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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.

Fitch, Thomas (1700-1774) to William Johnson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.250.02 Author/Creator: Fitch, Thomas (1700-1774) Place Written: Norwalk, Connecticut Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 22 August 1755 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 23.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Informs Major General Johnson that he ordered "Raising the five Hundred Men voted by the Assembly of this Colony to Re Enforce the Troops under your Command." Indicates that the Assembly will meet next in Hartford to consider further action. Expects Johnson not to wait for the reinforcements and instead have them meet on the road. Also expects the knowledge of forthcoming support will buoy his men.

Fitch was the Royal Governor of Connecticut.
General Johnson helped formulate British policy toward native peoples at the Albany Congress in 1754 and was made superintendent of Iroquois affairs in 1755.
Johnson's 1755 expedition against Crown Point was unsuccessful, but he did defeat the French under Baron Dieskau at Lake George that year and built Fort William Henry.

Fitch, Thomas, 1700-1774
Johnson, William, 1715-1774

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