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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 #: GLC03523.14.33 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 Place Written: New Orleans, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 August 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope Height: 13 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Damuth's regiment has moved from Natchez, Mississippi, to New Orleans, where "we have a good cool breeze right off the Salt water." Describes the trip down the river. Some deserters are left off the boat at Port Hudson and Damuth proclaims, "I had rather be a soldier in the rebel army than a deserter from ours." The men also pass Baton Rouge. In Carlton, Damuth and a friend breakfast on oysters and beer. There are peddlers everywhere selling cheap goods to the soldiers. Damuth is eager to explore New Orleans.

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