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.

Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863 to the senior officer in command of the troops in the vicinity of Grenada

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02460.17 Author/Creator: Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863 Place Written: Jackson, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 June 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 31.1 cm, Width: 18.8 cm Order a Copy

Written by Confederate Major General Van Dorn at the Headquarters of the Department of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. Says before he left Tupelo he was authorized to order any portion of his command, including the corps of General Breckenridge, to his department should circumstances render it necessary. Reports that a fleet with transports and about 10,000 men are now under sail for Vicksburg. Wants 6,000 men with 10 days rations under a suitable officer sent to him. Presumes that the enemy will reach Vicksburg on Tuesday next. Wants him to take measures to have the detachment reach him at Vicksburg at "the earliest possible moment."

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources