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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.

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865 to Stockton Bates

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.23.03 Author/Creator: Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865 Place Written: Indian Springs, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 October 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 19.9 cm, Width: 24.2 cm Order a Copy

Describes the scene as "a cold, rainy Sunday in a crowded, leaky tent, three more letters to write, and no dinner in prospective except 'beans.'" Mentions constant marching with little rest. As it is getting cold, "the boys draw around the fire, where we have some gay time, telling yarns, arguing, &c." Fellow soldiers call him "Pud" or "Clothes" for his large shape. "With us, the war seems but little advanced toward the end."

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865
Bates, Stockton, fl. 1861-1866

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