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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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20 May 1864

Ticknor, Horace L., 1836-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to friends at home

Ticknor writes to his friends from Kingston, Georgia. Reports they are in pursuit of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston and his troops. Informs they routed Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston at Dalton, Georgia and again ten miles away. Comments they captured many prisoners and several pieces of artillery. Says they are moving on to Atlanta, Georgia.

GLC03523.30.12

22 January 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Lyon. Discusses his holiday party and how he "...devoured his share of all the delicate dishes from the North." Complains of the hard crackers used as bread on marches. Informs there are two hundred confederate prisoners in camp that do much of the work. Written in Camp Lyon .

GLC03523.31.01

20 May 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Goodell. Reports there are 1200 soldiers there. Complains of sleeping on the cold ground with no blanket for a few nights. Says they are divided into squads of eight men who share a tent. Mentions they do their own cooking and drill everyday. Expects his uniform soon.

GLC03523.31.02

27 May 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Goodell. Expresses gratitude for her letter and says when the mail arrives, the soldiers "...flock to the office like sheep." Says once the letters are read the band plays "the girl I left behind." Reports his regiment is waiting to be received into the service of the general government, and if refused, they will return home next month. Mentions they have received their uniforms and muskets from Harper's Ferry. Discusses a large fight that took place in camp resulting in a lot of structural damage. Explains some of the troops were unhappy with the…

GLC03523.31.03

10 June 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Goodell. Reflects on the possibility of being killed. Reports his regiment is now part of the U.S. Army under Union General George B. McClellan, and they will be moving to western Virginia. Letter is very faded and largely illegible, with a Union emblem.

GLC03523.31.04

3 July 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Pope. Discusses his loneliness for the female sex, "You know it is not nature to be thus alone." Mentions shaving his whiskers close to his face and getting a severe cold. Comments on the constant rain, damp clothing, and difficult marches. Describes the tent structure of the camp, "... all arranged in beautiful order like streets in a city..." Remarks that two men had been shot, one very seriously. Describes the severely injured man's prayer, "... O Lord let me live this time." Reports the Lord must have heard the man's prayer because he lived. Says…

GLC03523.31.05

24 March 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline Henry

Probably from a cousin in Keeseville. Signature on letter appears to be Elvira. Mentions a visit from Angie's brother George. Discusses Josiah's possible discharge, although his whereabouts are unknown. Speculates he may be in Washington. Encourages Angie to "...try and teach with your other instruction, the little ones the fear of God."

GLC03523.07.36

26 May 1865

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John and Sophia Henry

Henry writes to his parents from Washington D.C. Mentions he will not be discharged until the fall even though the war is over. Anticipates a furlough over the summer. Expects a Washington review of the corps soon. Both letter and envelope have a "Sanitary Commission" emblem.

GLC03523.07.37

18 August 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Reports from Georgetown Heights to his sister. Mentions that he received her letter. Comments that they are experiencing very poor weather, and are very busy preparing for an attack next week. States "we cant even get out now for water with out having a corporal with us. We are penned up here like prisoners. As the camp is a prison itself."

GLC03523.08.14

3 September 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Informs his sister that they are camped opposite the Big Falls of the Potomac River. Provides details about fighting, mentioning General Benjamin Franklin Butler's movements in North Carolina. Indicates they are ready "to show the South aint to be fooled by here." Reports that their next movement will be on Manassas Junction and Richmond, Virginia. Asks that his sister write to him at the address previously given to her in Washington. Written on red and blue bordered stationery with a small image of a woman and the words, "Union and Prosperity" in the top left corner.

GLC03523.08.15

11 September 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Informs his sister that they have returned to their old camp ground in Georgetown. Describes a recent battle they fought, "on the other side of the Potomac," relaying stories of "balls a whizzing through the air." Reports that during the battle they received a dispatch from General Nathaniel Banks, but the Rebels did not cross the river again. Reports that he should be home for Christmas. Written on red and blue bordered stationery with a small image of a woman and the words, "Union and Prosperity" in the top left corner.

GLC03523.08.16

16 September 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Relays, "That account of the affair at big falls is all a big lie they put in anything to make the papers sell. Their was no musketry shot returned by our Regiment. The Artillery only answered them the next day and then they did not return the fire." Continues on about the newspapers, commenting "I reckon the newspapers had another blow in about that affair down the falls church. We was called out but only get down as far as the chain bridge before the fight was over." Mentions that she will probably "here tell of a Movement of McClellan that will quite surprise you. In his speech to the…

GLC03523.08.17

20 September 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mother

Writes to his mother, discussing whether or not some men from home will be enlisting in the army. Confides, "As I know about a soldiers life. But the best thing he can do is stay at home and have a little more sense than I had." Reports that he heard heavy firing on Tuesday while he was on picket duty, but a "heavy storm came and put a stop to the firing." Asks that she send him a number of things, such as woolen socks, shirts, and a wooden pipe. Written on red and blue bordered stationery with a small image of a woman and the words, "Union and Prosperity" in the top left corner.

GLC03523.08.18

25 September 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Informs sister that some of the "Baptor five Zouaves" came through his camp this morning. Reports that they were received by General George McClellan and their new Brigadier General, George Meade. Tells her that everything is quiet now. In a post script, relates that she should not be concerned if he isn't home for Christmas, stating that he expects to eat Christmas dinner in Philadelphia, "for they are now getting the enemy completely surrounded." Last page of letter written in pencil. Written on red and blue bordered stationery with a small image of a woman and the words, "Union and…

GLC03523.08.19

17 December 1861

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister and Father

First half of letter written to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Includes newspaper clippings, noting that they are in regards to General George McCall and his division, as well as some "poetry dedicated to the Ranger's which I knew you will like it after you read it." The second half of the letter is addressed to his father, relaying information of the trial of Lieutenant Howell in Washington and "about a dozen" other men. Comments that "the reason we took the women prisinors was on account of being spies." Also divulges that a man named Johnson, who joined the Lincoln Cavalry in New York was…

GLC03523.08.24

18 August 1862

Knox, Andrew, 1835-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Knox

Knox writes to his wife from Harrison's Landing. Complains about her scarce letters and wonders if it is because she is sick. Expresses anger about nephew George F. Knox enlisting because so many men are dying daily. Recommends George tries to get out of the company he is assigned to because it is comprised of inexperienced young boys. Requests the name of the man who enlisted George and informs he will write to him. Reports he will be moving onto Fredericksburg or Washington, D.C. soon.

GLC03523.20.05

October 1783

Manuscript document

Title: Abstract of extra issues

Lists number of rations and for what purpose they were issued.

GLC02437.02741

October 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Abstract of rations for West Point]

Lists men by regiment with rations issued.

GLC02437.02742

1 November 1783

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a travelling forge made at the Springfield armory in Massachusetts, which he will be sending to West Point. He is very impressed by how well made it is.

GLC02437.02744

1 November 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document signed

Title: Public cloathing store

"Invoice of sundry Cloathing [sic] the property of the United States ... " Lists clothing with prices. Signed as received by Samuel Shaw but main part of invoice is in a different hand.

GLC02437.02745

9 November 1783

Ogden, Abraham, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes a 1300 acre estate for sale near Newark, New Jersey. Discusses the quality of the farmland and the proposed price, 10,000 pounds New York currency. Believes the price is quite high but "the farm is certainly as valuable as any in this country."

GLC02437.02768