Papers of Reuben Gilder

Series 1: Correspondence, 1815-1827 (1 linear inch)

Series I consists of twenty-six letters written by Reuben Gilder to Isaac D. Barnard spanning the period July 1815 to August 1822. In addition to these, an additional letter is included that was written by Gilder's wife, Eliza M. Gilder, in April 1823. Finally, a special letter of commendation on behalf of Reuben Gilder is included that is addressed to the Senate of the United States, the letter itself consisting of three separate sub-letters. Gilder served in the military during the War of 1812 in the Canadian theater of combat, where fighting in the Fort Niagara region eventually reached a stalemate and the British retained control of this future Canadian region. In his correspondence with his military comrade, I. D. Barnard, Gilder makes frequent reference to a wide variety of noteworthy military as well as political contemporaries, in addition to lesser-known military comrades who served with him in the U. S. 14th Regiment, composed mostly of Maryland men. In a letter dated July 24, 1815, during which time Gilder was still serving in the U. S. Army, Gilder reflects both discontent as well as a sense of nostalgic melancholy regarding the current status of the 14th Regiment. Gilder states that there were very few men left in the "old 14th," since "all had deserted except about 30." Gilder writes that the primary cause of this state of affairs is the reportedly ruthless influence of the regiment's new leader, a Major Cutler, who orders "fifty lashes for the most trifling offence" and who is responsible for "20 to 40 men floged (sic) of a day." Gilder pines for the "officers who has led them through and shared with them the toiles (sic) and dangers of a three years war," but he must now say "good by (sic) to the family of the old 14th." Nevertheless, Gilder, in a letter dated October 21, 1817, displays a propensity to dwell upon past military exploits and states that his personal friendship with Barnard was "contracted in the frozen regions of Canada" during the War of 1812, a theme constantly reflected throughout the entire correspondence. Gilder also makes occasional reference to the continued military conflict with Native American tribes, especially the Creeks, with whom the United States had recently been engaged in the Creek War (1813-1814). For example, in a letter dated October 1, 1815, during which time Gilder was stationed at Ft. Severn in Annapolis, Gilder relates how troops are soon to be dispatched "by water to Charleston" who will "thence march immediately to chastise the hostile Creeks." One of the more noteworthy officers to whom Gilder refers in his correspondence is Colonel Charles G. Boerstler, a Marylander who became infamous for his apparently blundering surrender at the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813 in the Canadian theater of war. Boerstler had surrendered to a British contingent, unknown to Boerstler, that was half the size of his own forces. A letter from Gilder to Barnard on May 25, 1816, states that Gilder was sending Barnard a pamphlet written by Boerstler which Gilder believes "should exonerate Boerstler," presumably from his disastrous military decisions made during the War of 1812. In addition to various lesser known military figures and acquaintances, Gilder also makes a variety of comments and observations regarding contemporaneous political figures, both domestic and international. For example, in a letter dated June 23, 1817, Gilder refers to "the effection (sic) that Baltimore has for [James] Monroe." In October 1817, Gilder wrote a letter of congratulations on Barnard's success with an emerging political career, a career that ultimately led to Barnard becoming a U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania. Reflecting a keen interest in international politics, Gilder, in a letter dated August 15, 1815, says that "poor Bony has ended his political career." This is a reference to the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who had recently been defeated by the British Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, Belgium, in the 100 Days War of 1815. Gilder writes that he would not be surprised to see that Napoleon "is soon on his way to this country." Related to this is a letter written by Gilder on September 21, 1816, which speaks of the rumors circulating in the Philadelphia area concerning Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte, himself the one-time King of Spain, who was reported as "being in Philadelphia colecting (sic) French officers for that service." Gilder believed that the rumors were false and states, "I should suppose he [Joseph Bonaparte] was pretty well tired of revolutions and can live very comfortable in this country." In several letters, Gilder also speaks of the recent political revolution in Argentina and the building revolutionary tumult in the Latin American region. Gilder speaks of the visit to Baltimore of the Mexican revolutionary Francisco Xavier Mina, who obtained the battleship Calypso from local merchants. These local merchants also assisted in arming Mina for eventual, and ultimately unsuccessful and fatal, conflict against the Spanish military in Mexico. Gilder writes of local support for Mina in a letter dated September 21, 1816, in which he says that the town Marshall is a "well wisher to the cause" and that the people in Baltimore generally are "getting more and more in the spirit" of Mina's crusade against the Spanish in Mexico. In the same letter, Gilder also makes reference to the famous privateer battleship Chasseur, also known as the Pride of Baltimore, which was built in Baltimore in 1812 and was considered one of the most militarily powerful and advanced battleships of the day. Gilder states that a certain Captain Boyle, who was commander of the Chasseur, was to be a commander of one of General Mina's ships headed for battle in Mexico. Throughout the correspondence, Gilder reflects his political views, which are enthusiastically "democratic" according to Revolutionary War-era standards. Gilder was also adamantly opposed to the idea and exercise of strong, centralized federal authority. In a letter dated October 21, 1816, Gilder displays his disdain for such "federalist" ideals and states that when Maryland becomes "federal," the U. S. will be lost. Gilder also voices a deep anxiety that Maryland and Pennsylvania might be "overrun by federalists." Gilder's correspondent, Isaac D. Barnard, who seemed to share Gilder's political ideas, himself became a member of the emerging Jacksonian Party, a forerunner to the Democratic Party, and Barnard was eventually elected a senator from Pennsylvania under the Jacksonian Party banner. Gilder also writes about a variety of personal matters, including his resignation from the military in order to pursue the life of a merchant in Baltimore, as well as his subsequent appointment as Captain of the Maryland National Guard. Several letters display Gilder's intense focus on romantic relationships and the difficulties he is experiencing in finding a wife. For example, in a letter written to Barnard on March 4, 1816, Gilder states that he has met "the most perfect angel" on a trip to Washington but that he did not pursue marriage with her because of "the moderate state of my finances." In his next letter to Barnard on March 23, 1816, Barnard seems to nevertheless display a continued interest in the unknown woman and says that he will soon return to Washington to "reconnoiter and see how the land lays" romantically. Reflecting a certain pessimism in this matter, however, are comments made by Gilder in the same letter referring to various romantic and marital "disappointments" experienced by several other military comrades and acquaintances in recent years. Such marital "disappointment" eventually affected Gilder himself, as he was divorced in 1836. Gilder's battle with poor health is a theme reflected throughout the entire correspondence with Barnard. In a letter of December 13, 1818, Gilder states that he has been disabled for the past six months and that the "complaint has been entirely rheumatic." Gilder says that he is suffering from "pains indiscrible (sic)" and that he has experienced only a brief period of "recovery." A letter written on August 22, 1822, represents the beginning of Gilder's attempts to receive a type of veterans disability pension from the government and Gilder's attempts to enlist Barnard's political prestige in service of such an endeavor. Gilder tells Barnard that one of his knees is "contracted" and that he fears that he will soon be "a cripple." In the same letter, Gilder also mentions that he has only one child, a three-year old son. The letter of Gilder's wife, Eliza Gilder, written to Barnard on April 20, 1823, on behalf of her husband Reuben, is an urgent appeal to Barnard for his assistance in the pursuit of a military disability pension. Eliza Gilder fears that Reuben will die soon and that the pension is necessary for their son, since Reuben has been unable to work and earn income for quite some time, as well as the fact that Eliza's property has all been sold to pay for Reuben Gilder's medical bills.

