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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.

Worcester, John H., 1839-1863 [Collection of John H. Worcester, H company, 7th regiment, New Hampshire, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .41]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03974 Author/Creator: Worcester, John H., 1839-1863 Place Written: Various Places Type: Header Record Date: 1861-1863 Pagination: 41 items, 11 envelopes Order a Copy

The collection includes documents and letters written to the Worcester family, especially the father, John, from Lieutenant John H. Worcester and his younger brother Charles H. Worcester. John was wounded at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, and taken prisoner. He was later exchanged and died from gangrene while aboard a hospital steamer. Charles survived Fort Wagner because he had been sick in hospital during the battle. Most of the war letters are written from St. Augustine, Florida or Follys Island, South Carolina. The collection includes a manuscript map of St. Augustine, Florida; a pamphlet "Instructions for Officers on Outpost and Patrol Duty" (#35); four photographs (two of Charles and one of John); and five documents. Item #32 contains resolutions passed by the regiment in memoriam of John H. Worcester. There is a typewritten notice dated 1 April 1917 containing Charles' reminisces. Includes 27 letters, 11 envelopes, 1 certificate, 5 receipts (2 of which are size 3), 1 military return, 1 set of song lyrics, 1 typed notice, 1 military manual, 1 map, and 4 carte-de-visites.

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