Manuscripts
Charles A. Magnuson letter to Miss Kneebone
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Letters regarding Charles L. Hallowell
Manuscripts
HM 80817: Letter written by Moses R. Stubbs from the 2nd Regiment California Volunteers Cavalry to Mr. Brittle on February 7th, 1863 from Camp Douglas, Utah. In this detailed letter, Stubbs describes the Battle at Bear River on the early morning of January 29th, 1863. "I will only say that ...the Indians were engaged early in the morning & lasted until noon there was 40 infantry & about 150 cavalry engaged of which 14 killed 6 mortally wounded 46 wounded which goes to show that it was the hardest fought Battle ever fought west of the Mississippi there being 276 warriors killed & some squas killed by accident." Stubbs also describes the events leading up to Hallowell's death, "...he was on his knees watching an Indian that was watching him both trying to get a shot at each other the Indian fired first & shot through Charles' over coat collar in an instant after Charles' carbine sent forth its deadly contents which took effect in the Indians forehead which seated his brains all around on the snow just at this instant there was an Indian jumped up off to the right of Charles & took a deliberate aim at him & shot him through & through..."
mssHM 80817-80819
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John Charles Frémont letter to "Mr. Wright,"
Manuscripts
In this letter to the otherwise unidentified "Mr. Wright" of Washington, Frémont writes thata French company called "the Belgian Miners" has arrived in San Francisco, and are under lease to him. He shall put them to work immediately "on a good vein" and writes that "their report to France will be of great importance." During his time in the South, Frémont reports that he "obtained a great deal of information relative to mines." He has found another rich vein, but is not sure of the ore it contains - he has sent a piece to England for identification - and has acquired a large amount of land that may be of considerable value. Frémont states that they have no commissioner, but hopes the President will "send out others without delay." He hopes Mr. Wright will act on his behalf in this and other matters.
mssHM 21240
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Charles S. (Charles Sanders) Peirce letter to Welch, Bigelow & Co
Manuscripts
This letter to the printers Welch, Bigelow & Co. reads as follows: "Gentlemen, I enclose herewith the proof of page 85. I still retain the proof of page 84 because you have not returned me the copy of (661) (662) and (663) which come on that page. Yours truly, C. S. Peirce." The letter was written in Washington, DC and on "U.S. Coast Survey Office" letterhead.
mssHM 79889
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Kate Sanborn letter to Samuel Clemens
Manuscripts
In this letter, Sanborn is telling Clemens to not send her "either of the books," for which she had asked. She states that "Doxey will get me...[one] and the other I shall not have time to read. I ought not to have suggested it - you are so busy. Sincerely, Kate Sanborn." The letter is dated "July 2."
mssHM 79098
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Charles Darwin letter to C.W. Stoddard
Manuscripts
A full transcription of the letter follows: "Dear Sir, I am obliged for your extremely courteous letter. It is of course a great satisfaction to me to hear that my work has in any way interested an interested and observing person. I am little surprised at what you say about certain plants not fruiting or flowering in the Sandwich Islands; though this is very common in hotter countries. There is nothing I shd enjoy so much as to visit California, but I am growing old & my health is weak. With my best thanks, I beg leave to remain Dear Sir Yours faithfully, Ch. Darwin. P.S. I am obliged for your enclosures." The letter, written from Beckenham, Kent, is dated May 5; no year is given. The letter is in reply to one sent by Charles Warren Stoddard on 11 April 1870 (see the Darwin Correspondence Project).
mssHM 72755
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Charles Plummer letters to his family
Manuscripts
These manuscripts are a series of letters written by Charles Plummer to his family. The first four letters (HM 23343-23346) are addressed to his father, Farnham Plummer, with the final letter (HM 23347) written to his sister Elizabeth. The first letter, HM 23343 dated 1849, February 4 - July 7, also contains a table of daily observations taken by Charles during his trip to California from his home state of Massachusetts, via Cape Horn. The chart is divided by latitude and longitude, and includes barometer and thermometer readings for each date. Also included are incidental details such as landmarks sighted, other ships sighted, and Charles' health (eg. "A little unwell. Took medicine"). The letter is dated 1849, June 30 and July 4, and describes the latter part of Charles' voyage and arrival at San Francisco. He writes that the voyage by sea (as a while has been a pleasant and a lucky one." HM 23344, dated 1851, March 14, sees Charles in San Francisco, and in fine health, but concerned about how he might make some money. He describes local gold mines, each being different from the next, and says he will send home some of the "gold burning quartz" he has found. He writes of meeting Chinese and French immigrants, and asks about family back home in Massachusetts. In HM 23345 (1853, March 10), Charles wishes to hear news of home, in his father's hand in particular, for he has had none for a good while. He has made new friends, and has met a few people he knew from home. He closes his letter as follows: "I would like much to see my native town once more, and trust I may ere another frontier shall pass away." HM 23346, dated 1855, January 1, finds Charles asking once more for a letter from home. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year, and says that the day is marked in California much like it is in New York or Massachusetts, and most of the local stores are closed. He is astonished by how much liquor has been consumed in San Francisco for the occasion. Included in HM 23347 (dated 1856, August 4) is a print of the public execution of Hetherington and Brace, "The Murderers of Baldwin, Randall, West, and Marion, July 29th, 1856" outside Fort Vigilance, upon which Charles has made handwritten notes. In the letter, written to his sister Elizabeth, Charles describes being a witness at this execution, which he went to because "business was suspended all about town and I could accomplish nothing." He writes of the fruit industry in San Francisco, and how it differs in operation compared to back home.
mssHM 23343-23347