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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 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

October 12, 1862

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: Jackson writes to tell Bill that he and his brother Henry enlisted in the Army in August and have been fighting the Dakota Indians. He graphically describes the dead left by Dakota attacks on settlers, including a German family and a pregnant woman. He writes about being in two different battles, the Battle of Fort Ridgely and Battle of Wood Lake; he describes combat and how many dead and wounded there were on each side. He declares that the Indian War is over and asks Bill to write him, which he continues to do in virtually every other letter in the collection. Written at Camp Yellow…

GLC00203.01

November 30, 1862

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He discusses the cold weather and the regiment's need to build their own winter quarters. He grumbles about the hardships of the soldier's life (food, work, etc.) and writes about how much the regiment has walked since August, boasting that he is doing very well but reporting that Henry is not. He mentions the 1500 Indian prisoners the army is guarding. Written in camp in Forest City, Minnesota

GLC00203.02

February 22, 1863

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He discusses the possible summer plans for the regiment, including why he thinks that Chief Little Crow will not follow through on his promised summer attack. He believes that his regiment will stay with Gen. Sibley, since they have learned how to fight the Indians. He laments the effect the Indian attacks have had on "the Emegration" to the state - fewer people are coming and many people are fleeing. Written in camp in Forest City, Minnesota

GLC00203.03

August 30, 1863

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He mentions four fights with Indians in the Dakota Territory and the army's destruction of their abandoned supplies. He complains of the bad water and hard marching, but assures his brother of his continued health. He tells of the birth of Henry's son, named Edwin "by [Jackson's] request." He muses on what the troop will do next. He also reveals that his photographs (see #5) had been sent to someone with his same name in Company C, who threw them away. Contains a separate post script, dated the next day, see GLC00203.07.02.

GLC00203.07.01

January 31, 1864

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: As he has not heard from Bill, he repeats much of what he said in #8 about the "Moscow Expedition"; he talks about the large amount of clothing that he wore during that time and about how his regiment 3,000 freezing Indians at Fort Thompson in the Dakota Territory. His weight gain has now inexplicably risen to sixteen pounds. He mentions a man, possibly from home, named Marshall or Johnny Gaites, who talks about the trapping. Jackson asks his brother to enquire discreetly into trapping around his home, and describes his plans to buy some traps and make some money when he is on furlough.

GLC00203.09

March 14, 1864

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He thinks and hopes that the troops will be sent to the South in place of the Minnesota 1st. He implores Bill to get everyone he knows to vote for Lincoln, as he is "stubborn" and the only candidate who can end the war. He waxes poetic on the "God[d]ess of Liberty" looking down upon the country, and tells Bill to visit their friends at home. This folder contains an envelope with two pictures printed on it: the first portrays two Indians with a flag reading "For the Union"; the second consists of one farmer plowing and another riding a horse with "Letoile du Nord" ["The Star of the…

GLC00203.10

May 6, 1864

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He informs his brother that he his company has been moved to Pipe Lake, which he dislikes, and says they won't go South this summer, though they may when the Minnesota 8th returns. He explains why Henry is having such a hard time at home with his new family: he was not discharged early enough to plant crops, and so must buy everything. Henry's health is also not well, and Edwin implores Bill to reply to Henry's letters.

GLC00203.11

July 14, 1864

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: The troops are in Arkansas, and he often has to stand guard duty; however, he would much rather be in the South and "run the chance of being shot and killed out and out" than be in Dakota "and be killed by degrees." He tells Bill not to worry about him, and that he and his fellow soldiers often feel that those at home are in more danger than they are in the field. He sends his patriotic regards to a boy that came home without an arm, and offers to kill a Rebel for him, reminding him that it is better to be wounded or killed than to be a Copperhead. He mentions a letter from Mrs. Thorn…

GLC00203.13

October 27, 1864

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He is over his fever and is well again. He also recently voted, along with the rest of his regiment. He proudly notes that only 10 or 12 of them voted for "the Traitor Little Mac," so his regiment is a "true Union Regtiment." He talks of building winter quarters in a better location. He discusses how all of the regiment's doctors ("butchers") left and that the new ones are much better. He mentions letters from his father and Mrs. Thorn. Written at Camp Bedford.

GLC00203.15

January 9, 1865

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jackson

re: He wishes Bill a happy New Year and talks about how happy and hopeful he is. He remarks that, after his last seven months are up, he will be proud to have been in the army and will be able to look at the cowardly Copperheads with contempt. He writes about how awful Helena was and how his regiment would have preferred to have been on the Potomac. He mentions letters from home and from the Thorns.

GLC00203.17

6 February 1860