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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.

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-? to Louise Walbridge

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04663.71 Author/Creator: Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-? Place Written: Orangeburg, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 November 1865 Pagination: 7 p. : Order a Copy

Writes that he is still selling his stock. "[W]ent within ten miles of the Savannah river. I found the country almost a desert, and all the people as poor as rats. Some who formerly had splendid dwellings surrounded by every luxury, are now living in little log cabins formerly occupied by slaves...I know a man in this village who had nearly a thousand bales on hand when Sherman's army entered the place, twelve hours later he had not a single bale. This cotton, if he now had it, would be worth over $150,000." Notes that many people wish to buy his stock but have no money. Writes that Thanksgiving is on 7 December.

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

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