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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, 1813

Autograph document

Title: to unknown recipient

The author writes about unsatisfactory living arrangements and how the contractor, paid by the government to make the quarters, did not fulfill his obligations. Most of the bottom half of the page is missing and it is possible that content was lost as a result.

GLC02669.021

18 March 1813

Autograph document

Title: to unknown recipient

The author accidently came across a young deserter named Samuel Young and was in the process of taking him back to camp when the author was accost by a sergeant named Whitney. On the back of his document is a side note about the amount of money needed for buckles and the statement "To Money Reed 5.00."

GLC02669.022

3 June 1813

Autograph document

Title: to unknown recipient

The author writes about hearing gunshots and cannon fire in the distance from the early morning until around noon. At around noon the author concluded that the Battle was over and that one side or the other was "rejoicing at the Victory."

GLC02669.023

30 June 1808

Bailey, Jacob, 1731-1808

Autograph document signed

Title: to unknown recipient

Jacob Bailey tells a number of soldiers to meet at the usual place of a parade. This document appears to be a copy written by a clerk.

GLC02669.024

19 July 1813

Autograph document

Title: [Leave of absence for Jacob Bailey]

A document granting Jacob Bailey leave of absence until further orders.

GLC02669.025

1862

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul tells his wife about camp life, food rations and other Companies he came in contact with. He informs her that he doesn't know when he will get his bounty money, but that he will send money along once he gets it. He also advises her to take their cow up to Thode, presumably a family friend or relative, to keep it from running off again. No month on document, word processor inventory indicates month as August. Written at Camp Curton.

GLC03058.01

1862

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul informs his wife that he is near Sharpsburg and has been ordered to be ready at any moment. He describes a pair of knee-high boots that he bought for $7.50 from a sutler at camp, and then asks here to pay part of his debt to Mr. Russel back in Muncy. Also, he tells her he is glad Thode was not drafted because he does not have anyone to look after his property. No month on document, word processor inventory indicates month as September.

GLC03058.02

December 21, 1862

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul hopes his wife recovers from her illness and asks her not to work out of the house for another woman. He explains to her that he fought in a battle and was glad that they escaped across the river rather than continue to fight. He describes the Rebel's superior position, and believes the battle was mismanaged. Paul refers to a letter with more particulars of the battle, but this letter does not appear to be in the collection. Written in a camp near Fredericksburg.

GLC03058.03

30 December 1862

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul thanks his wife for the carpet sack of food and clothing that she sent him. He tells her that he enjoyed her pudding, and thanks her for the undershirt and tobacco that she sent. He informs Celicia that he sent her fifteen dollars by way of his Captain's brother-in-law and tells her "dont Beafrade to youse what ever you want of the mony that is thare for I want you to be Cumfortable". Paul also recounts the news of men at camp that she knows, and he responds to news of people at home.

GLC03058.04

1861

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

The first few lines of the letter are faded and illegible. The letter is written on military stationary, printed at the top is "Eighty-Fourth Regiment, P.V. Col WM. G. Murray." The letter informs the recipient that a friend, Bill Cummings, was ill, and that both Paul and Sheridan had suffered through hard weather. Paul and Sheridan then describe their march from Camp Curtin, and relay that upon arrival in Hancock they were attacked by Rebels. Outnumbered, the Union troops retreated and were led on a forty mile forced march to Cumberland ["Mud March"?]. For information on John K. Sheridan,…

GLC03058.05

January 10, 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

In this letter Paul responds to accusations made by Celicia that he does not write enough, and tells her that he writes whenever he can, and thanks her for what she sends. He asks her to write when she receives the money he sent to her, and he complains that he has "not receved any leter for too weaks." Paul recounts in detail what the sutlers do at the camp, the foods they make and for how much they sell them, criticizing "the way these Sutlers make thare mony of tho Poor souldiers". Paul then mentions that he read about a smallpox outbreak in Williamsport, though he assures her that…

GLC03058.06

February 1, 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul expresses a desire to come home and see his wife: "O if I Cold only see you wonst I have your Picture But that is not like the original". Paul describes the poor weather in the camp, and writes that he thought his regiment would switch camp, but the rain and muddy conditions kept them from doing so. Paul then complains of problems with the mail and that "the Boys is nearly Crasy for a male the male is the most welcom thing that Comes to this Camp when thare is a male thare is a smile on ever Cheak". Paul then lists the food that he has been eating at camp and asks Celicia to send him…

GLC03058.07

February 17, 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul informs his wife that he is well and is glad that she is not working outside of the home any more because he was afraid for her health. He notes that her employers were kind to hire her and treated her well, and that he is glad that she bought herself some new clothes. Paul then asks her to send him a box and reminds her to send it via the Captain because the guard opens all other mail. Paul informs Celicia that he went on picket (group missions scouting for the enemy) for a week and that they suffered muddy conditions. Finally, Paul assures his wife that he will have enough money to…

GLC03058.08

15 March 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to Celicia Paul

Some words throughout the letter are illegible because of water damage. Paul writes that he had a toothache and his badly decayed tooth had to be pulled. He informs Celicia that he will not write some friends in Muncy because they do not write him. He then talks of his friend Thode, and that Thode's wife Margaret is worried that he will be drafted. Paul writes that "the single men must go furst then Comes the maried men," and he does not think that Thode will be drafted. He then responds to his wife saying that she is lonely in their house and that he wishes he could be back with her.…

GLC03058.09

5 April 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul tells Celicia that he enjoys writing to her and that he thinks of her often. He says that he wanted to get a picture taken to send to her, but the paymaster has been held back and he does not have any money to pay for a photograph. Paul then discuses the draft and writes that after men in his regiment are mustered out that they will fill the regiment with drafted soldiers. He said that he expected that folks in Muncy were getting nervous about the draft, and Paul writes that he would like to see single men drafted first. Paul then tells Celicia that he has been eating well because he…

GLC03058.10

18 April 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul describes a visit by President Lincoln to his camp, and is amazed by the amount of men that gathered to see him. Paul also tells Celicia that on Easter they had a big parade that brought them in front of the Rebels in Fredricksburg, and Paul was not sure why his officers put their men on display. He also talks of the weather, the price of goods sold by the sutlers and the items that are scarce in camp. He tells Celicia he wishes he could be home with her, and he tells her not to worry about town gossip. Paul then mentions Thode, writing that he better pay $300 for a substitute if he…

GLC03058.11

19 April 1863

Paul, Miles W., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul informs his wife that he just returned from picket and suffered through rainy weather. He was told that he might go into battle soon, and that the Rebels had moved in and reinforced Fredericksburg. He also tells her that he has been paid a total of $52, all he was owed through the month of March, and will be sending $42 to her through William Painter. He reminds her that he has 18 days left of his term of service, and tells Celicia not to work too hard and make herself sick.Written at Camp Humphreys.

GLC03058.12

June 11, 1785

Luxe, George, fl. 1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

He refers to the Campaign of 1776 as "the most glorious epoch of this command." He praises Washington extensively in battle and as a national leader. He will research details on the Revolution for her.

GLC01794.18