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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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February 13, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

John got hypothermia after going out to meet the rest of the company. He was sent to the hospital, but sent a letter to Joseph yesterday saying "he was getting better very fast." Is feeling "first rate" and hopes she is too. He and Joseph pray together in their shanty often. Thinks "we have wasted too much of our precious time." "If the good Lord spares my life to come back to my dear loving family, I never will forget to serve as long as I live." Prays once, sometimes twice daily. Does not have anything to do today, and it is very cold. Does not yet know whether or not he will move to where…

GLC09273.26

18 February 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Is very healthy; hopes the same is true at home. Fayette and Joseph are healthy. John is still at the hospital, but they have heard from him. He does not have consumption (tuberculosis). "Joseph thought his breach was going to clear him from duty, [but] the doctor told him that he was fit for duty." Had seen the breach, and agreed with the doctor that it would not become a problem. Tells her that what he writes to her about cannot be repeated. Thought about asking for a discharge when his leg was at its worse, but did not receive one when the leg recovered. Does not want a furlough as long as…

GLC09273.27

February 24, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

He, Joseph, and Fayette are all healthy. Leg is basically fully healed. Hopes this letter will find her in a similarly good condition and "enjoying the blessings of heaven." Has built a very good shanty to stay in. Washburn returned Monday. Will be staying at this camp until the ground is softer in the spring. They cannot move artillery until then. Received four months worth of pay worth $71.45. Plans on sending all but $5 of it home. Will send it in a letter "part of it at a time." It is possible that he will not be paid again until his time is out. Would love to be home with her and Oscar.…

GLC09273.28

February 25, 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Feels "first rate." All are getting along well. Leg is feeling very good. Hopes she and Oscar are also well. Wishes he were home, but is contented to stay out his term. The time until he comes home will not seem so long once the weather gets warmer. It is sunny but cold today. Had to go and draw rations for the company and then cook them alone. This is his only duty now that he has begun to cook. John is still at the hospital at City Point. Fayette received a letter that they think is from him, but they cannot be sure because it is unsigned. Another man moved into his tent, making five…

GLC09273.29

2 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Received his 37th letter from her last night. "Sorry" that the letter contained $2 in greenbacks, because he had been sending money to her. Glad to hear she is in good health. Has rained all day very hard. He and Fayette have been washing shirts nearly all day; have made $1.80 each. Hoping to make some spending money. Will put $10 in this letter to send to her. Will only keep $1.50 for himself. Sends his love to Leonard, Betsey, Jane, and Samantha; would love to see Charles and Matilda. "Only six months more" until he will be home. Until then, she must "keep good courage and…

GLC09273.31

4 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Leg does not swell anymore, and is as good as new. Joseph, Fayette, and Guernsey are all out on picket duty. Was very windy in the morning and rainy the night before, but it is now sunny. Just got two more letters from her. Glad to hear the weather is getting warmer back home. May be at this camp for a month or two. It is the middle of the "rainy season now, for it rains about every day." Hoping to receive $20 per month for the work he has done since January 1. The last time, they were only paid through December 31, 1864. Cooks and carries rations for the company. Wants to…

GLC09273.32

5 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Does not have time to write much, but is very healthy. Thinks she should sell one of the pigs if she can fatten one up enough by next fall. She should try to "get all you can for it." She must tell him how much she can sell the pig for and how much it weighs. Reminds her to send some pills and plow the fields.

GLC09273.33

20 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Feels "first rate...my health is the best it has been for 4 or 5 years," but would feel even better if he were at home. Hopes this letter will find her and Oscar in a similar condition. Has sent $95.50 in total to her in the form of four $20 bills, one $10 bill, one $5 bill, and 50 cents. Sent home some gloves in Guernsey's box. Weather has warmed up at camp, so he does not need the gloves anymore. Sold his blanket to Guernsey for $2. Fayette and Joseph also sold their blankets. Will keep his overcoat for the time being; plans to sell it eventually. Has been away for almost…

GLC09273.34

24 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Leg is back to normal. Has not received a letter in two weeks, but supposes that that is on account of the high water taking out some of the railroad. Weather has been cool and windy for 2 or 3 days now. "We lay here very quiet in camp, and things look very favorable." War looks to be all but over. "Rebels are about ready to surrender Richmond, and that will be the last of them." She must keep good courage until he comes home. Is cooking for the captain for a few days. Will put $5 more in this letter to send to her, which makes $100.50 in total. While this money should help a…

GLC09273.35

27 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy; hopes this letter finds her in equally good health. Has not received a letter since March 10th. Is sending a few pictures with this letter. One shows the railroad bridge that has been built since the battle of Hatcher Run. "It is 35 feet high." Must stop writing; the mail is being collected now.

GLC09273.36

28 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Is "tip top;" hopes she is too. Wants to know if she has received all of the money he has sent her. Is eating really well. Decided to turn in his gun to the quartermaster, so "all I will carry will be my knapsack." Expects to begin marching somewhere starting tomorrow morning. Believes he is going to North Carolina. About 135,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry are going to be on the move. Would rather move than stay at camp any longer. Only 5 months until he will be home. Prays every day. "I think the war will soon be used up." Would like to see her and Oscar; looks at her likeness very often.…

GLC09273.37

3 April 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Health is "tip top." All are healthy. Left the old camp on March 28 "and marched about 8 miles and had an awful fight and whipped the rebs." Had another battle with the Confederates the next day. Fought the rebels again the next morning in a battle that "lasted till about dark," when they began to build defensive fortifications. Marched six miles the next day to meet Sheridan's cavalry. "We haven't lost a man out of the company." Has taken about 25,000 prisoners. The rebels have been pushed to the other side of the South Side Railroad, and Petersburg has fallen. "I haven't been in any of the…

GLC09273.38

1 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

"My health is good," and Joseph and Fayette are both healthy too. Guernsey went to the hospital and got his discharge. He should be home soon if he does not get too sick to travel. Johnston has surrendered, and the war is now definitely over. "Most of the men think they will be home in six weeks." Expects to head to Manchester, which is across the river from Richmond, tomorrow morning. From there, they will go to Washington. She should look in the paper to see when they are going to be discharged. "We must put our trust in the Lord." Wants to see both her and Oscar "very much." Written 21…

GLC09273.43

4 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Arrived after a long march at Manchester, which is across the river from Richmond. Will then march to Washington, which should take about eight or ten days. Hopefully will get home by the middle of June. Will write upon arrival in Washington. If they do not leave Manchester until Monday, then he will write again before then. Glad that she is going to see the calves. She must write often. Mail is being collected, so he must finish up writing. "I hope I will soon see you and stay with you." Tells her to send his love to everyone back home. Written in Manchester neighborhood of…

GLC09273.44

16 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

Printed on stationery from the U.S. Christian Commission. All are healthy. Met up with the regiment at a camp five or so miles outside of Washington. They have been here for 4 or 5 days. Got 3 letters from her last night and 2 more today. Got $5 in one of them today. Was "glad to hear from you and very glad to get that money for I hadn't got any." "Very warm" today. Will probably stay at this camp until the regiment departs for Elmira to be discharged. "Some think we will go to Elmira in 3 or 4 weeks, and some think it will be 6 weeks." Spoke to the captain about getting a furlough for 20…

GLC09273.45

21 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

He and Fayette are healthy, but Joseph is "grunting some." Hopes this letter will find her and Oscar in good health. Very rainy at camp; it has rained for three days straight. Waiting to take part in the review that will take place on the 23rd and 24th. After that, they will likely head north to Elmira. That journey may take 3 or 4 weeks. Not much to do. Has to get three meals a day for three people in addition to himself, but that is his only responsibility. Sylvenus Cavill was here today on his way home on a furlough. "He went home when we was on the South Side railroad" and came to see…

GLC09273.46

25 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy; hopes she is too. The review is over, and "we expect to start for Elmira in a short time." The march might start on the 27th. The officers of the regiment are moving as fast as they can to discharge them. Charles [Jencks] was here to see him. After the review, the corps Jencks was in moved on. Still cooks for the captain and will continue to do so until they depart for Elmira. Will serve the Lord "as best as I can." "If we start Monday for Elmira we will get there about Wednesday." If he does not come home immediately upon arriving in Elmira, he will write to her. Will go…

GLC09273.47

29 May 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

The whole company is in good health, and he hopes that this letter will find her and Oscar in a similar state. "We want to start" for home "today, but I think we will start in 3 or 4 days." The discharge papers are ready to go and have been signed. Will soon be mustered our and sent to Elmira. Will receive his discharge papers and pay there. Will take the train from Washington to Elmira. It will not be long until they are together, but she must keep good courage until then. She must write as soon as she gets this "for I want to know how you are getting along." Cannot get a furlough; no one is…

GLC09273.48

30 May 1865

Washburn, William, fl. 1865

Printed document signed

Title: [official discharge form for Private Horace J. Hammond]

It was issued on May 30, 1865 and signed by Captain William Washburn, leader of Company G of the 189th New York Infantry. The form gives additional information about Private Hammond. He was 5' 7", with "dark complexion," blue eyes, and dark hair. He was 37 years old when this form was issued.

GLC09273.49