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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.

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918 To his wife

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.094 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918 Place Written: Battery ward in Nansemond River, [Virginia] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 May 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 12.5 cm Order a Copy

"This is an awful lonesome and lazy life to live..." Sultry days and chilly nights; drilling. On receiving a letter from his abolitionist brother-in-law: "...I received a letter from Edwin..... He accuses me of lacking sympathy with the plan and purpose of the war. The purp. I wonder if he think I would have any sympathy with his abolition plan. I answered his letter yesterday and stated my plan, that is, the one I had when I enlisted which was simply to save the Union and put down rebel[l]ion, but still I had to acknowledge that they had got me fighting (though reluctantly) on his plan. I hope when they come to draft that these fellows that have such full sympathy with abolition will have to come down and fight for their cherished plan[.]" Hoping his wife will send another photograph; mentions old orderly had worked on the railroad but cannot stand the hard work.

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

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