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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.

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26 July 1864

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Virginia Farragut

Written aboard the USS Hartford. Written by Rear Admiral Farragut to his wife Virginia in Hastings on the Hudson, New York. Signed by Farragut as well as initialled after a postscript. Says he wanted to let her know he was well. Remarks that he gave General Sickles a passage home in the USS "Governor Hahn." Writes: "He is the little fellow who made such a flourishing speech for me, on my arrival, at New Orleans when I came down the River after passing Port Hudson..." Says "Eaton takes my sword Home to you, if the pirates do not get it." Claims there is nothing of interest, but reports that…

GLC03309

6 August 1864

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Broadside

Title: General Order No. 12

Written aboard the USS Hartford. Rear Admiral Farragut, as commander of the Western Gulf Blockade Squadron, sends thanks to the crews under his command for their conduct during the Battle of Mobile Bay, which took place on 5 August 1864. Remarks that despite having "witnessed the almost instantaneous annihilation of our gallant companions in the Tecumseh by a torpedo, and the slaughter of their friends, mess-mates and gun-mates on our decks, still there were no evidences of hesitation in following their Commander-in-Chief through the line of torpedoes and obstructions." See GLC04664.01 for…

GLC03310

13 March 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Birdseye McPherson

Written near Vicksburg from Headquarters, Department of the Tennessee. General Grant informs McPherson, Commander of the 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee, that Lagow (possibly Colonel Clark B. Lagow) "has just returned and called my attention to several points that you want instructions on." Relates that General Isaac Ferdinand Quinby, Commander of the 7th Division/7th Corps, will travel through the Yazoo Pass. Writes "I have sent North for small class steamers which should be expected to commence arriving now. In regard to the contrabands the question is a troublesome one. I am not…

GLC03311

8 May 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

General Grant, Commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General Sherman, Commander of the Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. Discusses the safety of supply trains. Reports that he will send Captain William Silliman Hillyer to load wagons and transport them to Sherman so Sherman's brigade can escort them to their destination. Includes an initialled post script.

GLC03312

14 May 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

General Grant, Commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General Sherman, Commander of the Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. Instructs Sherman to designate a Brigade from his command to guard Jackson, Mississippi, and to collect Confederate property within the city. Orders Sherman to direct his troops to destroy bridges and roads leading into the city. Instructs troops travelling East of the river (possibly the Pearl River), should burn all Confederate cotton and stores they find. Includes a stain in the upper left corner.

GLC03313

20 June 1871

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Creswell re: recommending the removal of two postmasters

Written as President.

GLC03314

13 September 1779

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Otis

Writen in secretarial hand and signed by Hancock as a Major General of Massachusetts militia to Otis as Brigadier General of the militia of the County of Barnstable, Massachusetts. From an order of the council wants a full return to be made of the name, rank, and place of abode of every officer in the brigade under Otis. Also wants to know what vacant offices are available and to put that information in a separate column. Asks for the information as soon as possible. Postscript asks that he forward the enclosed (not included here). Free frank is Hancock's signature.

GLC03315

14 March 1813

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Robert Andrews

Orders provisions from the assistant deputy quarter master for the march of troops from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, during the War of 1812. Signed as Major General.

GLC03316

01 August 1844

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to John Y. Mason

Jackson argues that Tyler must withdraw his candidacy to allow the election of Polk and Dallas. If Tyler remains in the race he will split the Democratic vote, and allow Henry Clay to win election. Is confident that Polk can beat Clay, as long as Tyler does not run. Assures Mason that even though Tyler appointed him to his post, Tyler's resignation would not mean that Mason would have to retire. The letter is in the hand of Major Donelson, Jackson's nephew, but signed by Jackson, who says that he is too weak to write. Though Tyler had been elected as a Whig, he had been thrown out of the…

GLC03319

05 December 1810

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jarvis re: Jefferson's pleasure at recent retirement

Written as retired President to Jarvis, American consul at Lisbon. Jefferson also thank Jarvis for Merino sheep and the wines he sent. Written in Monticello

GLC03320

February 3, 1816

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas W. Maury re: the census, map-making, a mineralogical survey

Written in Monticello

GLC03321

14 June 1863

Kane, Thomas L., 1822-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Biddle

Discusses his financial affairs, including patents, land sales, and the building of Pennsylvania railroads near his property. Written "Near Marvin."

GLC03322

19 October 1794

Fordham, Stephen, fl. 1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

A soldier's account of his experiences in western Pennsylvania near the end of the Whiskey Rebellion. Tells his wife that that they marched to Bedford, Pennsylvania, where many of the rebels were already being held as prisoners. Expects a trial and hanging soon. Notes the arrival of President George Washington in Bedford. Address leaf has some notes listing supplies.

GLC03111

21 March 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Henry Eugene Davies to Major General]

Official document promoting Davies, signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Features two detailed patriotic scenes and a blue paper seal from the War Office. Docketed at top by Assistant Adjutant General E. D. Townsend on March 22, 1865.

GLC03113