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.

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877 to unknown recipient

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01919.01 Author/Creator: Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 September 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 13 cm Order a Copy

Addressed only to "Dear Sir" but probably written to Brigadier General Eliakim P. Scammon (based on similar material in the Gilder Lehrman Collection). Reports that the Confederates, 200,000 strong, are marching upon Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania by way of Chambersburg in order to capture Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Wonders what the Union forces are doing to prevent this invasion. "The excitement here is very great. It is understood that the rebels are marching upon Cumberland Valley in the state ... Our forces don't seem able to check them up at all. What our leaders Civil and Military are about I don't know. Our people are loosing confidence in all that belongs to our Army." Says that he will leave Philadelphia soon, possibly to join his family in Dayton, Ohio. Accompanied by a small printed document "Radical Union Ticket" proposing Brownlow "the fighting parson" for Governor (see GLC01919.02). Brownlow was editor of the influential Knoxville Whig. In October 1861, his paper was suppressed by the Confederates, and Brownlow was imprisoned until March 1862. Brownlow later served as Governor of Tennessee from 1865 to 1869.

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877
Scammon, Eliakim Parker, 1816-1894

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources