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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, and sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.041 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: Lavergne, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 July 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 25 cm Order a Copy

Writes that the company is back in Lavergne and was able to return to the log buildings they had built there a month ago. Discusses General [William Thomas] Ward, his sixteen year commission, and his refusal to report to General Morgan. Writes that the capture of Confederate General [John Hunt] Morgan was a good thing and wishes he had been killed instead. Gives details of prices for various vegetables and comments that it has been difficult to raise any food in the area. Of the war he writes " war is a desolater, and the South are beginning to feel it, but not enough."

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