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.

McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864 to Leonard Ross

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02063.01 Author/Creator: McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 September 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Discusses an exaggerated news report regarding the battle of Antietam. Writes "The substance of the news is that 'Genl McClellan has driven the Rebels out of Maryland with great slaughter and has bagged Genl Lee.' The bagging part I think is prospective and the other like all telegraphic news from the Associated Press must be taken with some grains of allowance. The dispatch says 'Bully for Mc'...I think on the whole it is good." Seems skeptical of the good news, and rightly so. Lee was not captured, and though he was driven from Maryland, both sides suffered heavy losses. Written on printed stationery of the "United States Military Railroad, Superintendent's Office." Penciled docket on verso.

McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828-1864
Ross, Leonard Fulton, 1823-1901

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources