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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.

Russell, E. S., fl. 1861-1862 to Hannah E. Russell

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.50.06 Author/Creator: Russell, E. S., fl. 1861-1862 Place Written: Somerset, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 27, 1862 Pagination: 3 p. : Height: 20.1 cm, Width: 24.9 cm Order a Copy

Writes to wife from camp outside of Somerset, Kentucky. Admonishes wife for making fun of his living conditions. Informs her that their living conditions have not improved and that they are upon hard times. Describes having to march on three crackers per day and two different times they had to march on only a cup of coffee without cream, bread, meat or anything else. They had to lay on the cold ground with only a single blanket. Another time they went eight to ten days living off coffee and half cooked mush. Discusses a battle that they fought in Somerset, Kentucky. Writes that Union men won the battle and took 1400 horses. Written on paper with an image of the American flag and the logo, "PROTECT IT."

Russell, E. S., fl. 1861-1862
Russell, Hannah E., fl. 1861-1865

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