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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 to Isora Sayles

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.32.06 Author/Creator: Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868 Place Written: Lake Providence, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 22, 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 22.9 cm, Width: 36.4 cm Order a Copy

Informs his sister about the men in camp. Writes of one man who is really sick in the hospital and of another who had "yelow janders" [yellow jaundice?]. Comments that several of the boys have had it. Describes his camp as being low and flat and that when it rains it gets very wet and muddy. The mud is so thick that it covers the men's boots and they cannot leave their tents without getting their feet wet. Requested that she writes him and tells him what the folks back home are doing.

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868
Sayles, Isora fl. 1868

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