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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.

Cosby, George Blake (1830-1909) to James Birdseye McPherson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05814 Author/Creator: Cosby, George Blake (1830-1909) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 December 1863 Pagination: 1 p. ; 26 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Written from CSA Headquarters, Cosby's Brigade. Marked as unofficial. Contains a watermark on the upper left corner. General Cosby writes to McPherson, commanding forces at Vicksburg, Mississippi. States "I am informed that Peter Grinner a citizen of Vicksburg has been arrested and is to be tried for being a spy & c- Said Grinner came out from Vicksburg by permission of Genl Sherman on a visit to his brother who is Chf Bugler at my Hdqr- He staid I believe near the camp two or three days- I solemnly pledge my word of honor that said Grinner gave me no information whatever prejudicial to the interests of the US- nor do I believe he gave any information at all- I feel confident from the position of his brother near me he would have given information to me in preference to any other- I make this statement knowing it may benefit him if he is still in your lines & because I can give evidence in his favor in no other way- He is terribly deformed- Works for his daily bread and is I am perfectly satisfied innocent of even a desire to injure the U. S. Forces in any way- Please inform me if he has been sent here."

Cosby, George Blake, 1830-1909
McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864
Grinner, Peter, 1830-?

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