1. Marquis de Lafayette's letter thanking the Continental Congress for a sword and a Leave of Absence. 1778 Oct. 26

2. Major John Andre's appeal to Washington to be shot like a soldier rather than hung as a spy. 1780 Oct. 1

3. Lord Cornwallis's proposal to surrender the British Army under his command at Yorktown to Washington and the French Allies. 1781 Oct. 17

4. Washington's reply to Col. Nichola rejecting a subtle offer to the Crown of the United States. 1782 May 22

5. Aron Burr's letter to Hamilton challenging him to a duel. 1804 June 8

6. Commander Perry's letter to the Secretary of the Navy announcing victory over the British fleet in Lake Erie. 1819 Sept. 10

7. Andrew Jackson's instructions to his Secretary of War directing him to prepare for war against the Nullifiers of South Carolina. 1832 Dec. 17

8. Message from Col. William Travis, written shortly before massacre at the Alamo. 1836 Feb. 24

9. General Beauregard's for the surrender of Fort Sumpter. 1861 Apr. 11

10. Robert E. Lee's letter to Cousin Roger announcing his resignation from the U.S. Army and his decision to defend his native state against the Union. 1861 Apr. 20

11. Abraham Lincoln's War order #1 1862 Jan. 27

12. Grant's demand for "Unconditional Surrender" of Fort Donelson. 1862 Feb. 16

13. Admiral Farragut's order for the passage of the Forts at Vicksburg. 1862 June 25

14. Stonewall Jackson's last message to General Lee. 1863 May 2

15. General Grant's message to Major General Hallede in which he proposes "to fight it out along this line if it takes all summer". 1864 May 11

16. Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby who lost five sons in battle. 1864 Nov. 21

17. Resolution submitting the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 1864 Dec. 5

18. Grant's terms to Lee for the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox 1865 Apr. 9

19. Grant's terms to Lee for the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox 1865 Apr. 9

20. "Home Sweet Home" in the handwriting of the author, John Howard Payne n.d.

21. The first page of Thomas Jefferson original draft of the Declaration of Independence with interpolations by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. n.d.

22. Declaration of Independence n.d.

23. The Star Spangled Banner in the handwriting of the author, Francis Scott Key n.d.

24. George Washington's tentative list of Cabinet and Appointments under the new constitution n.d.

25. The page of James Monroe's Message to Congress in which he first enunciated the principles of the Monroe Doctrine n.d.

26. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address n.d.