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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.

Longstreet, James, 1821-1904 to Governor Bonham

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09226 Author/Creator: Longstreet, James, 1821-1904 Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript letter Date: 16 July 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : Order a Copy

General James Longstreet, wounded in a friendly fire incident at the Battle of the Wilderness, mourns the death of Brigadier General Micah Genkins, killed by the same volley. "He has left to the youth of your state a noble legacy in his dauntless heroisms & spotless life, I trust that his memory will be cherished & his noble example will be felt for generations yet to come." Penned and signed by Mrs. Longstreet for her injured husband.

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