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.

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862 to his wife

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01898.18 Author/Creator: Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862 Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 May 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Mentions a Union hot air balloon that was used for reconnaissance. "Our big Balloon is just making preparations to take a look at the rebs they are getting very vicious and they make night hideous with the howling and bursting of shells..." Describes skirmishing near Yorktown during the Peninsular campaign and mentions that the pickets on both sides are firing at each other all day and night. Written from Camp Winfield Scott.

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources