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.

Smith, Henry W. (1836-1869) to Joseph Smith re: Grant, Richmond and a spy matter

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06941 Author/Creator: Smith, Henry W. (1836-1869) Place Written: Washington Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1864/06/10 Pagination: 6 p. 25 x 19.2 cm Order a Copy

"Reinforcements are being sent down all the time, but Richmond must be starved out. That miserable city if protected by 5 lines if splendid fortifications, on which Mr. Lee has laid himself out.... I have tried to see Clara Howard... she is charged with being a spy... if she is guilty I do not want her sex to protect her."

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources