Self-Paced Courses: Explore American history with top historians at your own time and pace!
15 June 1864
Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
to Ulysses S. Grant re: prophesying Grant's victory
Very brief telegram: "I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all." A very famous letter.
GLC01572
19 April 1821
Monroe, James (1758-1831)
to Thomas Jefferson
Mentions funding appropriations for the University of Virginia, and states that he enclosed a report on the subject. Pledges continued support for the University. A discussion of foreign relations with Europe follows. Comments on an Austrian...
GLC01576
16 October 1775
Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829)
to Samuel Holton
Written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities...
GLC01579.01
26 September 1864
Stanton, Edwin McMasters (1814-1869)
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...
GLC01583
1776/07/
Washington, George (1732-1799)
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...
GLC01588
15 February 1944
Baruch, Bernard M. (1870-1965)
Report on war and post-war adjustment policies
Co-authored with John M. Hancock. Report on how best to demobilize soldiers and civilians after World War II, and return them to work. Also discusses how to return the government's workforce to peacetime leadership. Commissioned by James F. Byrnes...
GLC01592.01
18 February 1945
to Mrs. Mary L. Simon
Letter regarding "human demobilization." Typed on personal stationery.
GLC01592.02
January 1864
Sickles, Daniel E. (1819-1914)
to David Birney
Discusses a congressional investigation into General George G. Meade for disciplining officers who testified before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War after Meade let Lee escape after Gettysburg. Tells Major General Birney to give...
GLC01599
25 January 1819
Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)
to Rachel Jackson
Writes to his wife that he has arrived in Washington, a day after Henry Clay made an inflammatory speech against him. However, he is confident, because he believes that "a very large majority" of Congress sides with him. He has also learned that...
GLC01609
14 May 1813
Cartel for the exchange of prisoners of war, between Great Britain and the United States of America
Broadside reprinting terms of prisoner exchange agreed to by the American and British governments. Includes notations on the right and left margins of the document. Signed by Secretary of State James Monroe and Tho. Barclay.
GLC01621
14 July 1902
Root, Elihu (1845-1937)
[Copy of a telegram from Secretary of War Root to William Howard Taft]
Thanks him for the succesful result of his negotiations with the Vatican about the Friar Lands in the Phillipines. Explains the position of the United States government toward these lands. He is to represent this position to the Phillipine...
GLC01625.03
9 May 1902
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...
GLC01625.04
25 April 1864
[Discharging a boy volunteer upon the refund of bounty money].
GLC01630
9 April 1778
Greene, Nathanael (1742-1786)
to Clement Biddle
Mentions that he discussed his plan to amend Pennsylvania's wagon law with General George Washington, who suggested that the change might cause jealousy between the army and state. Closes by mentioning the return of Lafayette, who wants his old...
GLC01637
12 January 1848
[Speech on Declaration of War on Mexico in the House of Representatives]
Concerning the constitutionality and necessity of Polk's declaration of war with Mexico. Printed by J.& G.S. Gideon. See also GLC02025.
GLC01638
2 October 1904
Mosby, John S. (1833-1916)
to Gaston
Colonel Mosby, the former Confederate leader, describes a cordial meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt, the loss of his hat, boots, overcoat and cape in 1864, when captured by the 13th New York Cavalry, and the return of his hat. Discusses his...
GLC01653
29 January 1919
Creel, George (1876-1953)
Official U.S. Bulletin. [Vol. 3, no.524 (January 29, 1919)]
Newspaper published daily by order of the president by the United States Committee of Public Information. Contains the text of the eighteenth amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol. Accompanied by a statement by acting Secretary of...
GLC01668
1 July 1864
to Joseph Holt
Lincoln writes to Judge Advocate General Holt concerning army contractor Daniel Wormer, who was paid but failed to deliver 1200 horses to the army. Lincoln asks Holt to get the record and report on it to him. Written on Executive Mansion stationary...
GLC01677.01
15 November 1945
Truman, Harry S. (1884-1972)
Statement by the President
Signed and corrected by Truman. Honors the tenth anniversary of the Philippine commonwealth. Praises the Filipino people and notes the ordeals they experienced during World War II and the Japanese occupation. Remarks that they "are spiritually...
GLC01683
1 January 1863
Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager) (1815-1872)
to Edwin M. Stanton
Writes to the Secretary of War to request that he be "releieved from further duties" as General in Chief of the Union Army because of differences of opinion between himself, Stanton, and the President. In March 1864 he was appointed (demoted) to...
GLC01688
13 July 1862
to Elizabeth Halleck
Writes his wife a lengthy description of events that led to his appointment as General in Chief of the Union Army. Explains how he avoided quarrels between Edwin Stanton and George McClellan by refusing to mediate when asked to go to Washington, D.C...
GLC01689
March 1, 1806
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)
to Samuel Mitchill
President Jefferson sends New York Senator Mitchill an enclosed letter (not included) regarding a case involving General John Armstrong. Asks if the Tripoline Treaty experiences delay in the Senate. One full length seated engraving of Jefferson...
GLC01737
4 May 1861
[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
4 April 1863
[Promotion of Nathaniel C. McLean to Brigadier General of Volunteers]
Official document promoting McLean, signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. This item was accompanied by maps. Includes blue seal on top...
GLC01740.01
4 April 1865
Unknown
[Furlough granted to Brigadier General N. C. McLean]
Written on printed Head Quarters, Department of North Carolina, Army of the Ohio stationery. Grants General Nathaniel Collins McLean a leave of absence, "with permission to proceed to Cincinnati and await the action of the War Dept on the tender of...
GLC01740.05.03
5 May 1864
Margedant, William C. (b. 1835)
Part of Northern Georgia
Printed "In the field" on cloth. Black and white lithograph depicts Northern Georgia. Compiled under the direction of William E. Merrill, Chief Topographical Engineer, Washington, D.C. Margedant was Captain and Superintendent of the Topographical...
GLC01740.06
16 March 1817
to Robert Swartwout
Written by Monroe as President to Swartwout, the former Quartermaster-General from March 1813 to June 1816. Monroe was Secretary of War from 1814 to 1815 and Swartwout reported to him during that point in the War of 1812. Swartwout apparently wrote...
GLC01743.01
22 November 1816
[A general account of General Robert Swartwout's duties]
Written by Monroe as Secretary of State, recollecting the appointment and duties of Quartermaster-General Robert Swartwout, who served from March 1813 to June 1816. Monroe also served as Secretary of War in 1814-1815 and would have been his superior...
GLC01743.02
25 September 1778
to Benjamin Tallmadge
Signed as commander in chief and written in the hand of John Laurens, Washington's aide. Assures Tallmadge that his cavalry would receive enough supplies but warns that there will be no new horses. Complains about the dragoon's ill use of the...
GLC01746
18 April 1863
Garfield, James A. (James Abram) (1831-1881)
[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...
GLC01762.01
GLC01762.02
6 February 1862
[Promotion of John A. Brannan to Brigadier General of Volunteers].
Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Brannan had been a hero at Chickamauga (not mentioned on commission). Docketed at upper left by Lorenzo Thomas as Adjutant General...
GLC01770
14 January 1865
[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...
GLC01772
1842/08/25
Houston, Sam (1793-1863)
to Col. Thomas W. Ward re: predicting peace with Mexico & Indians, Texas
Written as President of the Republic of Texas. Accompanied by an Executive Department order written and signed in secretarial hand.
GLC01777
1842/04/29
Reily, James
to Col. Thomas Ward re: diplomatic report from Washington, longing for Texas
Reily lobbied for Texas in Congress. Written during the escalating crisis between the United States and Mexico which ultimately led to the Mexican War. Reily writes "My heart fondly turns to Texas."
GLC01778
1782/09/09
to Gen. David Forman re: watching the British in New York
Written in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Written two months before the signing of the first provisional peace treaty between Great Britain and the United States in Paris on November 30, during the uneasy lull that...
GLC01783
25 March 1777
Gordon, William (1728-1807)
to Catharine Macaulay
Seeks her help writing a history of the Revolution. Planned a contemporaneous account of the Revolution, which he claims is authorized by Washington.
GLC01791.01
11 June 1785
Luxe George (fl. 1785)
He refers to the Campaign of 1776 as "the most glorious epoch of this command." He praises Washington extensively in battle and as a national leader. He will research details on the Revolution for her.
GLC01794.18
24 August 1775
Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814)
Refers to the present dangerous affairs due to British barbarity. Alludes to "the Bravery of the peasants of Lexington." Describes the investment of a colonial army led by Washington and the beginnings of a representative government in Massachusetts...
GLC01800.02
[Appointment of Ormsby M. Mitchel as Brigadier General of Volunteers]
Signed by Abraham Lincoln as president; countersigned by Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War, and endorsed by Lorenzo Thomas as Adjutant General on 7 February 1862. On verso, contains a note in pencil relating that this document was given to a...
GLC01821
1825
Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848)
[Album autographed by John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette].
A note by Lafayette dated January 23, 1825 indicates he was an "old friend" of the parents of the young lady who owned this album. Adams writes a seven-line poem dated March 10, 1825. A note from William White dated March 23, 1825 quotes Proverbs...
GLC01826
17 November 1779
to John Sullivan
Informs Sullivan that Greene has prepared winter quarters for those of his men commanded by Clinton and Hand. Written in McHenry's hand. Written from "Head Quarters."
GLC01830
22 August 1814
Beall, William D. (1757-1829)
to unknown
Lieutenant Colonel Beall reports on the British advance into Marlboro, Maryland, and the strength of the British force. Also requests money. Adds in a postscript: "It is of great importance that Col. Hood should march immediately. The Flotilla...
GLC01836.01
15 January 1861
Townsend, Aurelia W. (1820-1885)
to B. J. Lossing
Indicates that she is sending two engravings of General William H. Winder to Lossing. Also suggests sources for Lossing's historical research on the War of 1812 and indicates that Mrs. Winder (Gertrude Polk Winder) is forwarding contacts to...
GLC01836.02
1862-1865
Thompson, W. S. (fl. 1862-1865)
[Four Civil War pocket diaries] [decimalized .01-.04]
William S. Thompson, captain of a Pennsylvania militia company, was mustered into service on 29 May 1861. He left his hometown of Bristol, Pennsylvania to join the 3rd Pennsylvania Reserve (32nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry) at Camp Washington...
GLC01838
1836/04/27
Hall, Edward (fl. 1836)
to Major Norton re: carrying despatches from Texas to Washington
Written as agent of Texas at New Orleans, written shortly before the fall of the Alamo.
GLC01860.11
1846/05/14
Buchanan, James (1791-1868)
Circular letter re: declaration of war on Mexico
Printed letter signed as Secretary of State. This copy was sent to to Seth Sweetser, U.S. Consul at Guayaquil.
GLC01860.18
circa February 1782
Bauman, Sebastian (1739-1803)
Plan of the investment of York and Gloucester
Drafted at Washington's request, shortly after the battle of Yorktown, Virginia. Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 189, with references.
GLC01869
1865/02/10
Endorsement on Winfield Scott ALS 3 p. 2-8-1865 re: paroling nephew E. P. Scott
Scott's ALS to William Hoffman, Commissary General of Prisoners, 2/8/1865 has been endorsed by Lincoln, asking that Capt. E. P. Scott be paroled to Lieut. General Scott. Young Scott was the elder's grand nephew, serving as a Confederate Prisoner of...
GLC01889.01
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
Showing results 101 - 150