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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.

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868 to Isora Skinkle

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.32.40 Author/Creator: Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868 Place Written: Nashville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 December 1864 Pagination: 4p. : envelope Height: 20.3 cm, Width: 25.4 cm Order a Copy

Writes to his sister from camp. Mentions that he sent $50 home. Writes that they are building breastworks in case General John Hood attacks them. Comments that the general will receive a warm reception if he attacks for they have a large force of men and artillery. Teases about his health being affected because of a lady named Mill not writing him. Reports that the detachment that was with General William T. Sherman is now with them at their camp. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner. Letter has an image and the words, "E Pluribus Unum."

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868
Skinkle, Isora, fl. 1860-1868
Hood, John Bell, 1831-1879
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

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