Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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unknown

Unknown

Autograph note

Title: [Notes on barley and oat distribution]

This note is believed to be a record of barley and oat rations given out to soldiers.

GLC02669.069

13 February 1812

Unknown

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown recipient

A letter entailing the call for volunteers and the initial experience of a group of men who answered that call. The author refers to this group of men as a "band of brothers" acting "for the preservation of of ourself and country." The author also mentions a lack of blankets and utensils, but that "like good soldiers," they did not complain. The corners of the letter are torn and the there is some content loss at the top of the page due to discoloration and fading.

GLC02669.003

1852-1902

Bennett, Samuel H.

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline M. Bennett

Dated 26 December. He describes his dinner. He asks what regiment her brother is in because he wants to write him.

GLC02161.180

12 August 1860

Clark, B.S. (fl. 1861-)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Much Respected Cousin

They are building a brigade bakery. If Charleston falls, there may be more fighting. He tells his cousin if he goes to Middlebury, he may use his rifle until he gets back

GLC07205.070

1861

Albert (fl. 1862-)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

He writes he is now in the shop making dough. They have to bake a thousand loaves of bread a day. He is healthy and fat.

GLC07205.031

7 June 1861

Unknown

Autograph document signed

Title: Legal Document

3 privates are officially sentenced for disobedience and drunkeness. Their punishments range from carrying 20 lb bags of sand and no food to witholding pay.

GLC02745.068

8 June 1861

Unknown

Autograph document signed

Title: General Order No. 4

The sentences of the previous document (GLC02745.068) are hereby approved.

GLC02745.069

1 July 1861

Albert (fl. 1861-)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister Sophia

He describes his daily activities including battalion drills and what they ate for breakfast. He tells one story of how they were given only bread for breakfast one day and the men retaliated by not coming out for inspection.

GLC07205.054

13 July 1861

Abert, William S. (fl. 1861-)

Autograph document signed

Title: General Orders No. 3

The troops have marching orders to leave at 4 am. They will carry rations and forty rounds of ammunition. The wagon train will move in the rear of the division under the direction of the quartermaster.

GLC02745.046

16 July 1861

Abert, William S. (fl. 1861-)

Autograph document signed

Title: Circular

Countersign and parole. Also ordering troops to have one day's ration cooked. They must be in bed by 8 o' clock.

GLC02745.047

16 July 1861

Abert, William S. (fl. 1861-)

Autograph document signed

Title: General Orders No. 6

The troops will march at 3am. The cooks will fix breakfast at 1:30am and five men from each company will pack the wagons.

GLC02745.049

16 August 1861

Albert (fl. 1861-)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister Sophia

He describes his current surroundings, the food and pickett guard. He tells a story about killing a hog.

GLC07205.051

30 September 1861

Williams, S. (fl. 1861-)

Printed document

Title: General Orders No. 18

No officer or soldier can leave camp to visit Washington. All commanders with make weekly reports on the amount of ammunition. Payment for rations will be made only by the officers.

GLC02745.027

14 October 1861

Smith, Asa

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] His life at camp is "quiet," and the troops are making their own fun by stealing beer from the sutler's tent. He was surprised when he saw in a paper that Corporal Asa Smith from Indiana was injured, but "was pleased to know that it wasn't me." Sends news back of other soldiers presumably from his hometown. Numbered in pencil "16."

GLC03696.01

25 November 1861

Smith, Asa

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and also captured six more Confederates nearby. He tells of an altercation between the Massachusetts 16th and the New York 20th, a largely German unit. The New York 20th men attacked a Massachusetts 16th soldier one day, which resulted in a huge brawl where the New York 20th got the worse of it.

GLC03696.04

19 December 1861

Unknown

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Wall

There is not enough to eat and people are sick with the measles.

GLC07205.033

circa 20 December 1861

Johnston, Witter H. (fl. 1861-1864)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Sue Johnston

He loves the muster rolls that are nearly completed. They have a new cook house. He is very healthy but does not have much time for reading.

GLC02167.06

27 December 1861

Wolcott, Laurens W. (fl. 1861-1865)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Brother

There are some who say they have defective arms but he thinks their weapons are very well-made. They have been living on 2 meals per days and he has enjoyed good health. They march at midnight looking for Rebels but did not find any.

GLC00653.11.30

Porter, Charles B. (fl. 1860-)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Unknown

They only got about 2/3 of their ration before going to Bull Run, so they were without food for a day and a half. When the bullets wer flying they saw a black berry patch and immediately began picking berries so the Colonel called them the black berry company. He saw General McClelland.

GLC02172.12

1861-1864

Stone, E.W. (fl. 1861-1865)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dearly Beloved

In Fitchburg they marched about and then took the cars again. They got to Lincoln Square where they marched around until it was time to set up camp. The tents arrived late. He asks for his beloved to send him some dish cloths. They got their rations.

GLC02182.06

circa 1861-1865

Bradbury, John S. (fl. 1861-1865)

Header Record

Title: [Collection of John S. Bradbury, 3rd regiment, Iowa, light battery] [Decimalized .01- .10]

Letters from John S. Bradbury to his brother, Samuel, dating from 1861 through 1865. They include notable statements of support for Lincoln.

GLC03523.39

1861-1866

Johnston, Witter H. (fl. 1861-1864)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Sue Johnston

He is glad they have a pastor again. They will be doing heavy artillery drills and he feels they will become great artillerists. They have been having very good food.

GLC02167.45

1861-1877

Slayton, Chester M.

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

[Written on scrap paper with no names or date] "Look out for thieves Roch. has lost four or five bushels of wheat lately others have lost oats & - we keep on the look-out- & somebody will get caught- some of these times Il bet."

GLC03955.07

1862

Paul, Miles W.

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Celicia Paul

Paul tells his wife about camp life, food rations and other Companies he came in contact with. He informs her that he doesn't know when he will get his bounty money, but that he will send money along once he gets it. He also advises her to take their cow up to Thode, presumably a family friend or relative, to keep it from running off again. No month on document, word processor inventory indicates month as August.

GLC03058.01

1862

Cook, Henry (fl. 1862-1864)

Diary

Title: 1862 Diary

Henry Cook writes daily entries on camp life, including rations, illness, gambling, picket duty, construction projects, pay, and promotions. He includes information on military actions (battles at Fort Donelson, Fort Macon, and [Pea?] Ridge), as well as on desertion, scouting expeditions, contrabands, weapon distribution, and spies. His daily entries, written in ink, inlcude brief weather reports, and each month ends with a slightly longer reflection.

GLC03958.01

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