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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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1861-1877

Photograph

Title: [View of Chatanooga Valley from Lookout Mountain, et al.]

View of Chattanooga Valley from Lookout Mountain; Army transport ascending Rapids of Tennessee river, View on Tennessee River, View on Tennessee River near Chattanooga

GLC07000.33

1861-1877

Photograph

Title: [Blockhouse at Railroad Junction neat Chattanooga, et al.]

Block House of railroad junction near Chattanooga; Block House on railroad at Charleston, Tenn.; Block House on Tennessee and Ala. railroad destroyed by Gen. Forrest; Fortified bridge over Cumberland R. on Louisville and Nashville railroad.

GLC07000.34

1861-1877

Photograph

Title: [Fort Saunders, Knoxville, Tennessee]

view showing salient, assaulted by Confederates, November 29, 1863.

GLC07000.35

31 January 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

A family gathering and the testing of new lamps at church. Also mentions Gen. Lander's retreat from Romney.

GLC07687.121

February 3, 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Surprise visit from Uncle Charles Campbell, who had been seeing a sick soldier at Louisville. Dick Donnell has returned home, and reports "a vast amount of sickness among out troops." Donnell had met with a "reliable Gentleman, who assured him that the forward movement will not take place for two months to come." Vannuys laments "Can it be? Are our Sons, Brothers, Fathers to lie and rot with diseas[e] in our camps for two months? Can it be? Can it be?"

GLC07687.122

February 11, 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Report of "a great amount of sickness in [Vannuys's] division," news that Gen. Lander is once again occupying Romney, and implications of the Union victory at Fort Henry, Tenn. Vannuys hopes in the wake of McClelland's appointment as Commander of the Army of the Potomac that Edwin Stanton will assume control of the Army, though he acknowledges "it is folly to put confidence in man." He advises his son to make immediate arrangements for the transport of his body home, in case he should die in battle or of disease.

GLC07687.123

February 16, 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

News of Gen. Burnsides's capture of Roanoke Island and rumors of Union capture of Fort Donnelson. Describes recruiting efforts for the Mississippi Fleet, and strong sympathy for the Northern cause.

GLC07687.124

February 22, 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

The weekly prayer meeting, confirmed victory at Fort Donnelson, preparations for the making of sugar and molasses at home, and unfavorable prices for farmers. Also describes a chance meeting with Squire Hendries, who was awaiting a dispatch from Cumberland regarding the condition of his son Abner. Abner's death was later confirmed.

GLC07687.125

27 February 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Describes the scene at home while he writes, including little Molly's current illness. Discusses the wedding of Kinney and Will LeGrange, work in the wheat field, and Molly's recovery.

GLC07687.126

4 March 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

Health of family members and successful recruiting efforts in the area.

GLC07687.127

14 March 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

General news of home (health, family, weather, crops, etc.) Describes "a great battle in Arkansas" (Pea Ridge?), which involved the 18th Regiment. "It was a glorious victory. I suppose the infernal McCulla [Benjamin McCulloch] is dead at last." Describes Gen. Siegel's actions in the battle. Forty men from the 8th Ind. Regiment were killed, as was John A. Hendricks of the 22nd Indiana Regiment. Debates the implications of the rebel loss at Manassas against the strategy of the Union generals. One enclosed clipping, entitled "The Soldier's Trust," concerns the value of religious faith for…

GLC07687.128

17 March 1862

Van Nuys, John H., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

"Stanton has is[s]ued an order forbidding the publishing of Army Movements," thus Vannuys confesses to being uninformed of current army activities. He suspects his son will go to Winchester, and does not believe there will be forward movement on the Potomac. Reports general news of health (SWV's mother is again very sick), crops, and the death of a man named Fisher.

GLC07687.129