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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.

Unknown to cousin [Lydia A. Bishoff]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.40.10 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: Manassas Junction, Prince Williams Co., Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 June 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21.2 x 26.1 cm. Order a Copy

Foglesong feels lonesome and sad, as he has recently received the news that his mother died while he was away. He claims he dreamt that she was sick, and ever since he had the dream, he was convinced that his mother was dead. He has only received three letters since he left Winchester. It has been two months since he received word from Lydia Bishoff, though he tells her it feels more like two years. He left Front Royal last Saturday and marched 90 miles east of the Blue Ridge to Manassas Junction. He is uncertain of his next destination, but says "the news is that old Abe said that he was agoing to take us to Washington to rest … since he had a lot of fresh troops." If he does not go to Washington, Foglesong expects he will go to Richmond. He adds that, "the paper was aplenty."

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