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 Elhanan M. Mast

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.078 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M., 1815-1864 Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 June 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 31 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

Informs his brother that he has heard from his son Joseph, who is on picket and fatigue duty near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Reports that John Petty, a family friend, is sick and is no longer on duty. Mentions that Petty was a Clerk under General John McClernand and fought in the Battle of Champion Hill. A short note enclosed with letter, written 30 June, states: "our advices from Penn yesterday are startling. it appears the Rebels have it pretty much their own way and are occupying Gettysburg and Carlisle and Little York. It is a burning shame the way the Army of the Potomac have managed things." There is a small hole in the letter, causing minor text loss.

Mast, Elhanan M., fl., 1853-1862
Maitland, James M., 1815-1864
McClernand, John Alexander, 1812-1900
Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources