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.

Swain, Julius Marshall (1835-1911) to his mother

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.10.07 Author/Creator: Swain, Julius Marshall (1835-1911) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 June 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 24.8 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy

Written from Georgetown, in Washington, D.C. Is anxious to take the right classes and pass his exam to prove his worthiness to receive a good commission. Recognizes that family at home is opposed "to my joining a negro regiment," but is anxious to serve his country. Has ordered a life insurance policy.

Swain was a telegrapher with the Massachusetts Signal Corps, 38th Regiment. He enlisted in 1862 as a second lieutenant, and was commissioned into the US Army Signal Corps in 1863, resigning in 1865. He was breveted first lieutenant and captain 13 March 1865. Swain considered joining the 54th Mass. (Colored) Regiment.

Swain, Julius Marshall, 1835-1911

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