Our Collection

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.

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 to his parents, brother-in-law and sister

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.100 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 September 1864 Pagination: 6 p. : envelope Height: 19.7 cm, Width: 15.2 cm Order a Copy

Written near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. He has not received any mail dated before 12 September for ten days as the rebel attacks have disrupted the mail service. He thinks that a rebel named Wheeler is to blame for all of the attacks. He wonders if there is any relation between him and the rebel. It has been over two years and he thought the rebellion would have been stopped by now but the fight continues on. Writes that if the North had a unified front and had there been no copperheads the war would be over. He hopes that the Republican Party will get Abraham Lincoln elected again. Does not want the Union General Robert George B. McClellan to win because there will be a "dishonest compromise." Because if McClellan has his compromise slavery will still continue. Encourages his family to vote for Lincoln as he is the only one who wants to end the rebellion. At dress parade General William T. Sherman told the men to ignore the copperheads in the north and that he would always stand by his men. He thinks that the army is better "united" then ever. Writes that the country will always be "cut up" in politics instead of focusing on winning the war. He understands why his father has not voted for two or three years. Writes that Ed does not want to go back to Amity.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources