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.

Reifsuyder, J. Henry, fl. 1862 to Henry F. McSherry

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.21.17 Author/Creator: Reifsuyder, J. Henry, fl. 1862 Place Written: Pottstown, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 July 1862 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 24.4 cm, Width: 19.9 cm Order a Copy

Signed and initialled by Reifsuyder, who was previously the clerk to Captain Donaldson of the USS "Sciota," the ship where McSherry was the assistant surgeon. Asks for his pardon in not writing sooner, but was "totally unable" to respond until now. Says he was ill when he arrived at home, and was also so excited to go home he forgot to pack Henry's previous letter. Has wondered how he got through his sickness (Henry had malaria previously). Hopes he enjoyed himself at his house in Baltimore. Says he has written to Donaldson to be reassigned as clerk to him when he gets a new commission. Docket says Reifsuyder was "Surgeon's Steward." Letter is faded.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources