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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.

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 to Jefferson Davis

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07176 Author/Creator: Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: 1863/07/27 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 25.3 cm, Width: 20.3 cm Order a Copy

"There are many thousand men improperly absent from this army. I have caused to-day an appeal to be made to them to return at once to duty. I do not know whether it will have much affect, unless accompanied by the Declaration of Amnesty." (In response 4 days later, Davis issued proclamation granting amnesty to hose who returned within 20 days. 15,000 did return.) Ink is severely faded.Written at the Head Quarters of the Army of North Virginia

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