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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.

Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01659 Author/Creator: Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 October 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 32.7 cm, Width: 22.8 cm Order a Copy

Written from "Head Quarters" by Colonel Tilghman to Major General Knox. Says Knox's "letters" came to hand last evening. Says Washington has gone down to the river and that he cannot answer him until tomorrow. Reports that "Vessels have arrived in short passages from Holland to Boston - letters down to the 20th of Augt. say that the French, Dutch and English Fleets had returned safe and sound into port." Says the British have not determined whether to relieve Gibraltar or not. Claims "it was in danger and must fall without Speedy relief." Reports that British affairs in the East Indies are bad. On the peace negotiations says "Terms of the Belligerent Powers high and hard - Britain as obstinate as the Devil."

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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