Our Collection

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.

Arnold, Benedict (1741-1801) to Titus Homer

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01542 Author/Creator: Arnold, Benedict (1741-1801) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 July 1780 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 34 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Encloses a certificate from the Board of War (not included), needed to settle his pay. Informs that he will accept the command of West Point. Although Homer was a friend of Arnold, he probably was unaware of his treasonous plans. Possibly a retained draft, with several deletions in the text by Arnold.

Arnold arranged to surrender West Point to the British in 1780.

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801
Homer, Titus, fl. 1780

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