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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, Joseph M., 1836-1918 to Bell Wharton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.161 Author/Creator: Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918 Place Written: Memphis, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 February 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.3 x 25 cm. Order a Copy

Addresses letter "My own Dear Bell," and asks her why she hasn't written to him. Says he is expecting orders to go down the river any day with his Division. Informs Bell that the draft took place yesterday. Speculates that if the quota wasn't met at home, "...there was some shaking in the boots of some of the men there." Comments on news of a friend's new baby, adding that an officer he works with just had a baby. Mentions his satisfactory dinner of roast beef, mutton, pork, potatoes and sauerkraut. Informs her that he has changed boarding houses and his Captain is paying half his rent. Closes letter with "I don't hardly think you do your duty writing to me..."

Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918
Wharton, Bell, 1843-?

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