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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.

Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863 to Zebulon B. Vance

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00627 Author/Creator: Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863 Place Written: Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: May 22, 1863 Pagination: 6 p. : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

Encloses letters (not included) sent to soldiers from their homes encouraging desertion. Discusses the growing problem of desertion in the army at length and attributes it to one cause, the negative state of public opinion on the home front. Believes that the commanding officers are not doing enough to combat desertion in their ranks. Remarks that, "The great majority of my Brigade would shoot a deserter as quick as they would a snake, but our place is here and not in the rear..." States that he has sent men out to bring back the deserters dead or alive but thinks they will not be successful unless the citizens take part. Letter shows docketing by Zebulon B. Vance.

Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863
Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894

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