Search Results: Military from Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC

"The court . . . do adjudge ye sd John Manning to be . . . brought ought to the public place before ye City Hall, there to have his sword broken over his head & from that time be rendred uncapable of wearing a sword or serving his Maty. . .."
New York, 1846. Ribbon-bound.
This official six-page extract from the Colonial Council Minutes of New York measures 8" x 13" and is bound within a blank leaf tied with a pink ribbon. This single 1846 document combines the official 1674 record of Captain John Burroughs's surrender of the colony to the Netherlands in 1673 as well as his subsequent trial and sentencing. It is in nice shape.
In 1609, under the flag of the Dutch East India Company, Henry Hudson sailed up the river that now bears his name searching for a northwest passage to Asia. Along the way men from his ship, the Halve Maen (Half Moon), explored the region. Five years later, the Netherlands established Fort van Nassouwen, a factoring (i.e., combination fort and trading post) near present-day… Read More

Pensacola, Florida, 1774. Disbound. Very good. This disbound 12-page section of a letter copy book from the 16th Regiment of Foot, stationed in Pensacola, West Florida, contains eight letters and one document on eight pages; four pages are blank. The letters begin on 12 August 1774 and end on 22 September 1774. In nice shape. The letters were sent between Major Alexander Dickson, "the Commander of the Troops in West Florida," i.e.the 16th Regiment of Foot, and James Barbut, the Commissary General of Stores and War Provisions in Pensacola. The single document is a list of the spoiled provision verified by the signatures of three officers assigned to the 16th Regiment. The spoiled food consisted of "128 Barrels flour / 2 Teirces Bread / 27 Teirces Rice / 12 Barrels Pork / [and] 1 Barrel Pease". In the initial letter written on 10 August, Dickson instructs Barbut, by order of Major General Haldemand, to sell at public auction "All the provisions condemned on the 10th Instant [10 August]" and… Read More

"Rec'd four shurts & five pair Stockins at Uriah Samsons"
This one-page manuscript document measures 8" x 11". It is datelined "November 1778" and contains about thirty entries relating to items of clothing "rec'd" and "turnd in." Some light toning, soiling, and edgewear.
The clothing listed on the document includes "shurts," "stockens," and "shews." Providers included John Peekens, Samuel Nelsons, Zepheriah Briggs, Uriah Samsons, Doug Cass, Capt. Washburn, and more.
There are three statements at the bottom totaling the clothing that was collected during the month.
"The Whole of the Shurts that I have turnd in is 36
"The Whole of the Stokens that I have turnd in is 31 pair
"The Whole of the Shews that I have turnd in is 24 pair"
The reverse of the document is docketed "James Strobrige" suggesting he was the person who coordinated the effort. Online genealogical records indicate he, as well as at least four of the donors lived in or near Middleborough, Massachusetts in 1778.
In the early years of the… Read More

"Extortion and want of Virtue has taken almost possession of Every Person upon this Continent, the Enormous sums of Public money which is daily expended and the great depreciation of it will if not shortly put stop to end in our ruin. . .."
Philadelphia to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1779.
This two-page letter, datelined Philad'a 15th Feb'y 1779, was sent by Colonel Ephraim Blaine, the Commissary-General for the Middle District of the Continental Army, to Colonel John Davis, the Deputy Quartermaster General for Army's Western District who was located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In it, he apprises Davis of his difficulties in raising funds and obtaining supplies. He also provides a summarized status of the leaders of the Quartermaster Corps.
"Nothing material has passed since your departure from this city. Genl. Green left it the Second Morning after you. I convey'd him and Colonel Wadsworth fifteen miles, the morning he set out had some little conversation with him about the Western department, but nothing… Read More

Washington, D.C.: The National Intelligencer, 1822. Newspaper. Very Good. The Pirate Fight (The Action of 9 November 1822)" by "An Officer on board the Schooner Alligator" in The National Intelligencer. Washington, D.C.: December 5, 1822. This article, which is included in the entire four-page newspaper, recounts in detail the battle between the American Schooner USS Alligator, commanded by Lieutenant William Howard Allen, of the West Indies Squadron and three pirate ships, probably commanded by Diabolito. The battle took place off the coast of Cuba on November 9, 1822. It occupies over 18" of front-page column space and has a large, capitalized headline. The paper is toned but supple; generally clean with some staining at the upper right. The spine appears to have been neatly mended. At the time of battle, the pirate force had in its possession five US merchant vessels. The Alligator, although out-gunned and out-manned, had an experienced crew which recently captured another pirate ship after a… Read More

Envelope or Cover. Very good. Two-page letter and endorsement enclosed within a stampless cover. The letter was written by Justus Ingersoll on 6 December 1841 and endorsed by General Winfield Scott on 17 December before forwarding to the Secretary of War, John C. Spencer. The endorsement is signed "Winfield Scott", and a postscript is initialed, "W. S." The cover bears a circular "Detroit / Mich" postmark dated December 10 and a "FREE" handstamp. Additionally, a 5¼" x 8"print of Scott as a Lieutenant General is included. It was engraved and published by J. C. Buttre of New York, circa 1863. Everything is in nice shape. Ingersoll's request reads in part: "I do hope and trust General that it will be your good pleasure to give me the appointment at this place - of Military Store Keeper: as I candidly do not know how to support my family otherwise. [You] gave it to me before; at the last reduction I lost my place. I did suppose it was permanent. Do General, give me this situation for seeing that I… Read More

Nashville, Tennessee, 1846. Unbound. Very good. This four-page stampless folded letter with two pages of text measures 16½" x 10" unfolded. It was sent by Charles M. King in Nashville to Miss Anna Louisa Bockins of Philaldelphia. The letter is dated May 13, 1846, and bears a circular Nashville postmark dated May 24. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided. Charles reports that war fever that had gripped Nashville and describes his trip from Philadelphia. "There was a large war meeting held at the Court house on the 19th inst on which occasion governor Brown . . . addressed the citizens a great strain of eloquent war speeches, the excitement here is very great on last evening the requisition arived . . . calling for 3 regiments of Vollenteers amounting to twenty eight hundred & fifty men there are three companys of vollenteers ready formed & parading through the City daily, playing Yankee doodle, hail Colombia and various other airs. . .. The drums are continually ringing through my head. .… Read More

This one-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 16" x 9.75". It was sent by John Moorhead in New York City, to Captain Brewerson, an engineer stationed at West Point. The letter bears a manuscript annotation "Post Paid," a red "Paid" handstamp, and an indistinct circular "5 cts" circular New York postmark also in red. There is a small circular hole, not affecting any text, created by the wax seal when the letter was opened. In nice shape. In this letter, John Moorhead attempts to gather information for his son about attending West Point: "My son a Volunteer in Colonel Burnett's Regiment [the Second Regiment of New York Volunteers} who was in all the battles from Vera Cruz to Cera Gordo [Cerro Gordo], where he was slightly wounded, is anxious to get into the West Point Academy. Would you have the kindness to send me . . . the Rules and Regulations of that Institution. . .. Pardon a little Vanity, Colonel Burnett and Count de Bongar (Gustave de Bongar) informed me that my son was "brave"… Read More

Envelope or Cover. Very good. This one-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 15½" by 9½". It was written by H. Parker at the Navy Department to Daniel Jones, a ship's carpenter, at Kittery, Maine. It is datelined, "Washington / 15th March 1832". It bears and indistinct "free frank" along with a circular Washington D.C. 5-cent postmark. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided. In this letter, Parker humorously informs his friend that he was unable to get him out of an assignment to the Navy's East Indies Squadron. "I called this morning (Monday) on the Chief Clerk of the Navy Dept. He infornmed me you are noted for the Steamer Princeton & will be detailed to her unless the Secretary other wise orders. She is going to the East Indies . The fabled report here is none but Christians are to be sent to that heathen land. "So make ready & have your lamps trimed - ready for the burning.. . .. "Tell Br. Steward last evening I went to a lecture at the Smithsonian Institute [and… Read More

Shanghai, China, 1854. Unbound. Very good. This two-page stampless folded letter between merchants measures approximately 16" x 10" unfolded. It was sent from Smith, King & Company in Shanghai to Dane, Danet & Company in Boston. It is datelined "Shanghai / 11th April 1854" and bears a bold "24" rate marking along with a London District postmark on its front evidencing its transport from Shanghai to London via the ship Marseilles. Subsequently it was sent to Boston via the ship Atlantic; a London forwarding agent handstamp and Boston receiving postmark are on the reverse. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided. In this letter the Smith, King & Co. agent relates the excitement that had occurred in Shanghai's recently established foreign business community as the Taiping Rebellion was rollicking China. "Our community has been in considerable excitement. The Imperial soldiers in the rear of the foreign residences made several attacks upon parties of gentlemen who were out walking & some of… Read More

