommendations of the commission in regards to the Friar Lands of the Philippines and Taft cannot delay his return there, the President authorizes Taft to travel to Rome to determine which authorities of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines have the right to sell the lands. His errand is not diplomatic, but official assistance will be rendered to him.

GLC01625.04

25 April 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: [Discharging a boy volunteer upon the refund of bounty money].

GLC01630

7 January 1891

Hamlin, Hannibal, 1809-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. E. Potts

Replies to a letter from Potts in Troy, New York. Thanks Potts for a copy of the "Wide Awake Vocalist," an 1860 Presidential campaign song book for the Republican Party candidates (Abraham Lincoln and Hamlin). Reminisces about the campaign, and serving with Lincoln. Remarks, "we had to keep our territories free from the curse of slavery..." Calls Lincoln "a great and good man." Writes, "few remain who participated in those political conflicts or who realise, the determination and integrity required for that occasion. A majority of our population to day, were then unborn and can have no…

GLC01595.02

27 July 1861

Pope, John, 1822-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara Pope

Writes to his wife about family matters at length.

GLC01596.04

7 June 1865

Canby, Edward Richard Sprigg, 1817-1873

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Rejection of a Canby's resignation]

Canby, as Major General in command of the infantry in New Orleans, has his resignation rejected and returned to him in "the interest of the service." Made by order of the Secretary of War and signed by C.W. Foster, the Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers. On stationery of the Headquarters, Department of the Gulf. Document is incomplete.

GLC01596.07

7 January 1865

Humes, William Young Conn, 1830-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George W. Brent

Confederate General Humes discusses his request for 1,000 yards of cloth from the Army of Tennessee to distributed for sale among the officers of his division. Explains that his officers have never before drawn clothing from the government and that many of them are "almost destitute of clothing." Written from Humes Headquarters in Georgia.

GLC01643

1 September 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Lyons

Informs Lyons that General Robert E. Lee sent a dispatch indicating that General William B. Taliaferro was slightly wounded at Manassas Junction (during the second Battle of Manassas, AKA Bull Run). He does not want Lyons to be alarmed by "exaggerated reports." Lyons was a representative from Virginia in the Confederate Congress.

GLC01651

26 December 1864

Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances Lucretia Thomas

Addressed to Mrs. Thomas (possibly Frances Thomas, formerly Kellogg), wife of Union General George H. Thomas. Tower, chief engineer of the defenses of Nashville, describes the 15-16 December Battle of Nashville. Thomas, commanding Union forces at Nashville against Confederate General John Bell Hood. Referring to Thomas, writes "to inform you how beautifully matters have transpired here since you left & how glorious the Gen has demolished the Rebel Army of Hood who had the presumption to fancy it in his power to besiege Nashville..." Mentions Generals John McAllister Schofield (Union)…

GLC01654

8 October 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authority to affix the seal to letter of marque to R. B. Forbes]

Authorization signed by President Lincoln for the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to a letter of marque granted to the propeller "Pembroke," owned by R.B. Forbes. Document was previously framed and discoloration has occured where the document was exposed to the sunlight.

GLC01484

18 November 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Brisbin

Complains that he has not received a letter from Jane, his wife, in two weeks. States "If I thought you had been so careless as not to write in all that time I would feel like casting you off- but I think you certainly have written and your letters miscarried." Relates seeing Beaver, Captain Patterson, Bayard Edmunds and other members of the Centre Company. States that he will soon see Major Jack, and encloses a note (not included) from Colonel Murray. Instructs Jane to save the note, revealing that the Colonel owes him money. Informs Jane that her colt is being trained. States "I hope…

GLC01505.03

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

1776/07/

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Benjamin Franklin] re: belated peace initiatives of the Howe brothers

A cryptic but important letter written in the same month as the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, as commander in chief, in response to Franklin's letters. Possibly a draft since Washington has left the day and a name blank, but soon or shortly after July 30, when Franklin's response to Howe was delivered. This letter responds to two letters from Franklin, one commended Washington for his work with the inventor Joseph Belton to construct a submarine, while the other (now lost) was a copy of his response on behalf of Congress to the peace offer of the Admiral Richard and General…

GLC01588

April 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph manuscript

Title: Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.57-58]

Concerning trade and population growth, with allusion to the postal service, newspapers and manufactures. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks (whose unsigned autograph note "handwriting of Washington" appears in the margin) and leaves or clippings were given away as samples of GW's handwriting. Sparks regarded the document as unimportant since Washington had not actually used this draft. See also GLC# 639.25 and 4443.01.

GLC01589

1945/02/18

Baruch, Bernard M., 1870-1965

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Mary L. Simon

Letter regarding "human demobilization." Typed on personal stationery.

GLC01592.02