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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.

Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) to his Parents

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.21.08 Author/Creator: Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 October 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.2 x 12.6 cm. Order a Copy

Written from "Poplars Grove Church," Virginia. With a sketched map of entrenchments before Petersburg.

[draft]
Camp 7th R.I. Vol
Poplars Grove Church Va
Oct 12th 1864

Dear Parents
I received your letter of the 8th this morning and am very glad to hear from you and learn that you are well. I am well also. we were sent to cut down some trees in front of a Battery (the other day) and about 100 yards from the rebel Videttes. we had been cutting for half an hour when Col Daniels must come right out where we was on his [ ] horse. the rebs see and began to fire at us and at him too killed his horse the first shot and he had to travel afoot out the way double quick and we was not slow following him the rebels hollored to our pickets afterwards and said they did not mind us chopping wood in our lown lines but comming inot their lines and chopping was puting on to much cheek. there is going to be a man shot here to day for threatening to shoot an Officer everything is quiet here now only a sollid shot or a shell comes through the camp howling and kicking up a dust now & then. we are going to work the afternoon making abattis to put in front of forts. Col. Daniel went home to Providence on ten day leave of absence two or three days ago. I dont know of any more to write at Present so good by write soon as you get this letter From your
Son
Geo A Spencer
Co I 7 R I V
1st Brig 2d Div 9 A C
Washington
[Sketch on Back Page of Letter]

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