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.

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864 to Joseph M. Maitland

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.068 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M., 1815-1864 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 May 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 30 cm, Width: 19.1 cm Order a Copy

Shares with his son that his grandmother has died recently. Notes that he does not know whether or not Joseph participated in the 16 May 1863 battle "West of Jackson," (the Battle of Champion Hill, an engagement in the Vicksburg Campaign). Includes a short note at the bottom written the next day discussing the draft. States that previously, drafted men had been able to purchase exemption for $300. Notes that many men are outraged regarding Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton's intention to eliminate the exemption, requiring drafted men to either serve in the war or find a substitute. Likely written at Kingston, Ohio.

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864
Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918
Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources