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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.

West, Lewis H., 1829-? to Harriet Moore

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.73 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H., 1829-? Place Written: St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 September 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 24.6 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy

References her previous letter. Says he has been busy surveying St. Catherine's bar. Says he has found a channel. Praises Farragut's recent victories around Mobile. In reference to the 1864 presidential election says "I should certainly go for 'Old Abe.' He is not exactly the man I would choose, but he is an honest and patriotic man and the most decent of all of them ... Fremont I am afraid is nothing but a scheming politician, and as for McClellan I would rather go for Jeff Davis himself." Landing recently he "found things pretty much as we left them[.] The old darkies are flourishing and have laid in a large crop of corn during the summer." Makes reference to a court martial of an engineer that fell through. Says he has only had 10 days leave in 3 years, 4 months of service. Written while aboard the USS "Fernandina".

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