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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.

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868 Collection of Sumner Sayles, H company, 95th regiment, Illinois, infantry [Decimalized .01-.45]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.32 Author/Creator: Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868 Place Written: Various Places Type: Header Record Date: 1862-1868 Pagination: 45 letters Order a Copy

Most of the letters are written by Sumner Sayles to his family. The majority are written to his sisters with a few addressed to and from other family members and friends. Letters describe camp life, marching experiences, and a few skirmishes and battles. The siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Brice's Crossroad are discussed.

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