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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 brother-in-law, parents and sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.087 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 July 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 20.1 cm, Width: 25.1 cm Order a Copy

Written at the Camp of the 105th Illinois south of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. His Corps. has crossed the river on a pontoon bridge. Soon afterward his regiment was sent on picket duty. To his left he has heard the sound of musketry. The 3rd Brigade of his division is currently building a bridge across a stream. He describes the area as "all woodland" and the country is "as rough as ever." He regrets that they could not prevent the rebels from crossing the river last night. Writes that they are only 10 or 11 miles from Atlanta, Georgia which is doomed to fall soon. Writes that if he arrives home safely after the war is over he would like to go to the "Empire State" [New York] to visit the rest of the family. Requests a few items from home suggesting the colonel who recently returned may be able to bring them back. Asks how his friends and family at home are doing.

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