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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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25 April 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith to his wife. Describes spells of depression after sinning. Continues speaking of trust in God. Mentions receiving some old letters. Says the Colonel is determined to keep them there on duty, even if they have to ride mules. Tells of Company G which was captured by guerillas after sleeping without sufficient guard in a barn. Finally, describes failing at quitting tobacco: "remember I said I was a going to to quit using tobacco and send you the price it was costing me but you see I tried it a while but no go I believe I would have went Crazy or got sick or done both so I…

GLC02176.16

27 May 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Pulaski, Tennessee to his wife. Describes the situation of refugees (including African Americans) in the camp: "...and the darkies are here by thousands, by field fulls like cattle, they call these darky Camps corrals. The same that we call the lots where the broken down horses is put to be recruted." Talks of former bad health and the kindness of his officers who gave him easier duties. Mentions the tightness of his money situation. Expresses hope of victory and returning home soon: "Well as soon as you hear that Richmond and Atlanta is ours you may put on the tea kettle I will…

GLC02176.17

26 July 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from "Moore's ville," Alabama to his wife. Describes recovering from illness, and the weakness and the light duty that he can do as a result. Describes in some detail the news of General Lovell Rousseau's success in tearing up the area. Hopes that the ninth will return without a loss and looks forward to seeing his friend Smith again. Expresses concern for his lonely father at home, and wishes to see him again. Mentions the wife of a friend who is working at the tobacco factory, making a dollar an hour. Asks for more stamps, as he has run out.

GLC02176.18

21 August 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Talks of cut rations, but says they function better on half rations. Describes somewhat dangerous duty accompanying the engineer, and his duty. Also describes the unreliable news he gets, even when a mile from the action, but says there is a "constant cannonading and skirmishing night and day." Expresses conern that William Tecumseh Sherman is at a standstill in his efforts to destroy Georgia.

GLC02176.19

17 September 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith near Nashville, Tennessee to his wife. Mentions being in the hospital, some of his comrades are in pursuit of General Joseph Wheeler's cavalry. Discusses tobacco he uses in camp. His regiment will go to Louisville, Kentucky to get horses and then proceed to the front (most likely with Sherman in Atlanta). Includes small illustrations of a pointing hand and a heart pierced with an arrow.

GLC02176.20

14 October 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Webster to his wife. Describes the movements of his regiment (9th Ohio Cavalry) in pursuit of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his men. While still ill, hopes to be reunited with his regiment, as "It would be the next thing to getting home to get to the company with the boys that I have soldiered so long with." Mentions the attempts by one of his comrades to obtain a furlough because of illness. Concludes with, "Hurrrah for Lincoln and Jonson! and the union forever, is the sentiment of your soldier boy..."

GLC02176.21

October 27, 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood and Lydia Jane Wood

Written from Chattanooga, Tennessee to his wife and daughter. Talks of reuniting with a friend from home named Dempsy. Speculates his regiment will move on to Atlanta. Is too ill to ride, so in free time will have another likeness taken with money obtaining by selling his watch. Says some men took a tour up Lookout Mountain, which presents "a perfect scenery." Discusses the popular conception concerning the 1864 election, saying "I dont think like some of our McCllelan men do that" believe the Confederates "will fight us four year longer if Old Abe is reelected."

GLC02176.22

31 October 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Chattanooga, Tennessee to his wife. Is unsure where he will be sent next. Talks of an acquaintance who went home on furlough for being very ill. Compares weather at home to Tennessee. Compares the winter--without snow--to seasons at home in Ohio, explaining the warm days and cold nights is what gives the men "the shakes."

GLC02176.23

23 December 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Savannah, Georgia to his wife. Describes the march through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, after receiving orders from General Judson Kilpatrick, and being harassed by guerrilla fighters. Describes the destruction in good detail: "All the main wealth of the country was consumed by fire as we marched along the country was filled with smoke." Joins with General Judson Kilpatrick's division, who had a fight with Joseph Wheeler's cavalry, and they are then pursued by Wheeler's men. Moves on to Macon and Waynesboro. Describes being driven from camp by shelling as "the most trying…

GLC02176.24

17 January 1865

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Savannah, Georgia to his wife. Predicts they are "preparing for another grand march the Lord only knows what the result will be, we hope the success will crown our effort." Mentions that the rest of his regiment that had been left behind during the march from Atlanta to Georgia because of they lacked equipment rejoined the regiment by way of New York. Says the general opinion is that they will next proceed to South Carolina.

GLC02176.25

8 April 1865

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Mt. Olive, North Carolina to his wife. Describes again the differences in climate between Ohio and North Carolina. Comments on the state of the Confederate cause, saying "Old Lee has got out of Richmond and a going round like a roaring lion seeking how he may save his old treacherous neck," and "I am in good heart about the war ending if Lee did get out forty men will desert him, and another thing they can not feed a concentrated army two weeks any where...They have no artillery of any account so if they come facing Old Bill with Grant in their rear they will soon get their feet…

GLC02176.26

12 June 1865

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Concord, North Carolina to his wife. Describes the various decorations the men had set up to beautify their camp, as well as the local people's fascination with the decorations and men Begins to make plans for the future, asking his wife to view "Cunningham's lot," as he is thinking of buying it when he returns. Contains a simple illustration of the fences constructed by the men in the camp.

GLC02176.27

4 May 1866

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William] Wood

Written from Gardner, Kansas to his brother.

GLC02176.28

14 June 1883

Jones, Abner, fl. 1883

Letter

Title: to Matthew Wood

GLC02176.29

1886-1891

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Notebook of Matthew Wood]

Notebook containing diary entries, genealogical notes and recipes. Many blank pages and two clippings laid in.

GLC02176.30

6 June 1888

Letter

Title: to unknown

Author and recipient unknown. Describes neighborhood and the proximity of the B and M railroad, which is set to make the town a successful business center. Describes nearby schools, and one which features preaching by a "Babtist" every two weeks. Talks of a visit to Beaver Creek, Ohio, a nearby town.

GLC02176.31