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.

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) to John Bryant

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03432.034 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 26 July 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

General Lincoln sends Captain Bryant a congressional resolution (not included) "relative to the department of military stores." Asks Bryant to fire the commissary of general stores and his clerk at the armory in Springfield and to take over the business of the facility: "I hope and presume you will not refuse it -- for whoever eats the bread of the public ought to be willing to perform such services." Written from the War Office. Letter is split along fold lines causing text loss. Fragile.

Benjamin Lincoln served as the first Secretary of War from 1781-1783 and was a member of the Massachusetts state convention that ratified the United States Constitution. From 1788-1789 Lincoln served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Captain John Bryant was the Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
Bryant, John, 1742-1816

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources