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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.

Eldridge, James E., fl. 1862-1864 to Clement Wood

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02162.15 Author/Creator: Eldridge, James E., fl. 1862-1864 Place Written: Fort Slocomb Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 26, 1863 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

re: Eldredge writes to his friend Clement, saying he feels sorry for him because Carolina, the focus of Clement's attention, left him for another man. He also writes about camp life, remarking about the daily drilling routine, and saying that his favorite duty is picket duty because he was able to go "up to a house near the line and sleep in a warm comfortable bed." However, he warns, "but if they should find it out I would get a lesson."

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