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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.

Reynolds, William (1815-1879) to Thomas H. Patterson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01007.03 Author/Creator: Reynolds, William (1815-1879) Place Written: Port Royal Harbor, South Carolina Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 20 June 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.8 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy

From Commander Reynolds of the USS "Vermont" to Commander Patterson of the USS "James Adger." By order of Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, Reynolds sends officers and crew of the captured CSS "Atlanta" to the "James Adger." Says a list is enclosed (see GLC01007.05). Reynolds adds a short note saying six of the wounded men as well as the ship's surgeon and hospital steward remain on the "Vermont" and that their names are not on the list. Written on blue paper. Reynolds was promoted to rear admiral in 1873.

The CSS "Atlanta" was an ironclad ram stationed at Savannah, Georgia until 16 June 1863 when the Commander William Webb steamed downriver to attack Union monitors in the blockade. It was run aground and forced to surrender. Webb remained a prisoner until he was exchanged on 18 October 1864. The capture was widely publicized in Northern newspapers.

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