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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.

Whitley, Albert, fl. 1865 to Sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09271.01 Author/Creator: Whitley, Albert, fl. 1865 Place Written: Savannah, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 January 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 14.2 x 21.9 cm. Order a Copy

very faded.

"We entered this City Dec. 21st the rebels having evacuated it the night before, they left all of their siege guns...[and] crossed over into South Carolina. Our men have taken out the Torpedoes in the River & now our steamers & transports can run in.... General Sherman has reviewed his entire army in Savannah, it was a grand & imposing scene & one long to be remembered by all present. Among this army of 90,000 men there is not one man [sic] that does not like General Sherman & think him one of the best Generals in our army. There are 20,000 citizens in this city & they all seem glad that we are here";

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