The final document in the collection is a type-faced letter addressed to the Senate of the United States, the letter itself consisting of three separate sub-letters. The first sub-letter, dated December 8, 1827, was written by Reuben Gilder, who requests consideration by the U. S. Senate for the position of "Door-keeper" (today, Sergeant-at- Arms and Doorkeeper). Gilder's sub-letter also mentions that he was a war veteran who, in civilian life as a businessman, has been "unfortunate" and is "now reduced in his circumstances." There is also mention that Gilder "has a wife and family of children dependent on him for support."

The second sub-letter was written by Pennsylvania Senator Isaac D. Barnard, who gives his recommendation on behalf of Gilder for the position of Senate Doorkeeper. Barnard also provides a thoroughly detailed outline of Gilder's military service in Canada during the War of 1812. Mentioned by Barnard is Gilder's involvement in the Battles of Fort George (1813); Chrysler's Fields � Williamsburg, Upper Canada (1813); LaColle Mill, Lower Canada (1814); and Cook's Mill (Lyon's Creek), Upper Canada (1814). Notable U. S. military figures mentioned with whom Gilder was affiliated are Colonel Daniel Bissell, General William Winder, and General James Wilkinson. The final sub-letter is a brief statement of commendation on Gilder's behalf dated December 9, 1827, written by certain individuals named N. Towson and George Gibson.The arrangement is chronological.