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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 sister Martha and family

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.042 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: Lavergne, Tennesee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 August 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

He writes that it is his one year anniversary of enlistment and that he is glad he made the decision to enlist. Comments that the soldiers forage for most of their food, living "almost independent from Unkle [Uncle] Sam". Reports that Lieut. Culver will be replacing Captain Mason as captain. Writes that his company is going up in numbers as hospital and detailed men are being sent back in.

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