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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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13 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Have marched 3 or 4 miles closer to Hagerstown. Expecting a fight "every moment." There have been skirmishes as close as 400 yards away. Thinks there is a chance to end the war within a month. Lee has to get his army across the Potomac to Virginia, which is only 7 miles away. The army currently surrounds Lee: "We are gradually closing down" on him. Covered 40 miles in 20 hours in order to get to Gettysburg to fight. "A man has no idea what he can undergo of privation and fatigue until he is driven to it." Has felt "a hundred times" like he could go not further, but somehow managed to continue…

GLC09355.010

20 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has once again gone on a long march through Virginia, and is "not in very good spirits." He, Sid, and Elisha are all healthy. All are worn out. Was very glad to receive their money in the mail along with all of their letters. Marched all day and night without stop to get to Gettysburg in time for the battle. Immediately had to attack a brigade of Confederates aiming to take a Union battery. Took the entire brigade prisoner. Does not see how they can draft Joe. Hopes to finish up "this business" sometime soon. Sedgwick fought with them, which raised their spirits. Asks for two more pairs of…

GLC09355.011

29 July 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Went and picked some berries for dinner on Sunday night. Regiment was then ordered to the top of a nearby hill to set up an encampment. "It now looks as though we shall have a good rest." Thinks they will stay there until the corps can be filled out with new soldiers and horses. Army wagons also need to be repaired and the men need to rest if they are to embark on another grueling campaign. Lice outbreak at camp forced many to wash their clothes and put them back on while they were still wet. "I have not had a dry shirt or pair of pants on me since we left Falmouth." Has sweat more this…

GLC09355.013

3 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is within 150 miles of home. Landed here yesterday afternoon and will be staying here for "two or three months." Preparations around the fort indicate they will be staying for a very long time. Is now "out of the Army of the Potomac and out of the bloody 6th Corps." Made their way to New York City by foot, rail, and boat. Left the Army of the Potomac at daylight on Friday morning. "It was very sudden to us, only having about 4 hours notice." Did not have a chance to say goodbye to Sid. It is "all nice and pretty" at the camp; gets a cool sea breeze during the day. Asks for two new shirts.…

GLC09355.014

14 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received his valise with all of his things in it. "Very glad" to see Joe. Did not send a letter back with him. Had a "pretty rough time" with dysentery and diarrhea from the time we left Baltimore… but now I am first rate." "Did not look well" before, but looks better now. Does not want a new cap. Thinks they will be at this camp a long time. Wishes his father had sent him more money. Asks for $12-15 more. Written at Fort Hamilton

GLC09355.015

16 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

This letter came with a note saying it was dated 1863/08/16 but came in an envelope from 1863/10/07. Most of the soldiers are at church, so he has time to write. Very quiet around the fort today. Did not go to church because he did not have his uniform and did not want to be dressed poorly in church. Camp is "flooded with ladies. Most of them are from home come to see their relatives in the 37th." It is "quite warm" in New York City. Often takes a salt water bath in New York Harbor in the morning. Thinks he will have "a chance to come home after the Draft has taken place." The draft starts…

GLC09355.016

8 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Has not written to them for some time and therefore feels obligated to do so. No news to write about; "it is about the same routine of duties every day." Does not know where they will be going next or when they will be doing so. Is "about ready to go back" to Virginia again. Does not like the structure of military life in Fort Hamilton. "My health is good as ever." Is eating very well. Has gotten some oysters from the harbor and has access to all sorts of meat and vegetables. "I can't tell the reason why but there are no signs of any furloughs being given as yet." People in the field are…

GLC09355.018

21 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Returned to the camp "unmolested;" no one gave him any trouble. Spoke to captain Hayden about the charges against him, and Hayden "says he will make it all right. Of course I must be punished but he might make it as easy as possible for me." His company is not with its regiment but is instead stationed in the city itself. Bliss did not have a chance to arrest him because he turned himself in. Does not know what his punishment will be. Managed to get onto a train in Springfield and eventually made it back into the city. Stayed with Uncle William one night. His wife is in Boston now and is…

GLC09355.019

27 September 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

It is the eighth day of his confinement. There are 12 other soldiers there "for company." Has a 20 foot by 50 foot guarded space to stay in. Has "nothing but bread and water" to eat. "We managed to smuggle in most anything we want to eat." Luke Day, a friend of his, lets him help himself to whatever he needs from the cook house. Captain Hayden saw him a few days ago to inform him that he would have a court martial in a day or two. Looks like "it will come out all well minus a few months pay and a little while longer under arrest." Hayden says that he "has not got a man in his own company he…

GLC09355.020

4 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Is still under guard. Has waited for a letter from them for a week but has not heard from them. Met with the colonel who asked them a few questions including how long they had been locked up for. Not sure if he will receive a court martial at all. "If Captain Moody was here… things would be straightened out pretty quick." Three people left the guard house last night. "We shall never see them again." Got a letter from Sid, who is sympathetic to the situation. Knows that he would have just gotten a furlough if he had been in the field. Has put a picture for an album in the envelope with this…

GLC09355.021

7 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter yesterday. Still at the guard house but thinks he will be released soon. Is punished "by carrying a log." The lieutenant colonel was too busy "attending to his own private pleasures" to attend a court martial, so the colonel took it upon himself to give them some sort of punishment. It was a "splendid sight for the New Yorkers." Managed to carry a small stick. William Bridge arrived at the guard house two nights ago. He deserted and reenlisted to receive the $300 bonus as a substitute, but was recognized by members of his regiment. Thinks that "cutthroats" like him…

GLC09355.022

11 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Received their letter from the quartermaster last night. Some rumors that they were leaving soon. Had a good visit and "am contented now." Saw George Wright yesterday. Did not have a chance to ask him what he had heard about what was going to happen to him. "I do not think I can help the case now." Does not expect to ever look young again; is growing old daily. Thanks them for the stamps, but cannot write any more today.

GLC09355.023

18 October 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Once again has gone into the field. In camp about 100 rods away from the 10th Massachusetts. Joined the brigade this morning after leaving New York City on Wednesday. Just saw Sid and the rest of his regiment. Engine on their train broke down, demonstrating "our usual good luck." In the front line of battle. "I don't think we shall have a fight here although we can't tell" for sure. Was taken out of the guard house the morning they left New York, and was "ordered to report to my company which I did and am with them now." Presumes he has finished that ordeal.

GLC09355.024