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.

Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894 to Col. J. B. Finlay

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02297.08 Author/Creator: Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894 Place Written: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Type: Letter signed Date: 20 October 1861 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, writes to Finlay, who is organizing a regiment, then placing the regiment in the field under the command of another qualified officer. Recommends Colonel Samuel Morris Wickersham of Pittsburgh for the position. Remarks that Wickersham is "a high minded & honorable gentleman, of fine abilities, thorough education & patriotic impulses- Having already authorized Regimental organizations, somewhat in excess of the requisitions of the Genl Government on Penn, I cannot accommodate Col. Wickersham by a further extension of this authority, but take pleasure in introducing him to your acquaintance, in this connection, & shall be pleased to learn of any assignment mutually satisfying to yourself and him-" Written on Pennsylvania Executive Chamber stationery. Docketed in pencil, possibly at a later date.

Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894
Wickersham, Samuel Morris, ?-1894

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources