Self-Paced Courses: Explore American history with top historians at your own time and pace!
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
1890/02/17
Harrison, Benjamin (1833-1901)
Proclamation: prohibiting herding or grazing on Cherokee strip
Printed document without seal or signature.
GLC01861
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
Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
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
12 July 1856
Welsh, Charles W. (fl. 1850-1856)
[Navy Department orders for Edward Archer]
Request for a signature on Archer's oath of office.
GLC01896.018
7 April 1857
Toucey, Isaac (fl. 1850-1860)
[Navy Department orders to report for duty]
Orders to proceed to Norfolk, Va. and report to Captain Dornin for duty onboard the U.S. Steam Frigate Roanoke. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/04/17 and by J.B. Montgomery [?] on 1857/05/04, certifying that Archer reported for duty.
GLC01896.019
29 August 1857
to Edward R. Archer
Grants Archer a one week extension for a leave of absence.
GLC01896.020
17 September 1857
Orders to report for duty to the USFS Powhatan. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/09/24, certifying that Archer reported for duty.
GLC01896.021
18 September 1857
Dayton, A.O. (fl. 1850-1857)
Advises Archer to contact "the purser on whose books [his] name is borne" regarding any funds deposited with him. Also states that the U.S. Steam Frigate "Roanoke's" purser has not yet transferred Archer's account.
GLC01896.022
16 August 1860
Grants Archer leave of absence for three months and detachment from U.S.F.S Powhatan.
GLC01896.036
September 1860
Toucey, Issac (fl. 1850-1860)
Orders to porceed to Philadelphia by September 18, 1860 to face examination for promotion to First Assistant Engineer.
GLC01896.038
12 October 1860
Archibald, Samuel (fl. 1855-1860)
Response to Archer's letter explaining reasons for his resignation from the U.S. Navy, expressing sadness over Archer's resignation and wishing him good luck.
GLC01896.042
1 November 1860
Archer, Edward R. (fl. 1830-1917)
to Isaac Toucey
Archer's formal resignation request. Marked "copy" in upper left corner.
GLC01896.043
3 November 1860
Acceptance of Archer's resignation from the U.S. Navy.
GLC01896.044
28 September 1861
Welles, Gideon (1802-1878)
to Robert W. Jeffery
Duplicate of Gideon Welles' letter acknowledging Jeffery's resignation as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy.
GLC01896.047
7 October 1865
Seward, William Henry (1801-1872)
[Certificate of authenticity for warrant of pardon]
Seward's certification that the attached letter is "a true copy of the original." Black Department of State seal affixed to blue ribbon appears on left of page. Includes enclosed ALS acknowledging the receipt of a warrant of pardon dated 1865/09/22...
GLC01896.080
1865/[10/07]
Archer, Robert (fl. 1840)
[Receipt of pardon]
Acknowledgement of "receipt of warrant of pardon" and "acceptance of the same and my acquiescence in all of its terms." Enclosed in GLC 1896.080.
GLC01896.081
16 October 1900
Baird, G. W. (fl.1890-1900)
to Edward R. Archer Esq.
Thanks Archer for the history he sent of the 42 pounder "Columbiad" cannon which sits in front of the State, War, & Navy Department Building as an ornament, asks if Archer is related to "Edward K. Archer" who resigned from the navy in 1860, compares...
GLC01896.139
13 December 1861
Mortimer, Caleb C.E. (1835-1862)
to his wife
Mentions being in General Fitz-John Porter's division. Read a piece in the Boston Herald about Porter's Battery being in a skirmish and Sargeant Barnes shooting a rebel but says it was all a lie. Describes meeting Abraham Lincoln at Captain Griffin...
GLC01898.08
30 May 1865
Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891)
Special field order no. 76
Brigade-level copy of Sherman's farewell message to his troops and orders for their triumphant march, the Grand Review, through Washington, D.C. "The General Commanding announces to the Army of Tennessee, and Georgia, that the time has come for us...
GLC01909
9 December 1864
to Lester A. Beardslee
Written by Secretary of the Navy Welles to Lieutenant Commander Beardslee of the USS "Wachusett." References Beardslee's letter of 4 December, which contained information on the effects of Commander Morris, late of the captured steamer CSS "Florida."...
GLC01920.04
1836/04/13
Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870)
to Col. Geo. Bomford re: $50,000 being set aside for building (gun?) carriages
Written on stationery of the War Department's Engineer Dept.
GLC01943
4 March 1848
Webster, Daniel (1782-1852)
to Daniel Fletcher Webster
Written during the 1846-1848 United States War with Mexico. Webster updates his son on arrangements to receive the body of Webster's other son, Major Edward Webster, who had died in camp near Mexico City in January. Reports that General Roger Jones...
GLC01946.41
10 January 1848
Unknown
to Daniel Webster
An unknown author informs Webster that the "Government and Country are approaching a crisis." Reports that the United States will face great financial difficulty by the end of 1848. Complains of the financial strain placed on the United States...
GLC01946.67
20 January 1803
Madison, James (1751-1836)
to the Marquis of Casa Yrujo
Madison, Secretary of State, encloses a copy of a letter (not included) addressed to President Jefferson by Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans trader and planter who supplied the United States with military materials obtained from the Spanish during the...
GLC01948
21 November 1866
Comstock, C. B. (Cyrus Ballou) (1831-1910)
to Edward Ortho Cresap Ord
Serving as senior aide-de-camp to General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant, Comstock authorizes General Ord to move soldiers from Little Rock to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Referring to reconstruction policies, informs Ord that "It is impossible for the General...
GLC01951
10 December 1862
Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull) (1806-1863)
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...
GLC01952
8 May 1792
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)
[An Act more effectually to provide for the National Defense by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States].
Countersigned in type by Speaker of the House Jonathan Trumbull, President pro tempore of the Senate Richard Henry Lee, and President Washington. The act requires the enrollment in the militia of all able-bodied white men between the ages of...
GLC01959
1774/01/25
Washington, George (1732-1799)
Bill for surveying and patenting land grant French & Indian War
Document signed for claim against James Ludlow with another Washington document, cosigned by William Crawford 2/25/1774, assigning the debt to Crawford.
GLC01963
27 October 1789
To the Members of the Society of Cincinnati... [speech as president]
One manuscript speech dated 1789, signed by Washington and addressed to those members of the Society in Massachusetts.
GLC01972
1 May 1865
Stanton, Edwin McMasters (1814-1869)
Order for a military commission
Written on War Dept. stationery, with "War Department" struck and substituting "Executive Chamber." Title taken from docket. A draft for the orders by which the Booth conspirators were given military trial. Written as Secretary of War.
GLC01975
14 Novermber 1865
Johnson, Andrew (1808-1875)
[Andrew Johnson bestows an award on two members of the Blackfoot tribe]
Countersigned by James Harlan as Secretary of Interior. Serving as President of the Unied States, Johnson awards Nootay-u-hah (or Short Gun) and his brother (both of the Blackfoot tribe) money and a silver medal for exchanging their horses for two...
GLC01993.01
1865
[Indian Peace Medal containing the image of Andrew Johnson]
One side of this medal contains the bust of President Andrew Johnson. The reverse side contains an engraving of a Native American and an American colonist shaking hands while standing in front of an altar. George Washington's bust stands on top of...
GLC01993.02
8 August 1807
[Land grant for Toppan Webster].
Countersigned by Secretary of State James Madison. Grants 100 acres to Webster, an assignee of Samuel Jess, on the basis of the act of Congress appropriating land for former soldiers and for the society of the United Brethren. The act had been...
GLC02010
20 December 1860
Painter, Heber (fl. 1841-1900)
to sister Ella
Written on the day South Carolina seceded from the Union. Jokingly writes that he dreamt of being at a party with agreeable young ladies, but was abruptly awakened when he fell off his chair. Reports of strong Union feelings in Washington City...
GLC02016.001
25 December 1860
to sister Kate
Letter is entitled "My Christmas gift to Kate". Describes his walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Christmas shopping season. Visits the navy yard and barracks with his friend Russ and remarks that Uncle Sam does not consider Christmas a...
GLC02016.002
14 January 1861
States that there is a growing number of disunionists in the city: "the disease is evidently beyond the control of mortal man." Fears that Washington City will be stormed if Virginia and Maryland secede. Reports that the ship "The Brooklyn" has...
GLC02016.003
10 May 1863
Painter, Heber (1841-1900)
Believes that the rebel forces at Kinston, North Carolina have moved to assist Lee in suppressing the advancement of the Grand Army of the Potomac. He has heard news that the rebels have "held their ground" in two days of fighting and have captured...
GLC02016.032
1 August 1863
to Rebecca Frick
Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Writes that he is still in Washington and has not done much fighting recently. Discusses a position for which he applied, stating that he won't be disappointed if he doesn't get it but...
GLC02016.034
10 August 1863
Complains about the excessive heat and comments on the health of the soldiers. States that the men in New Bern are healthy, but those in Washington, Roanoke, and Plymouth have got chills and fever. Discusses his recent attack of fever, for which he...
GLC02016.035
September 1863
Will soon be leaving for Washington, North Carolina. Reports on the health of the soldiers; some are in the hospital but not in serious condition. Writes that he is suffering from diarrhea.
GLC02016.039
14 September 1863
Writes to reassure his sister that he is well. Urges her to look on a map and trace his trip from the mouth of the Neuse River to the Pamplico River and then onto Washington, North Carolina; a distance of 110 miles. Reports that rebels destroyed...
GLC02016.040
29 November 1863
Writes that although he would like to request furlough for the holidays, he feels it may be wiser to reserve his request for a time when he will really need it. Reports that Thanksgiving day was celebrated by the soldiers with a meal of hardtack and...
GLC02016.043
27 December 1863
Writes that he spent Christmas on a boat in Washington, North Carolina with other soldiers, most of which were drunk. He had Christmas dinner with Phillip Forrester. Has befriended a widower in Washington who is originally from Pennsylvania....
GLC02016.045
17 January 1864
Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Explains that the delay in correspondence is probably due to the Northeastern storms occurring in the area of Cape Hatteras. Writes that despite not having any major battle news, the men...
GLC02016.046
1 February 1864
to his aunt
Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). He writes that a battle is currently raging in New Bern and the Rebels are at an advantage. The rebels, advancing during the previous night from Kinston, opened fire on the Union soldiers...
GLC02016.047
4 February 1864
to his sister
Recounts the Battle at Batchelder's Creek. There was severe loss on both sides; 200-300 Confederates lost and about 1000 Union men lost at Newport Barracks. Reports that firing was heard in the direction of Washington, but does not know if Plymouth...
GLC02016.048
March 1864
Has just arrived from Washington. Talks about the arrival of his new niece. Discusses the importance of happiness to a soldier: " it is his life, his health, his everything." An expedition to the interior was put on hold due to the desertion of...
GLC02016.049
Showing results 151 - 200