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.

Mahone, William, 1826-1895 to unknown

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02461.20 Author/Creator: Mahone, William, 1826-1895 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 May 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 24.8 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Possibly created in Norfolk, Virginia. Mahone notes that Colonel Butt (possibly Alexander Bruce Butt), who bears this letter, will visit Richmond seeking a commission in the Provisional Army of Virginia. Notes that Butt is Commandant of the 7th Regiment of Militia and a bank clerk. Writes, "He feels the Common Patriotic impulse of our people and is unwilling to with hold his services from the conflict before us, for the more agreeable occupation which shields him from service."

Mahone, William, 1826-1895
Butt, Alexander Bruce, 1838-?

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources