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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.

Knox, Andrew, 1835-? to Sarah Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.20.17 Author/Creator: Knox, Andrew, 1835-? Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 September 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 24.7 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy

Knox writes to his wife from a camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Reports eight shells were fired into Petersburg last night. Expresses happiness at receiving three letters from her. Complains of the cold weather and sleeping outside. Comments on the large number of men from Danbury, Connecticut who have enlisted and expresses his wish they would join his regiment. Discusses several rumors regarding the discharge date for officers. Informs he will stay until March 1865 due to his sense of duty. Feels he will be offered a promotion to Captain, but will decline as he wants to get home to her. Reflects on the effect of war, "I do not think it has done me any good to go to war, on the contrary I think my principles are not as good as they were once..."

Knox, Andrew, fl. 1835
Knox, Sarah, 1842-?

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