Our Collection

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 #: GLC04501.017 Author/Creator: Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892 Place Written: Columbus, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 16, 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

He has just learned that a large Federal force is moving against their position and writes his father that they soon may be surrounded. Gibson signs using his full name.

In part: "I have just returned from a meeting of the General Officers at Head Quarters and it is now reduced to a certainty - that the enemy is moving against us, in very large force. Before this letter reaches its destination you will probably hear that we are surrounde dor that a great battle has been fought. We have a large supply of army stores and can live for several months - two at least. Our cause is just and must receive the smiles of that Righteous Being - the Creator of all who ever protects the Right."

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

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