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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.

Knox, Andrew, 1835-? to Sarah Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.20.12 Author/Creator: Knox, Andrew, 1835-? Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 July 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 21 cm, Width: 26.1 cm Order a Copy

Knox writes to his wife from camp outside Petersburg, Virginia. Expresses how down-hearted and lonesome he feels. Reports heavy artillery on the picket lines, even at night. Informs her they will use new thirteen inch mortar shells that weigh 200 pounds each instead of the Petersburg Express. Writes about the death of their young child and his belief that she was too good for this earth. Letter includes a brief postscript written the following morning.

Knox, Andrew, fl. 1835
Knox, Sarah, 1842-?

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