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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.

Clark, Hank S., fl. 1861-1865 to Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.42.03 Author/Creator: Clark, Hank S., fl. 1861-1865 Place Written: St. Charles, Missouri Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 July 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 20.1 cm, Width: 25.1 cm Order a Copy

He writes that the army has left Alton and are under marching orders to St. Charles, Missouri. The troops are ready to leave and waiting for the cars to arrive. The engineer was worried that the rebels had obstructed or damaged part of the train track during the night. They are ready to go at a moment's notice but are still waiting for the train. Mentions General John Pope. Writes that there are many enslaved people stationed around the camp but they are not allowed in. States that the rebels are more likely to run then fight, "unless they can get behind a tree." Gus Taylor has the measles.

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