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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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January 24, 1863

Chase, James F., fl. 1834-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from the U.S.A. Chestnut Hill Hospital, currently known as Mower General Hospital. Writes on behalf of Charley Miller who is too sick to sleep or stand. Envelope includes a three cent stamp and an image of a three leaf clover with the text, "2nd Corps, 2d Division" written below, and "Magee, 316 Chestnut St. Philada Copy right secured, 1863" written on the left hand side.

GLC06559.005

19 March 1864

Chase, James F., fl. 1834-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from "U.S.A. Hospital Harvey." Describes his recent journey from Philadelphia to Chicago, the state of his wound, and the weather in Chicago. Writes he rode "in one of the meanest Cars in the world there was Niggers and soldiers and all Kinds of the (this was this side of Pittsburg) Poorest description..." He concludes by thanking Ogden for her photograph and her kindness. Envelope includes a three cent stamp.

GLC06559.006

3 May 1864

Chase, James F., fl. 1834-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from "Harvey Hosp Madison." He often thinks of the women from the Broad & Cherry Hospital, Ward B when he gets lonely. Describes his wound and the progress he has made rehabilitating his leg. Says he will not talk to any of the "boys" from the hospital until he has some photographs. Concludes by thanking Ogden and requesting that she give his love to the other nurses as well. Envelope includes a three cent stamp.

GLC06559.007

29 September 1862

Daniel, Edwards S., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes from "home." Describes his journey home from the hospital and thanks Ogden for the eggnog she made him, which helped lessen the pain of his wound while he was traveling. Says his physician looked at his injured leg after his arrival, and said that he would not be able to fight for three months. Includes an embossed seal in the upper left hand corner.

GLC06559.008

27 May 1862

Davis, Reuben, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Arrived home on Saturday the 17th, says his family was surprised by and thankful for the kindness and care given by the women of the Broad and Cherry Hospital. Reports on his family's health, and tells Ogden he will not give her any instructions about his money because she probably already sent it to him.

GLC06559.009

9 June 1862

Davis, Reuben, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward H. Ogden

Writes to Edward Ogden, Sarah Ogden's husband. Asks Mr. Ogden to mail him a check payable to his name. Adds that his health has improved since he returned home. Envelope includes "T. Morris Perot & CO..." letterhead which includes a mortar & pestle with the saying, "In Medicines, Quality is of the first Importance." The stamp has been clipped from the envelope.

GLC06559.010

11 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "Capt. McPherson has treated his men worse than a niger would have done we have seen him but once since we left camp Wayne... there is a [power] of soldiers going through here to Washington the last few days... i think there will be some awful fighting in a few days again from all appearances..." Complains of the lack of food.

GLC02155.003

21 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Lile Miller [incomplete]

Complains about his brother-in-law (Lile's brother). Writes, "...if we leave here for washington i do not think we will Return without fighting they are gathering an immence army there for that purpose but whether we will be engaged in the first Battle or not I cannot tell... i do not think we are in much danger of course we are liable to picked off [sic] by cecessionists for they have every chance while we are on picket... our picket has taken about between five and six thousand dols worth of contraband goods since we have been here..."

GLC02155.005

10 September 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly. Miller writes, "...we have to guard the village and the tavern doors to prevent the soldiers from getting liquor and they put such men there as does not drink and cannot be bribed for the soldiers will do almost anything for Wiskey... we do nothing But appear on dress parade in the evening this is By order of gen Mcllen [sic]... there was about ten thousand Soldiers in the field all Pennsylvanians Gen McCall commanding the Sectary of War Simon Camaron [sic] was there to see us drill, i have just come off drill this morning E. Minnigh is here, we will be reviewed by…

GLC02155.006

17 September 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly. Complains that Lile, his wife, does not write to him often enough. Asks for the Oddfellows to send a card or some other proof of his membership.

GLC02155.007

23 September 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller [incomplete]

Written at Camp Tennaly. Writes, "...every thing is very quiet, when every thing is so quiet i get the horrors i never feel Better than when we are moving..."

GLC02155.008

30 September 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly. Writes, "...i am almost certain we will leave to night for Virginia..." Sends money. Consists of three pages plus a loose-leaf enclosure written on a half sheet.

GLC02155.009

2 October 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Bushman Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly to his father. Writes, "...if only the darned Rebels would Be a little careful where they shoot, But as they are not we will have to Return the Compliment, we are well armed and equipped now with first Rate Rifles Muskets forty... i think i could stick a dead man if i had the chance, that is if he did not open his eyes before i got through in which case i would do some tall walking... give the alarm here that they are fighting on the other side of the River and it appears as if the soldiers come out of the ground they come in such numbers..."

GLC02155.010

10 October 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Tennaly to his wife. Complains of a severe headache. Writes, "the army is moving in every direction today i do not know how far into virginia we are going..." Written in pencil.

GLC02155.011

23 October 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Written at Camp Pierpont to his wife. Discusses his march toward Leesburg, Virginia: "...we saw some verry pretty sights on our march and some verry Sorrowfull ones, on our march there we saw no men but plenty of women they stuck Bull Run at us every place the women say what they please But the men say nothing, the wealthy have all left this part of the country and the poor are in a verry destitute condition... there were several women came to Genl McClellan while we were encamped there asking him to give them a pass to go to Washington to buy clothes and shoes for them and their children But…

GLC02155.012

1 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "This is rather a dangerous place to be as you cant trust any Body about here it is full of Rebels around here there is hardly a night but you can hear shots fired..." Written in pencil.

GLC02155.001

10 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "... the men have become dissatisfied they have not enough to eat they say in camp and a good many of the officers drink as bad as the men..."

GLC02155.002

14 August 1861

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lile Miller

Miller writes to his wife: "...i do not touch any kind of strong drink play no cards have nothing to do with any women in fact have not spent one cent... i have to day Been in the army seven weeks and have never Received one Black mark..."

GLC02155.004