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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.

Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1878 to Lewis West

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.38 Author/Creator: Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1878 Place Written: Aboard USS "Alabama" at St. Andrews Sound, Georgia Type: Letter signed Date: 31 October 1862 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 24.6 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Commodore Paulding orders Acting Master West to go to Philadelphia without delay and report to Commodore Pendergrast for duty aboard the USS "Juniata." Note signed by Navy Agent James S. Chambers says West was paid 9 dollars for travel from New York to Philadelphia. Docket signed by G. J. Pendergrast says West reported for duty on 1 November 1862. Pendergrast died of a paralytic stroke on 7 November 1862.

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