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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.

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892 to his father Tobias Gibson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04501.015 Author/Creator: Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892 Place Written: Columbus, KY Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 January 1862 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 27 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

General Pillow has resigned, and Gibson analyzes his abilities. The citizens of St. Louis help provide for the troops. His soldiers expect to be ordered to New Orleans as soon as the weather clears up.

"....we have accustomed ourselves to reports and camp rumors. Yet everything is prepared under my command either for a movement or a fight where we are...An idea still exists that whenever the expedition intended for New Orleans sets sail, we will be ordered back...Genl Pillow has resigned. I hope some scientific officer may be assigned to duty in this place. I got very well acquainted with the Genl before he left seeing him several times every day. I do not think him, in any sense, a military man. I have no doubt but that he would make a magnificent Quartermaster - by great energy - and a mind singularly given to details - a hard working, devotedly painstaking officer - He thinks himself a gravely injured man. Point to McLellan [sic], Beauregard, Smith, Johnston, Lovell - tho all once his subordinates - he 2nd only to Scott ...We have weakened our force very much lately by sending reinforcements to Bowling Green , and might be attacked...Nothing yet from Interior Ky...."

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

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