Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) to Edwin M. Stanton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00746 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Executive Mansion Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 May 1862 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20 x 13 cm. Order a Copy

"Hon Mr. Wadsworth of Ky. wishes five hundred arms for reasons which he will explain to you. Unless you know some strong objection, please let him have them. Yours truly, A. Lincoln."

Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. V 1861 - 1862,
p. 225

Notes: Basler 5: 225 who uses a clerical copy with no substantial variation.

Executive Mansion
May 20. 1862.
Hon. Sec. of War:
Hon. Mr. Wadsworth of Ky. wishes five hundred arms for reasons which he will explain to you. Unless you know some strong objection, please let him have them.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln

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