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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.

Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813-1894 to Major E. W. Rice

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02467.16 Author/Creator: Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813-1894 Place Written: Davenport, Iowa Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 October 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 25.2 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa 1860-1864, writes to Major Rice (possibly to Elliot Warren Rice of the 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry). Relates, "I had heard before receiving your letter that some persons in your regiment had made difficulty in regard to your appointment as Major... In appointing you I exercised my best judgment and must trust to your activity, energy, & good conduct to vindicate my action. I cannot transfer you to another regiment if for no other reason because by so doing I would be encouraging a spirit of insubordination among officers of your regiment..." Previously corresponded with Captain Harper on the topic of Rice's appointment (possibly James P. Harper). In a post script, instructs Rice to give his compliments to Colonel Lauman (possibly Jacob Gartner Lauman).

Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813-1894
Rice, Elliott Warren, 1835-1887
Harper, James P., 1824-?
Lauman, Jacob Gartner, 1813-1867

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