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.

Jones, Samuel, 1819-1887 to Eliakim Parker Scammon

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01927 Author/Creator: Jones, Samuel, 1819-1887 Place Written: Dublin, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 April 1863 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 24.8 cm, Width: 19.9 cm Order a Copy

Confederate General Jones, Commander of the Department of Western Virginia, writes to Union General Scammon. Transmits two letters (not included) regarding William Hughart and W. M. [Lydenstriker?], two prisoners taken from the Union Army. Reports that the captives were recognized as Confederate deserters, and will be tried before the proper tribunal. Relates that Union officers have threatened the Confederate captors, attempting to persuade them to parole Hughart and Lydenstriker. Jones declares, "I need hardly say that the threats of those men will have no weight whatever. I send the letters to you that you may know what those two subordinates of yours propose to do; and from the tone of your letters, and then expression of the purpose which I have no doubt you entertain, to keep your men within the limits of civilized warfare, I do not doubt that would will promptly take such steps, as will effectually prevent those lawless men from executing their threats." Notes that "men who entertain such lawless ideas and purposes" exacerbate hostile sentiments on the border."

Jones, Samuel, 1819-1887
Scammon, Eliakim Parker, 1816-1894
Hughart, William, fl. 1863
Lydenstriker, W. M., fl. 1863

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources