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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.

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900 to his sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.048 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber, 1841-1900 Place Written: New Bern, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 4, 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 16.5 cm Order a Copy

Recounts the Battle at Batchelder's Creek. There was severe loss on both sides; 200-300 Confederates lost and about 1000 Union men lost at Newport Barracks. Reports that firing was heard in the direction of Washington, but does not know if Plymouth and Washington were attacked. The [Provost Marshal] armed and put blacks in the entrenchments while citizens patrolled the streets with arms. He has written to the portion of his family in Danville about the siege. Expects that he won't be going home anytime soon.

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

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