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 sister and all at home

Order a pdf of this item here.

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

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.104 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 Place Written: Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 October 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 25.1 cm, Width: 20.4 cm Order a Copy

Written near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. He has yet to received the package his family sent him. Mr. Wells is going home tomorrow. Asks for some things and suggests they can mail it to him or send them with Mr. Wells when he returns. He was paid last week and kept 20 dollars and sent home 118 dollars. Writes that the weather is getting rather cold. He is glad to hear that the family's fall work is getting along so well. Writes about some memories from home that happened during past winters. He expects that the government will give the soldiers 160 acres of land and a new log house. He thinks that a "rough" living makes him healthier and enjoys the country very much.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources