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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.

Force, Charles F., 1826-1883 to Manning Force

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04107 Author/Creator: Force, Charles F., 1826-1883 Place Written: China, Mexico Type: Letter Date: 16 April 1847 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Writes to his brother about the death of his commander, a childhood friend of Manning's. Discusses the bad food, small rations, scarcity of paper and the hope for war's end. Mentions that there are five soldiers waiting for him to finish writing his letter as they all must share the same pen. Has decided to go on a three-year whaling voyage once he is discharged and feels it would be best if he distanced himself as much as possible from his family and friends.

Force, M. F. (Manning Ferguson), 1824-1899
Force, Charles F., 1826-1883

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