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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.

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.027 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: Gallatin, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 May 1863 Pagination: 8 p. : envelope Height: 19.5 cm, Width: 24 cm Order a Copy

Writes that furloughs have begun and three men will be allowed to go from each company. His brigade will be kept in Gallatan for the time being, as Gallatan is a very important position to keep. Writes that there will soon be a fight at Murfreesboro and is confident that Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army is equal to and possibly stronger than Confederate General Joseph Wheeler's. Describes an incident in which an escorted mail delivery was attacked by rebels, but the escorts managed to drive the rebels back. Describes seeing an Indiana soldier being carried to his grave, followed by his wife whom had just arrived a week ago. Discusses the canonading of a Union boat on the Cumberland River. Asks for emery paper to keep his gun clean. The letter is continued the following morning, May 6, 1863. He writes that an order has been issued prohibiting furlough unless on account of disability or severe illness in the soldier's family. Includes a poem written by an unknown soldier entitled " First night in Dixie". Wheeler indicates that the poem refers to when the 105th Illinois went to Louisville.

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