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.

Wood, Matthew (fl. 1862-1865) to Sarah Wood

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02176.01 Author/Creator: Wood, Matthew (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: Zanesville, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 December 1862. Pagination: 4 p. ; 16 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Written at Camp Zanesville to his wife. Talks of arrival at Camp Zanesville via steam boat ("smoke boat.") His goods were lost in shipping between home and the camp. Finally, tells his wife if she sends $100 quickly, he could come home, as he won't be mustered in for another week or so. First page is quite faded. Stationery shows an image of the American flag and reads "Long may it wave."

Matthew Wood served in the Ohio Ninth Cavalry with Burnside's army in Tennessee, and William T. Sherman's army at the burning of Atlanta and capture of Savannah.

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