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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.

Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819 to Major General William Henry Harrison

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09108 Author/Creator: Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819 Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter signed Date: 5 August 1813 Pagination: 1 p. : Order a Copy

Before the battle of Lake Erie, Perry has "succeeded in [getting one of] the Sloops of war over the bar...The enemy ...move seven over the bar...I am of opinion that in two days the Naval superiority will be decided on this Lake, and should we be successful, I shall sail for the head of the lake immediately to cooperate with you, and hope that our joint exertions will be productive of honor and advantage to our country." Damaged, with some text losses, with two additional autograph notes initialed by Perry.

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