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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.

Butler, Richard, 1743-1791 to Joseph Reed

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02498.03 Author/Creator: Butler, Richard, 1743-1791 Place Written: Totowa, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 November 1780 Pagination: 1 p. : address : free frank Height: 21.2 cm, Width: 16.7 cm Order a Copy

Written by Colonel Butler as commander of the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment to Reed as President of Pennsylvania. Says he is writing on behalf of Ensign Nathaniel Smith of his regiment, who has served "with great propriety." Says that Smith has been entitled to a lieutenancy since 21 July 1780 and hopes Reed can move the process along. Claims that it might result in Smith leaving the army, which he doesn't want to happen.
Written at Camp Totowa.

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