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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.

Ruggles, Daniel (1810-1897) to M. Jeff Thompson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00057 Author/Creator: Ruggles, Daniel (1810-1897) Place Written: Port Hudson, Louisiana Type: Autograph document signed Date: 21 August 1862 Pagination: 1 p. ; 23 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Orders Thompson to repair bridges and railroads and speculates Union forces may soon evacuate Baton Rouge.

M. Jeff Thompson was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. Nicknamed the "Swamp Fox of the Confederacy" because he and his men the "Swamp Rats" patrolled a marshy area near St. Louis.

Port Hudson, La.
Aug. 21st, 1862
To Brig. General Jeff Thompson
[illegible], La.
Take measures to rebuild the Main shore Bridges and repair the R.R. Apply to Major Ramsey, [illegible]. Let me know the condition of things by Telegram [struck: at this] to [Chisteen], La.
Reported that the Enemy is evacuating Baton Rouge.
Put [strikeout] your Scouts well forward towards the Mississippi to encourage resistance.
Daniel Ruggles
Brig. General Confedcy

[docket]
17/34.
Port. Hudson
Augt. 21 1862
Telegram to
Genl Jeff Thompson

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897
Thompson, Meriwether Jeff, 1826-1876

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