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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.

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897 to Henry F. McSherry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.21.18 Author/Creator: Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897 Place Written: Norfolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 September 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 20.3 cm, Width: 12.5 cm Order a Copy

Written on letterhead of the USS "Minnesota" by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Lee was previously the commander of the USS "Vandalia," which Henry McSherry served on in 1860-1861. Says he has nearly worn Henry's letter of 3 September "to wadding whilst carrying it in my side pocket." Says he has 50 ships under his command and the "desk work is immense." Says one of the USS "Minnesota's" assistant surgeons, Dr. Dodge, is helping at the Navy hospital that recently opened. Says he would "like it vastly" if Henry was given Dodge's position if it opens up. Henry was in Baltimore. Has water damage and has slight damage to the paper, leading to slight text loss. Written while abard the USS "Minnesota".

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