The greatest difficulty under which I labored . . . was in obtaining guides; for even among the Indian non knew more than small portions of the country we were to traverse and no white man could be found who had any knowledge."
Washington DC: U.S. Senate, 1860.
36th Congress, 1st Session. Senate. Ex. Doc., No. 34. Report of the Secretary of War communicating In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, the report of Captain H. D. Wallen of his expedition in 1859, from Dalles City to Great Salt Lake, and back. April 11, 1860.
51 pages plus a 22" x 16" folded map. Removed from a bound volume. Tight and clean with some light toning, mostly at the edges. The bottom corner of one leaf is missing; it affects about twenty-five words of text. In nice shape, much better than usually found.
The pamphlet's map, titled: Map of a Reconnaissance for a Military Road from the Dalles of the Columbia River to Great Salt Lake under the command of Capt. H. D. Wallen, 4th Inf. By Lieut. Joseph Dixon T. Engrs. 1859, is… Read More

Septimus Winner's musical tribute to Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth, the Union Army's first hero of the Civil War.
Philadelphia: Lee & Walker, 1861. First Edition.
This is the color lithograph edition of Winner's musical tribute to the first hero of the Civil War featuring a cover illustration of Colonel Ellsworth standing upon a Confederate flag. From a privately bound home collection of sheet music, so a little rough along the left edge. 8 pages including the lithograph/wrapper. Clean with bright color; small music store stamp at the lower right corner of the cover.
Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, was the Commanding Officer of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a Zouave unit. He was killed shortly after his regiment arrived in Washington and began the occupation of Alexandria, Virginia. While securing Alexandria, Ellsworth noticed a Confederate flag flying above an inn. Ellsworth, assisted by three of his men, climbed to the roof where he cut down the flag. On… Read More

Various, 1864. Various. Very good. This group of eight documents and letters is associated with Major Pleasant W. White, the Confederacy's Chief Commissary for Florida, and Captain James McKay, of the Fifth Confederate Commissary District. A good case could be made that they were the two most important officers in the Confederacy as it was their effort providing the food, especially beef, that kept the Confederate Army in the field. The archive contains: 3 August 1863 - Special Order from the Secretary of War's Office in Richmond directing Captain Bryant to "report to Major P. W. White Chief Commissary State of Florida for assignment to duty." 27 October 1863 - Letter from the Assistant Quartermaster General's Office in Richmond to White , a native of Quincy, authorizing him, as well his officers and agents, to receive a "'tax in kind' in east and south Florida." The letter is docketed and endorsed by "P. W. White." 30 October 1863 - Special Orders No. 258 from the Adjutant and Inspector… Read More

Unbound. Very good. This lot contains two partially printed $1,000 bond certificates (Criswell #122 and #144A) for the Confederate States of America War Loans of 1863 and 1864. The first is dated February 20, 1863. It measures 14" square and was printed on pink paper. It was lithographed by Archer & Daily of Richmond, Virginia and features an Illustration of General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson who would die from friendly fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville three months later. It is hand-numbered "2053" and bears manuscript initials and a signature. The bond paid 7% interest. Eight $35 coupons originally were printed below the main certificate, each dated as to when it could be cashed. Once all the coupons had been clipped and cashed, the large certificate would could have been turned in for $1,000. As is the case with nearly all surviving examples of these certificates, one of the coupons (for January 1, 1865) has been clipped and likely cashed. In nice shape with some light edgewear and… Read More

"Recruits wanted for the Army and Navy, Highest Bounties Paid. Substitutes Furnished and Town Quotas Filled."
Paris, Maine, 1863-1870.
These 14 items vary in size. All came from a descendent of S. P. Maxim, a selectman of the town of Paris, Maine, who was a member of its Civil War recruiting committee. Most of these items reference either Maxim or the town of Paris.
The items are:
1 - An undated, flag-illustrated business card for the "Recruiting Agency, No. 10 India Street, Portland Me. [that notes] Recruits wanted for the Army and Navy, Highest Bounties Paid. Substitutes Furnished and Town Quotas Filled."
2 - A handbill from Maine's "Adjutant General's Office, Augusta, Oct 5, 1863 [noting that an order authorizing] "payment of bills of Orderly Sergeants, and accounts of Examining Surgeons, for services in raising the nine months troops in 1862 [as well as] the transportation and subsistence of nine months troops."
3. A letter, dated January 26, 1864, from Maxim to Capt Wm. A Barrows reporting "that… Read More

