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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.

Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864 to Lile Miller

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02155.126 Author/Creator: Miller, Michael Murray, fl. 1861-1864 Place Written: Manassas, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 25, 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20 cm, Width: 13 cm Order a Copy

In this letter, Michael M. Miller writes home to his wife. He wishes her a merry Christmas and hopes this is the last Christmas apart from her. Him and a friend went to a nearby place to eat and had a big meal for the holiday which he was happy about becaause of a prior food supply shortage. He said that both him and his friend were upset that they hadn't received letters from their wives. He is excited about having sausage for breakfast. Some men from the company are leaving and he lists their names. He says that he would not enlist back into the army if asked and signs off lovingly.

Miller, Michael M., fl. 1861-1864
Rasensteel, fl. 1863
Jones, fl. 1863
Dewey, John, fl. 1863
Kitymiller, fl. 1863
McKinely, fl. 1863

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