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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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Place written

Year

Sub-era

1865

Boston, John W., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

writes that the officers are being very mean with them and they haven't even received their pay. still believes it will not be long until he is home though.

GLC09315.52

14 February 1862

Lizzie, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

sad to hear about Sister Margo's death. writes that they have had had snow. updates her with news about the baby.

GLC09354.01

27 February 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

explains that he doesn't always have time to write and his letters may not be that interesting. he expects his first fight to be in Norfolk and says they may not be home for three years. Written in Camp Hamilton, first named Camp Troy.

GLC09354.02

14 March 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

tired and homesick. has experienced desperate fighting. lists all the different regiments that are out there. writes they are expecting 2,000 more troops. Written in Camp Hamilton, first named Camp Troy.

GLC09354.03

24 March 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

writes there will be a forward movement. 20,000 more have joined them. they are getting ready to attack Norfolk. writes "before I came to the South, I had some sympathy for the slaves, but it has all gone..."

GLC09354.05

30 March 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

feels like he has nothing interesting to say. very homesick. feels homesick the most when he is on picket duty.

GLC09354.06

13 April 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

the battle of Yortown rages around them but so far their loss is small and infantry has not been engaged. understands that war is dangerous but it doesn't seem all that real to him.

GLC09354.07

13 April 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

describes what picket duty is. writes it involves scouting around the country. they they their food with them, nothing but corned beef and hard bread. they also do provost-duty, and stay with farmers and watch their movements.

GLC09354.08

20 July 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

marched 20 miles without food or water when the Rebels attacked them. there were heavy losses on both sides. writes that Sunday is like any other day in the army and there is no time off to attend church.

GLC09354.09

27 April 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

thinks the coasting affair was quite funny. still very homesick but makes it clear he doesn't want to get out of the army but he does think of home at time. currently experiencing a drenching rain.Written at Camp Hamilton

GLC09354.10

21 December 1862

Keyes, Samuel. fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Annie

has received a full discharge from the army. hopes his arm will be entirely well by the Spring.

GLC09354.13

5 February 1863

Barwood, James, fl. 1863-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill

writes at great length about slavery and abolition. thinks the institution of slavery is repugnant, but at the same time, thinks it helped to introduce blacks to civilization and that they are better off now than they were before.

GLC09358.1

18 September 1863

Barwood, James, fl. 1863-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill

one side of Fort Sumter is battered and they have the whole of Morris Island. 12 of their crew are prisoners. predicts it will take one or two more years for the war to end.

GLC09358.2

7 October 1870

Barwood, James, fl. 1863-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bill

slept with his door open the night before and someone walked in and took eighty dollars. discusses a land dispute in Omaha.

GLC09358.3

1861-1864

Addis, R.W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Oval albumen of Captain Frank A. Cole]

Full-length portrait of Frank A. Cole, Captain of the Wisconsin 37th Regiment.