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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.

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786 to Henry Lee

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07884.10 Author/Creator: Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786 Place Written: Headquarters, [S.C.] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1781/12/28 Pagination: 4 p. + docket 22.8 x 18.7 cm Order a Copy

Granting Lee a conditional leave of absence, perhaps against his better judgement; Greene also discusses troop movements and information regarding enemy activities. In part: "I confess I shall grant you [a] leave of absence with great reluctance, should the enemies reinforcements arrive you mention in your body of intelligence..."

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