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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.

Lyon, Nathaniel, 1818-1861 to Colonel D. Hassendeubel

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09265 Author/Creator: Lyon, Nathaniel, 1818-1861 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 May 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Order a Copy

To Colonel D. Hassendeubel of the 3rd Missouri Volunteers: "In respect to your report upon Arms and the movements of the secessionists, in your vicinity and at Manchester, it is important that you keep us fully advised as possible." Written ten days after the "St. Louis Massacre," when troops under Lyon's command opened fire on a crowd of St. Louis citizens, injuring 90 and killing 28. Lyon, credited with stopping the Missouri secessionist movement, was the first Union general killed in the Civil War, in August 1861 at the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

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