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.

Smith, Edmund K. (1824-1893) to John Hunt Morgan

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01049 Author/Creator: Smith, Edmund K. (1824-1893) Place Written: Lexington, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 September 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 17 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Ordering Morgan to defend Nicholasville and Bryantsville, near Lexington, Kentucky. Written in pencil.

John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate Colonel, later promoted to Major General, who was famous for his raids into Northern territory.

[excerpt]
... If your command has not moved, in obedience to my instructions, to cover the passage of Dick River at King's Ferry, you will relieve Col Scotts command in front of Nicolasville & will cover the approach to that place falling back towards Bryantsville when [pressed] by the enemy. Direct everyone connected… to leave Lexington immediately for this place. Coln Scott on being relieved will proceed immediately to this point & report to Gen Bragg…

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864
Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources