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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.

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878 to his family

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.086 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878 Place Written: Newbern, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 March 1862 Pagination: 6 p. : Order a Copy

Opens by declaring, "I can now write with truth that I have been in a battle and really under fire." Writes in great detail about the battle and the 8th Regiment taking over an abandoned rebel fort. Discusses the "plunder" he finds and of files of letters left behind by the rebel soldiers that indicate that there is "a union sentiment in N. Carolina." Coit believes this is the reason for their poor fighting spirit.

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

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