21 December 1950

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Typed letter signed

Title: to Paul Nachtman

Thanks him for recommending Thomas D. O'Keefe and for sending 1884 dollars and an 1884 gold piece. The handwritten addition mentions enclosures: "Here are some souveniers for you. They are for the Carson City dollars. I'll accept the gold piece as a present!" Typed on White House stationery with Truman's handwritten addition. Truman was born in 1884.

GLC01985

2 June 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Salmon Chase

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to send in the name of George W. Lane of Indiana as his choice for superintendent of the United States Mint at Denver, Colorado. Written on Executive Mansion stationery. According to Basler (5: 256), Chase opposed Lane's nomination, and Lincoln did not send it to Congress until January 1863. Lane's tenure at the Denver Mint marked the end of private coinage in the United States. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. V 1861 -1862, p. 256

GLC01989

10 December 1862

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Letter signed

Title: to James Wilson Grimes

Written by Rear Admiral Foote from the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting to Senator James Grimes of Iowa (Grimes served in the U.S. Senate 1859-1869). Grimes was a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs when this letter was written. References a letter he sent to Grimes the day before. Says he did not stress the qualifications of the ship builder John Lenthall as he should have. Praises Lenthall: "As far as I know and believe, Mr. Lenthall is incomparably beyond any of our Naval Constructors in making the profound calculations indispensable to ensure good results in the construction of a…

GLC01952

12 January 1880

Lawton, Alexander Robert, 1818-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Cleveland

Cleveland is in the process of applying for appointment as British Consul and has asked Lawton for a recommendation. Lawton questions his own former position as Quarter Master in the Confederacy would not aid the application.

GLC01941

1 October 1862

Forney, John W. (John Wien), 1817-1881

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

Secretary of the Senate J.W. Forney recommends William Cole, Esq., editor of the "Irish American," for a paymastership in the U.S. army. Cole also comes recommended by Bishop John Hughes, General Michael Corcoran, Horace Greeley, and New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan. Lincoln's endorsement of Cole, sent to Secretary of War Stanton five days later, was originally written on page 4 of a blank leaf of this letter, but has since been detached (GLC02086.02).

GLC02086.01

21 June 1865

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to President Johnson. Lee says that John Mercer Brooke of Virginia, who is now in Richmond, is deserving of amnesty. Says Brooke was trained in the U.S. Navy, resigned to join the Confederate Navy, designed guns (the Brooke gun), and experimented with iron plating. Brooke claims to have had nothing to do with prisoners, cruisers, or illegitimate warfare. Says Brooke had a good reputation in the U.S. Navy and that his surveys of the China Seas are still useful. Says Brooke has taken the oath of allegiance, is poor and…

GLC02029.01

28 February 1873

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

Document signed

Title: to the President [Ulysses S. Grant]

Asks President Ulysses S. Grant to reappoint Gen. John Allen Campbell Governor of the Wyoming Territory: "The undersigned members of the Ohio delegation in the 42nd Congress, and members elect to the 43rd Congress respectfully recommend the reappointment of Gen. J. A. Campbell, as Governor of Wyoming Territory." Signed by Jacob A. Ambler, James A. Garfield, Erasmus Darwin Peck, Charles Foster, William Hanford Upson, James Monroe [?], John Beatty [?], Laurin Dewey Woodworth [?], Isaac R. Sherwood, John Armstrong Smith, John Thomas Wilson, Job Evans Stevenson, James Wallace Robinson, Lewis B.…

GLC02051

21 June 1865

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Mercer Brooke

Written by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Brooke, a former Confederate naval officer seeking amnesty. References that the preceding page of this letter was a copy of the letter he sent to the president on his behalf. Says he would have lauded his abilities as a seaman, navigator, and hydrographer, but thought to dwell too much on them would be a cause of complaint against him. Claims that "I have felt that if I had not been sent out of the country in the fall of 1860 that I might have helped to save some of my honest Navy friends who were so cruelly misled…

GLC02029.02

21 April 1853

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter of recommendation for Captain William S. Walker.

GLC02081

June 18, 1797

Pinckney, Thomas, 1750-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Pinckey, former United States Minister to Great Britain, introduces Robert Bird of the House of Bird, Savage, and Bird of London. States that Bird hopes to pay Washington his respects at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

GLC00604.02

14 December 1884

Gibbon, John, 1827-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Discusses current events, including recent elections. Writes that Hunt may be in a position to aid the army by influencing the Secretary of War to prohibit army appointments made by politicians. Writes "Try to have a rule adopted by which every officer shall have a 'service record' kept in the A.G.O. setting forth every duty he has performed, & the recommendations of the officers under whom he has served." Encourages military advancement by merit. Hopes the new President (Grover Cleveland, to take office in 1885), will make changes in medical programs for veterans. Encourages Hunt to…

GLC02382.054

25 August 1796

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Van Rensselaer

Writing to his brother-in-law, New York State Senator Stephen Van Rensselaer (1791-1796), Hamilton introduces Minister of the French Republic Pierre Auguste Adet (1795-1797), who is visiting Albany, New York.

GLC02356

circa 6 December 1924

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Al

Written on stationery of Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, as bank Vice President, possibly to New York Governor Alfred Smith. Suggests Frances Perkins for an appointment: "all the ladies of my acquaintance are keen to have you put Miss Frances Perkins into Shientag's job." Shientag is possibly New York attorney Bernard L. Shientag. FDR appointed Perkins Secretary of Labor in 1933 and she served as the first woman cabinet member.

GLC02369

1 March 1869

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

McClellan writes to Craig, a brevet general who previously served as chief of ordnance. Discusses the appointment of Hunt's son to Annapolis Naval Academy. Asks if he should write to Admiral David Dixon Porter or Ulysses S. Grant to secure the appointment. Declares "Independently of my warm personal feeling of friendship for Hunt, I feel that the great service he rendered while under my command fully entitles him to far more than he asks, or ever can ask, from the Govt, & make it a simple matter of duty on my part to do whatever may be in my power to aid him."

GLC02382.063

1781/06/16

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry re: neutrality, French alliance, and his anti-British feelings

Written as U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. The first part recommends the bearer, Mr. Le Roy, desirous of commercial connections in America. Adams deprecates the idea of armed neutrality and concludes: "you must not entertain the most distant Idea of Peace while there is one British Soldier alive and at Liberty in America."

GLC02292

20 October 1861

Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894

Letter signed

Title: to Col. J. B. Finlay

Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, writes to Finlay, who is organizing a regiment, then placing the regiment in the field under the command of another qualified officer. Recommends Colonel Samuel Morris Wickersham of Pittsburgh for the position. Remarks that Wickersham is "a high minded & honorable gentleman, of fine abilities, thorough education & patriotic impulses- Having already authorized Regimental organizations, somewhat in excess of the requisitions of the Genl Government on Penn, I cannot accommodate Col. Wickersham by a further extension of this authority, but take…

GLC02297.08

24 May 1861

McDowell, Irvin, 1818-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Sherman?]

General McDowell introduces an officer. The Seller's Description states that this letter was "from a small collection of correspondence addressed to John Sherman, who had just become a U.S. Senator from Ohio at this date." Says "Permit me to introduce Captain R. S. Granger ... The Captain is in a position to need your aid, and as his case is a very important one as involving a great principle and as bearing on the way existing hostilities are to be prosecuted, I have assumed you might find it of sufficient interest to claim your consideration."

GLC02230

5 May 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Signed as Major General commanding in the Department of North Carolina. Writes to the Secretary of War to report on the positions and activities of various troops and generals. "From information obtained through our Spies, I am Satisfied that the force in the neighborhood of Kinston and Goldsboro is diminishing rather than increasing; we had to-day a Cavalry Regiment and two batteries of Artillery ... " Mentions the positions of Confederate Generals Robert Ransom, Lawrence Branch, and Theophilus H. Holmes. Says that he will be glad to receive reinforcements. Stresses the importance of…

GLC02196

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Relates some of his experiences at the commissioner meeting in Elizabeth Town to negotiate a prisoner exchange. Suspects that many of the propositions the patriots made were discussed in New York by a council before any decisions were made by the British. Believes they "never shall obtain justice or equal treatment from the Enemy" unless they are "in a position to demand it." Refers to a report (GL02437.01377), and a "private letter," (GL02437.01395). Also discusses his and Washington's belief that several unnamed persons are providing intelligence to the British. Comments on whether they…

GLC02437.01393

28 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin

First part, addressed to Benjamin Franklin, introduces a gentleman, Jeremiah Platt, "who has just returned from a long exile of seven years, in which period he has in every instance approved himself a ... upright citizen of the republick ... " The second part, addressed to John Adams, also serves as an introduction to the same gentleman.

GLC02437.02805

4 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Clinton

Writes on behalf of a Mr. Parker who is "sollicitous [sic] to open an account in this City for the sale of merchandise." Introduces him to Governor Clinton and gives a character recommendation. Body of letter in the hand of Knox. Signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.02817

17 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certificate for John Campbell]

Certifies that Major John Campbell served well under Knox.

GLC02437.02839

28 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate to John Durham Alvey]

Certifies John Alvey's resignation from the position of Post Master of the American Army and gives a good character recommendation. Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.02036

6 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Praises the bravery and character of Sergeant Major [Enos J.] Prindle of Colonel Lamb's regiment.

GLC02437.02148

2 July 1783

Antill, Edward, 1742-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that the bearer of the letter, Joseph Dyer, and two other men (John Lenen and James Kendall) be given enough provisions to return home on furlough. Explains that the men are from Boston and that Dyer is a man "distinguished with honor and merrits some little notice." The verso includes an autograph endorsement signed by General Knox which grants each man ten days provisions for their trip back to Boston. Also included on the verso is a receipt of rations signed by John Dyer.

GLC02437.02222