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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, Stephen D., 1833-1908 to Oliver O. Howard

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03722.02 Author/Creator: Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908 Place Written: Columbus, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 August 1865 Pagination: 2 p. : docket : Height: 20.2 cm, Width: 25.2 cm Order a Copy

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Lee reponds to Howard's letter (not present) of 26 July 1865 in which Howard declined to take an interest in his pardon application. He describes his motives in fighting for the Confederacy and refers to the South's failure.

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