1864-1865

Williams, Seth, 1822-1866

Manuscript document

Title: 5th Corps original field orders of the last campaign

Retained letterpress copies of over 200 original field directives pasted into a bound manuscript. Copies are of the original orders sent to the 5th Corps, or V Corps, Army of the Potomac. Almost all orders were issued by General Meade and almost all originals were signed by Seth Williams as Assistant Adjutant General. Some orders are signed by other assistant adjutant generals, including Edward Davis Townsend and C.W. Foster. Contains orders concerning Lincoln's assassination, Lee's surrender, the end of the Army of the Potomac, among others. Book ends when the 5th Corps "as an…

GLC01005

29 April 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

General Meade writes from Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. A previous assessment indicates this letter, directed to "Genl Cmd'g," is written to General William T. Sherman. Marked "Personal" on docket. Meade declines to send the 3rd Cavalry, since he has no other cavalry. His other cavalry units were previously sent to General Sheridan, and even after applying to General Grant, no cavalry returned. In the area (possibly near Appomattox Court House, Virginia), some blacks have been pillaging the homes of their former masters. Meade notes "there is really some danger of an insurrection…

GLC01918

28 July 1864

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Meade

Grant, commander-in-chief of the United States Army, writes to Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac. Writes that General Winfield Scott Hancock will return (possibly to City Point) and will be too fatigued for active operations against Petersburg the following morning. Asks Meade if he thinks the necessary preparations can be made for a morning assault.

GLC01953

circa 1884-1893

Society of the Army of the Potomac, 1869-?

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of Membership for Thomas Ward]

Duo-tint lithograph attesting to membership. Undated. Cloth-backed.

GLC00778.15

December 12, 1862

Ingalls, Rufus, 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to James W. Nesmith

Union cipher letter written on stationery of the Head Quarters of Army of the Potomac, office of the Chief Quarter Master.

GLC00537

22 June 1864

Joy, George Mills, fl. 18301-864

Newspaper

Title: North Carolina times [Vol. 1, no. 44 (June 22, 1864)]

Union occupation newspaper. Contains a stories called "The Miser's Bequest" and "A Man Who Works Without Pay." Also comments on Ulysses S. Grant crossing a river to Covington and Harriet Beecher Stowe's "panegyric on President Lincoln." Includes Civil War articles, such as "The Success of Lincoln and Johnson a Death Blow to the Rebellion," referring to the election of 1864. Other articles comment on the movements of the Army of the Potomac, Yankee prisoners, and a mutiny, blockades, and "Southern Harmony." There is also a "Rebel Letter" and an article on the "Petersburg Capture." Prints laws…

GLC00900.02

25 May 1862

Morgan, Charles Hale, 1834-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Written on Head Quarters, 2d Corps d'Armée stationery. Morgan encloses a note (no longer present) from General Hancock, and explains that "Thinking it within the range of probabilities that our lines may be attacked Gen Hancock & Gen Meade and others selected a defensive line this morning - There are a great many guns needed…" Hunt's autograph note of the same day, 5 p.m., on verso, states that he has forwarded Col. Doull's information to General Hooker, who "directs me to reply that the enemy has been at work on his rifle pits, and it would be singular if the two armies were fortifying…

GLC02382.001

20 October 1862

Warner, Edward R., fl. 1862

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram. He awaits the action of Gov. Morgan. "Genl Getty left this morning. Genl Barry desires that I shall remain as long as you can spare me…" Lt. Col. Warner of the 1st NY Artillery was eventually breveted brigadier general.

GLC02382.005

23 October 1862

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram. He reports procuring artillery horses (preparation for Fredericksburg) and questions when the next lot of horses will arrive from Washington. Wainwright, Chief of Artillery for the 13th Corps, was later breveted General.

GLC02382.006

3 December 1862

Barry, William Farquhar, 1818-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Headquarters Inspector of Artillery, U.S.A. letterhead. Says that Burnside sent seven 4 1/2 inch siege guns to Hunt the day of his request. The original request had only been refused because Hunt had specified the guns were to be taken from the "Forts about Washington." Says that "if subordinate officers are communicated with direct; I do not see the justice of holding their superiors to account for any supposed short coming." Notes that Stonewall Jackson "is not the bugbear here that you seem to think he is: indeed, not so much consideration would be given him as is really the case were it…

GLC02382.012

6 December 1862

Tyler, Robert Ogden, 1831-1874

Letter

Title: to Alexander Doull

United States Military Telegram. Lt. Jackson will start immediately with the seven guns [possibly the siege guns cited in GLC02382.012]; can't send ammunition yet as the track is broken. In preparation for the Fredericksburg campaign. A career artillerist, West Pointer (1853) Robert Tyler spent most of the war directing heavy guns. A first lieutenant in the 3rd Artillery, Tyler had served as a captain and assistant quartermaster. He was largely responsible for converting the 4th Connecticut into the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. In charge of the siege train during McClellan's disastrous…

GLC02382.013

8 August 1863

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Henry Knox Craig]

Written from "Camp near Warrenton Junction, Virginia." Discusses supplies, reservists and conscription. "There is a notable difference in the manner in which supplies are now furnished from that practiced after the battle of Antietam, the drag seems not to be on now…No sign of immediate action. I suppose that, unless we are attacked, we will be quiet until the conscripts begin to fill up our ranks…it has been directed that the Artillery receive no recruits until the Infantry is filled up…The neglect I almost may say antipathy to the artillery passes my comprehension." Has requested three…

GLC02382.017

1862-1888

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Header Record

Title: Collection of Henry Jackson Hunt [Decimalized .001-.233]

Collection of letters, principally received correspondence, military returns, and one military journal. Includes military correspondence during the War, letters concerning Hunt's various post-war publishing endeavors, correspondence pertaining to Hunt's advocation of a bill which would affect his retirement rank and pay, and general discussions of Reconstruction politics. Primarily organized chronologically by sender. GLC02382.136-.204 consist of military returns related to artillery reserves, Army of the Potomac. With collateral material (11 envelopes, 4 clippings, and 1 engraving).

GLC02382

18 October 1862

Morgan, Charles Hale, 1834-1875

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram from Couch's Headquarters. Reports no trouble with officers and plans to fill batteries. Written one week before McClellan finally move the Army across the Potomac, and less than a month before McClellan was replaced. General Darius N. Couch had been in Charleston two days prior.

GLC02382.002

18 October 1862

Morgan, Charles Hale, 1834-1875

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram sent from Couch's Headquarters. Reports arrival of ammunition for French's Division (Fredericksburg). He wonders where to send it.

GLC02382.003

19 October 1862

Morgan, Charles Hale, 1834-1875

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram from Couch's Headquarters. He questions the appropriate number of enlisted soldiers for artillery corps, writes "The rush of recruits for my batteries is tremendous though bitterly opposed by infantry commanders." Transcript available.

GLC02382.004

25 October 1862

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram sent from the headquarters of the 13th Corps. He corrects Hunt, stating that Hall's battery belongs to the 1st Penn. Regiment. The 13th Corps, comprising the Army of Tennessee, was created 24 October 1862.

GLC02382.007

27 October 1862

Platt, E.R., fl. 1862

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram. Inability to report until division reports come in. Platt was an artillery officer.

GLC02382.008

27 October 1862

Bartlett, William C., fl. 1862

Letter

Title: to William Hays

Order for Hunt, Hays, Bronson and Michalowski to meet at 5th Corps Headquarters, per order of Court of Inquiry. Lt. Bartlett was later breveted general. Lt. Col. Hays, an artillery officer under Hunt, was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in November 1862.

GLC02382.009

27 October 1862

Webb, Alexander S., 1835-1911

Letter

Title: to Alexander Doull

United States Military Telegram from the 5th Corps headquarters. Pledges assistance at their headquarters. Identifies Colonel Hays as chief of artillery. Webb had served as assistant inspector general for the Artillery, Army of the Potomac (ca. 15 August 1861 - summer 1862); lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general (20 August 1862 - 28 June 1863); assistant inspector general and chief of staff, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac (September - November 1862). The 5th Corps was in Antietam at the beginning of October,1862. Doull served as an inspector of artillery.

GLC02382.010

1 November 1862

Pitkin, A. P., fl. 1862

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram. Captain Pitkin confirms transport of ordnance to Sandy Hook.

GLC02382.011

1862

Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

United States Military Telegram. Requests an officer to assist Hazlett. Porter graduated from West Point in 1845, then was posted to the artillery. McClellan appointed him to command one of two provisional corps, and at Beaver Dam Greek, Gaines' Mill, and the start of the Seven Days battle, Porter displayed excellent generalship in defensive fighting. At Malvern Hill he played a leading role in covering the withdrawal of the army, and was subsequently awarded a second star and brevetted regular army brigadier. At 2nd Bull Run he was ordered to attack the flank and rear of Stonewall…

GLC02382.014

22 May 1863

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel

A pencil note written at a later date suggests this letter was written to Colonel Henry Knox Craig. Mentions the army's demoralization and questions the power of the Confederates. Writes, "As to the Army, I regret to say that the general feeling, of shame, disgust, and humiliation is well founded - I suppose it is very indiscreet to talk this but it is only to repeat all mens thoughts. So far as I can judge there is no earthly reason why the whole rebel army should not have been crushed - ruined... A Fitz John Porter, to shoulder the blame has been sought but so far as known, none is yet…

GLC02382.015

24 June 1863

Williams, Seth, 1822-1866

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Letterhead, "Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac." Carbon copy, with Williams's signature and Hunt's notes on verso. The Commanding General [Meade] requests Hunt to proceed to Edwards' Ferry and prepare to post artillery there in preparation for the Gettysburg campaign. Career army staff officer Seth Williams served throughout the Civil War in top staff assignments with the armies in Virginia. A West Point graduate of 1842 from Maine, he had originally been posted to the artillery. He served with the Army of the Potomac throughout its campaigns and under its successive commanders: McClellan…

GLC02382.016

17 May 1864

Stanton, Robert A., 1839-?

Letter signed

Title: to Charles H. Whittelsey

Ordnance report during the Spotsylvania campaign. With Hunt's notes on verso. Written from the Ordnance Office Artillery Reserve. Charles H. Whittelsey (1832-1871) graduated from Yale in 1853. He served in the Civil War as a lieutenant in the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery in1862, and then on the staff of General Robert O. Tyler and General Horatio G. Wright. He received promotion to brevet major for his services in the 1864 campaign before Richmond and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign; brevet lieutenant colonel for gallantry in the battles of Petersburg; and colonel for gallantry in…

GLC02382.018