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.

Kelley, Benjamin Franklin, 1807-1891 to Eliakim P. Scammon

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01903 Author/Creator: Kelley, Benjamin Franklin, 1807-1891 Place Written: Clarksburg, Virginia Type: Manuscript telegram Date: 5 July 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 22 cm, Width: 14 cm Order a Copy

States that Union General Henry W. Halleck reported that the captured dispatches between Confederate President Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee shows that there is no rebel force left between Lee's Army and Richmond, Virginia. Orders that Scammon "...at once organize a force and send it to cut the Virginia and Tennesse Rail Road." Advises to use his judgment as to the best point to do this and to send a reliable officer to command. U.S. Military Telegraph marked "Cifer," [Cypher] on front. Recipient's copy. Docketed by Scammon. Kelley signs as Brigadier General. Written the day after Gettysburg.

Kelley, Benjamin Franklin, 1807-1891
Scammon, Eliakim Parker, 1816-1894

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources