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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 1863

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother. "...i thought that I had seen hard times but I never did until i was taken prisoner...we fought them 3 days with 6,000 men and they had 45,000 with 84 pices of artirly we kiled 900 of them but they out winded us." Talks of the miserable conditions, no food. Mentions "5000 of prisons on two acors of ground and to see the men goin aroud with holes eys and sunken cheeks was a enough to draw tears from a [stone] and it rained everyday and we had to lay in the mud but thair was enough strenth left to cheer the old flag..."

GLC02159.09

5 August 1863

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about feeling sick but does not believe it is enough to get him discharged. Asks about his brother Francis. Discusses his view of the war. "I hope this war will soon be over and I think it would if the North made as great an effort as the south does I want to see peace but not a peace on eney [enemy] tearms. I had rather stay here ten years than to have our government distroyed. The coperheads are to come out here and talk peace on eney [enemy] tearms to the wounded Soldiers and see how they would make it. I hope that thare is none of my relation them sort of Trators."…

GLC02159.10

December 21, 1863

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother that his living situation is good at present as they are quartered in a tavern. Asks "...have you any coperheads there if you have you can consider them worse than the rebels for they are seting fear in the Soldiers rear."

GLC02159.12

7 February 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth J. Sheldon

Writes that the weather is pleasant but that they cannot enjoy it because the rebels are moving about.

GLC02159.13

26 March 1864

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about his hard journey and states he saw Frank [his brother Francis] for a few hours. He is very homesick.

GLC02159.14

8 May 1864

Lucas, F.H., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Written from Knight Hospital. Informs Mary that her son Francis is getting better.

GLC02159.15

2 December 1864

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother that he spent Thanksgiving in Gettersburg [Gettysburg?]. They are now four miles from Harper's Ferry.

GLC02159.17

January 20, 1865

Blackman, James A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother that he has no interesting news at present but that he is "... rejoiced to hear of the Union Victorys in other places surely the day Star of peace will soon apear to gladen the hearts..."

GLC02159.18

24 April [1865]

Blackman, Francis G., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Blackman

Writes to his mother about the war being just about over. "...the Jonnes [Johnnies] keep coming in hear every day ...pitch on them and kill some and drive them of if it wasnt for the soldiers bing hear the Jonnes would not stand much chance..." Mentions some Confederate soldiers [Johnnies] that scouts apprehended. 100,000 dollars was found on one and 5,000 dollars on another. The scouts killed him. On stationary of the U.S. Christian Commission.

GLC02159.19

December 25, 1862-December 29, 1862

Spencer, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Manuscript letter

Title: to his mother

Two letters on same sheet. The main portion contains a letter by Spencer to his mother (likely Mrs. Alice Spencer), written from "Camp parole Annaplis" (likely Annapolis, Maryland) and dated December 25, 1862. At the top of the first page is a brief introductory note written by Mary T. Gorham to Mrs. Todd, written from "Bristol" (likely Bristol, Rhode Island) and dated December 29, 1862. Gorham's letter states that below she has copied George's letter from the original, which was received by "Aunt Alice."

GLC00653.21.02

July 14, 1864

Pratt, Oliver D., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps. "... we hear no news except that the rebs are up around Baltimore an Washington..." Letter written at the Bermuda Hundred.

GLC01003.03.03

2 April 1824

Gordon, Charles, fl. 1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

GLC06313.04.307

3 May 1824

Sullivan, George, fl. 1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

GLC06313.04.317

November 23, 1862

Spencer, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

GLC00653.21.01

July 9, 1863

Spencer, Henry F., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Henry F. Spencer describes his regiment's travels through Maryland and Pennsylvania, and mentions the Battle of Gettysburg, though does not go into much detail. Also mentions exchanging fire on July 4, evidently the last of the skirmishing after the end of major action at Gettysburg.

GLC00653.21.03

August 15, 1863

Spencer, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Father

Letter written from Drummondtown, present-day Accomac, Virginia.

GLC00653.21.04

March 13, 1864

Spencer, George A., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Parents

Letter written from "Camp Burnside near Point Isabel" (likely Point Isabele), present-day Burnside, Kentucky.

GLC00653.21.05

August 7, 1863

Pratt, Oliver D., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert S. Pratt

"...thear was heavy firing last night an to day up Charleston way..."

GLC01003.03.01

June 29, 1864

Pratt, Oliver D., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps.

GLC01003.03.02

August 26, 1864

Pratt, Oliver D., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert S. Pratt and Frank L. Herbie

Letter consists of two pages written to Pratt, and two written to Herbie. Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps in pencil. "...the rebs charges down on our rifel [sic] pits yesterday morning after some of the troops had started but did not make mutch as we took them agin with some 75 prisoners & took 12 of them over to Genl. Butlers..."

GLC01003.03.04

September 8, 1864

Pratt, Oliver D., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Albert S. Pratt

Letter written from Head Quarters, 10th Army Corps. "...you wanted to know what my duty was hear well it is to take men coming from hospitals to thear division commanders an take deserters from the rebs to Genl Butlers..."

GLC01003.03.05