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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.

Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880 to Mary Mayberry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02829.15 Author/Creator: Allen, William, fl. 1834-1880 Place Written: Aboard USS Resolute at Lookout Point, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 August 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 19.5 cm, Width: 12.6 cm Order a Copy

Says heat is bad, but he feels better than he ever has except for loneliness. Says "I have not the least caus[e] to complain only some times when I am off of duty and get to thinking and studying I will get low spirited when thinking of home and friends and the time will get tedious but I have to throw it off[.] you Know my disposition as well as I do[.] I cant Help it sometimes." Received the photographs of Becky and Winfield. In reference to his family says "the longer I am from them the mor[e] I love them[.] I dont think I will be long from them[.] I dont know weithe[r] al men are alike and I dont think I was happier in my life than when I was home with my wife and little ones." Writes further about his family and his sadness at missing them. Says he received a letter from Joesph, who is on the James River. It seems their family friend Mr. Rocap has a bad assignment in the Navy and he tells his sister to have Rocap write to him because he might be able to assist him.

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