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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.

Jeffery, Richard W., fl. 1855-1899 to Aaron [Jeffery]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01896.065 Author/Creator: Jeffery, Richard W., fl. 1855-1899 Place Written: Savanah, [] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1863/11/06 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 27 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Requests that Aaron always write "...as fully as you did in the last letter," and praises him for deciding not to take Ann out of school to save money. Richard promises that as soon as he is able he will send money to help the family out--enclosing twenty dollars in this letter. He admits that his "extravagance and high prices" have kept him from saving any of his pay. Goes on to speculate that the "Yankees will demolish Sumter if they can but thus far their ability has not been equal to their desire," even though their artillery daily kills and wounds some of the garrison. Richard frets over the news that Union troops are moving into the southwestern Virginia, building at Newport News and Chatahoochie, as well as incursions into western North Carolina. Also, mentions President Davis giving a speech in Savannah that caused great "commotion" among the citizens there.

Jeffery, Aaron, fl. 1858-1900
Jeffery, Richard Woodlief, 1815-1882
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

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