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.

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865 to Sarah Wood

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02176.15 Author/Creator: Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865 Place Written: Nashville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 April 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.1 x 25.9 cm. Order a Copy

Written from Camp Smith to his wife. Posits that he is missing some letters, expects "back mail" to arrive soon. Expresses concern again that his wife should receive the money he sent. Mentions an eye operation his wife is recovering from. Complains his bad officers who will not let him go on furlough, but rather make him stay to guard the camp. Laments the shame of soldiers, talking of an unburied boy at Cumberland who has no one to demand his burial.

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1861-1865
Wood, Sarah, fl. 1862-1865

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources