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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.

Churchill, Byron, 1846-? to Drazilla Churchill

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03859.08 Author/Creator: Churchill, Byron, 1846-? Place Written: Chewalla, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 September 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 19.2 cm, Width: 23.5 cm Order a Copy

Reassures his mother of his safety by confirming that his division has been successful in the area of Corinth, Mississippi. Discussing Confederate General Sterling Price, writes "Wee have give Genrel Prise Hell in Mississippi and tenn He was advancing on Corinth with 40,000 strong and Genrel Grant send out troops to Repulse him we drove them into a corner whare thare lay Now with a large swamp on too sides of them and our Forses ar belting the led." Reports that his brigade is guarding a railroad, thus have not yet taken part in combat. States that his captain is very ill in a Corinth hospital, and that a recent rainstorm made the local water supply unfit to drink. Remarks on African Americans in camp: "mother the nigers are As thik trees in this Camp As hare on a dag wee have- Got, 2 nigers cooking for the Company they are as black And greesy as a swill baril." Encourages his mother to send him letters frequently. Written in pencil.

Churchill, Byron, 1846-1933
Churchill, Drazilla, fl. 1862
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

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