Our Collection

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.

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877 to William McBlair

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.53 Author/Creator: Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: March 25, 1859 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 33 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Forwarding papers describing the sentences of Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf. Both men had been discharged from the Navy for bad conduct. Written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya. Benjamin J. Totten, the commander of the U.S.S. "Vincennes," was later promoted to commodore, served as governor of the Naval asylum at Philadelphia for two years, and published a number of works regarding the Navy.

McBlair, William, ?-1863
Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877
Connor, Thomas, fl. 1859
Breckendorf, Frederick, fl. 1859

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources