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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.

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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.108 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M., 1815-1864 Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 October 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20 cm, Width: 25 cm Order a Copy

Tells his son "Since the election has subsided to a considerable extent & the only thing that troubles the people is the coming draft tomorrow..." Mentions the defeat of General William Rosecrans (possibly referring to the Battle of Chickamauga fought on 19-20 September 1863). Writes "if the war is not closed in the coming year it will show those who have the reins of Government in their hands are incompetent to the Task, and if the Democrats make a judicious selection for the Presidency, say for instance General G.[George] B. McClellan and place him on the War Platform it is sure to win."

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864
Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918
Rosecrans, William S., 1819-1898
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885

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