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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.

Pendleton, Alexander Swift (1840-1864) to William N. Pendleton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00441 Author/Creator: Pendleton, Alexander Swift (1840-1864) Place Written: Strasburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 June 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 30 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Written to his father, General Pendleton. Describes an expedition to Wincester, Virginia, but writing is interrupted by battle. Discusses the destruction of railroads.

[draft excerpt]
Our expedition to Winchester has so far been eminently successful, but the movements of the enemy in large force on our flanks, we have destroyed the Balto. & Ohio RR at Martingsburg and brought off an immense amount of stores - we have some four thousand guns and a large amount of the very best ammunition prepared by the US. Our prisoners number over 2,000 have just passed here on their way South. Your letter was of great interest about Richmond. It does seem to us over here as if there ought to be some sort of attack there, but we are willing to trust Gen. Johnston, especially when assisted by Gen. Lee. - may God grant and guard you this Sunday and ever - Gen. Jackson desires to be remembered - The Guns have opened - I must go.

Pendleton, Alexander Swift, 1840-1864
Pendleton, William Nelson, 1809-1883

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