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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.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00650 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 18 September 1777 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; Height: 32.5 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Jackson declares, "...I am sure if we exert ourselves to the Southward & Northward as we ought to do that this Campaign will nearly bring the War to a Close, and establish our Independence." Reports he has heard news that Generals Horatio Gates, Benjamin Lincoln, and Benedict Arnold intend to attack British General John Burgoyne's army (near Saratoga, New York). Discusses growth of militia in the State of Massachusetts, noting "...its said there is the finest body of militia now in the field that wer [sic] ever known..." Mentions that some towns, being unable to raise enough voluntary militia, pay men to join the militia.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801
Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792
Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

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