Camp near Stevensburg, Virginia, 1864. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This lot contains a letter written by a soldier in the 126th New York Infantry and a clipping of an illustration from Frank Leslie's Illustrated newspaper, both enclosed in the letter's original mailing envelope. All are in nice shape. The four-page letter, written in light pencil, is datelined "Camp near Stevensburg, Va. March 13th 1864. It was sent by Private George S. Young to his sister, Louisa, at Waterloo, New York. The mailing envelope bears a double-ring Washington, DC postmark dated March 13 and is franked with a 3-cent Washington stamp (Scott #65) that has been canceled with a target handstamp. The wood-engraved newspaper illustration measures approximately 9½" x 6½" and pictured hundreds of dancers in a huge hall festooned with flags and garlands. It is captioned, "Washington's Birthday in the Army - Ball at the Second Corps Headquarters - From a sketch by our Special Artist, E. [Edwin] Forbes." Although the… Read More

"There has been a good deal of deserting in our Regt during the last month or too. About 2 weeks ago 6 went one night & 7 the next and that night the Yanks hallowed for Johney Reb to tell Col Troy to come over & take command of his Regt. . .."
Petersburg, Virginia, 1864.
This four-page letter from Joseph "Wyatt" Wilson is datelined "Camp 60th Alabama Regt. Gr's Brig. [Gracie's Brigade] / Petersburg Va Dec 23rd 1864". The letter was written in pencil but is easy to read except for two blurred lines that can be read using image enhancement software like. No mailing envelope. In nice shape with several tape repairs.
The 60th Alabama Infantry was formed at Charleston, Tennessee, in November, 1863, from companies of Colonel Henry Washington Hilliard's Alabama Legion. Its soldiers were from the counties of Coosa, Montgomery, Chambers, Lowndes, Butler, Pike, and Henry. The regiment was placed under the command of General Archibald Gracie III during the Knoxville campaign. In 1864, it relocated to the… Read More

"I had a talk with Gov. Boutwell last week about 'the situation' generally. He seems to think that the impeachment scheme will be pushed immediately upon the assembling of Congress"
Washington, DC, 1867.
This four-page letter from William Atwood in Washington, DC to a family member in Pittsburgh is dated October 26, 1867. Its mailing envelope is franked with a 3-cent stamp (Scott #65) canceled with a cork 'killer' and bearing a circular Washington, DC postmark. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided.
Atwood's letter reads in part:
"I have been intending to write you . . . but pressures of business here heretofore prevented. . .. The changes that were made of officers in the War Department placed me in such a position that I had to forego any visit home this month. . .. Colonel Wood was relieved and sent to Atlanta, GA, [I was] assigned to the charge of his Bureau. . .. It is as much as I can do to get through with my business in office hours. I was very much disappointed at the result of the… Read More

Oxford, Maryland, 1885. Unbound. Very good. This four-page, partially printed handbill, measuring 5½" x 8¼", offering board-free enrollment as a "Special Cadet" at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy is datelined "Oxford, Md. Dec 26 1885. The name field is blank. A large patriotic illustration titled "The Maryland Military & Naval Academy / Oxford. Md." Decorates the cover. Storage folds. The application reads in part: "You are hereby informed that you have been appointed through Supreme Judge, Towville, NY, as a Special Cadet. . .. You will immediately signify by letter . . . your acceptance or nonacceptance . . . and in the event of your appointment . . . report for duty Jan 4. . .. / Expenses of a Special Cadet, from January 4 to June 12, 1885 / Board Free, tuition $80, room rent $15, washing $15, fuel and lights $15. Total $125 . . . The Expense of a Pay Cadet are $350 per School year." An internal page of requirements reads in part: "The applicant must be at least thirteen years of… Read More

Ta-ku, China, 1901. This archive from Admiral Kempff's personal files consists of five densely packed, typed "Bulletins" and letters detailing the U.S. Navy's participation in the conflict including its ground fighting at Ta-Ku which he personally directed. Over twelve pages of typed text. The documents contain some details not included in the official history of the action, The Boxer Rebellion: Bluejackets and Marines in China: 1900-1901, published by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. In the spring of 1900, Admiral Kemph commanded the U.S. naval squadron that was ordered to China waters to support allied land forces in their attempt to relieve the international legations at Peking (today Beijing). During that time, he directed American ground actions in and around Ta-Ku at the mouth of the Pai (today Pei-ho) River. In response to a request from British Admiral Sir Edward Seymour that relayed a request from the foreign legations at Peking, Kempff ordered Bowman H. McCalla, the Captain of… Read More