Primary Sources

History is best understood by examining the documents and reading the words of those involved in the events one is studying. When these documents, photographs and other items were actually written at the time of the event, they are known as primary sources. From the Declaration of Independence, to the Emancipation Proclamation and through letters, diary entries, and military orders you’ll find scores of primary sources here to read what people wrote at the time.

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Battle

228 items


Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo TREATY WITH THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. Feb. 2, 1848. TREATY OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, LIMITS, AND...	Civil War Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Terms of Agreement Entered into with Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865, and Supplementary Terms April 10, 1865 General R.E. Lee, Commanding C.S. Army: GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to...	Civil War Text of Parole Issued to Confederate Soldiers in North Carolina [This is a copy of the parole issued to Lt. Col. Joseph B. Starr, commander of an artillery...	Civil War Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s “Terms of Military Convention” and “Supplemental Terms,” April 26, 1865 Terms of a military convention entered into this 26 th day of April, 1865, at Bennett’s house, near...
Civil War Major General Sherman’s “Memorandum or Basis of Agreement,” April 18, 1865 Memorandum or basis of agreement made this 18 th day of April, A.D. 1865, near Durham’s Station, in...	Lee Resolution The Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution of independence, was an act of the Second...	Civil War Abraham Lincoln's Last Public Address Lincoln's final public speech was given on the evening of April 11th, 1865. Crowds had gathered at...	Civil War Christian Fleetwood's Medal of Honor The attack upon the rebel works at New Market Heights, Va., September 29, 1864, one of the most...
Civil War Patrick Cleburne's Proposal to Arm Slaves Patrick R. Cleburne In the following letter Patrick R. Cleburne writes to his fellow Confederate...	Civil War "On St. Simon's Island - 1862" Susie King Taylor was born into slavery in Georgia and was secretly taught to read and write by...	Reminiscences of Two Years with the Colored Troops The following account given by Capt. Addeman discusses the trails and tribulations his regiment...	Civil War Samuel Cabble Letter Samuel Cabble, a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry (colored), was a slave before he...
General Order, No. 143 General Order, No. 143 established a military body to regulate the recruitment, training and...	Christmas Night of '62 A poem by Confederate soldier William Gordon McCabe giving his thoughts on Christmas Night 1862	Christmas in the Confederate White House Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, wrote this article describing how the...	Civil War Abraham Lincoln's 1862 Annual Message to Congress, Final Remarks As Lincoln concluded his 1862 Annual Message to Congress he reflected on the importance of adopting...