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.

Swisher, James S. to Lydia A. Bishoff

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.40.22 Author/Creator: Swisher, James S. Place Written: Rowlsburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 March 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21.5 x 26.8 cm. Order a Copy

He arrived safely at 11 o'clock. He wishes he were home to have a talk with Nelly, and wants Bishoff to tell Elenor Heckert that John Deets arrived safely, but has to go on guard tomorrow. He heard that they caught the horse thief at home and would like to know the thief's name. He asks Bishoff to tell Nelly to write him a "hell of a big letter," and that John Deets said he must not "squeeze his Girl to hard for he want to have a Squeeze at her yet." The mud is about five feet deep.

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