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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.

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 to Maria Damuth

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.14.51 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 Place Written: Washington, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 March 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 14 cm, Width: 23 cm Order a Copy

The camp is having a day of rest so Damuth writes to his sister. The men have marched 119 miles in seven days and are heading for Alexandria. The 29th Wisconsin is traveling with the 19th Army Corps, an eastern regiment who "have not seen much if any fighting" and are in awe of Damuth and his seasoned fellow soldiers. Describes the routine of the men in the company. The men have been stealing from a nearby plantation. Southerners complain about the thieves, but Damuth believes "this is a very rich country" and that the Union soldiers enjoy stealing from the Rebels more than eating their own provisions.

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