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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.

Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to Rebecca Frick

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.041 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: New Bern, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 September 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Describes riding on the steamer Thos. Collyer and the pleasure of feeling a cool breeze after being in the hot and dirty streets of New Berne. Also wishes that his Aunt and sister Anna could be with him. Reports of rumors that Longstreet is going to attack New Bern. Feels that Longstreet will be no more successful than A.P. Hill. Believes that if any activity occurs, it will be in Wilmington. Hopes that the Army of the Potomac gets some action during the current good weather. Reports that the health of the company is slowly improving. He requests information about his sister Anna and her possible new job as a housekeeper.

Before joining the service, Painter was a trained printer from Danville, Pennsylvania. He was mustered as a private into F Company of the 58th Pennsylvania infantry on 8 October 1861 and transferred to I Company on 1 March 1862. While in I Company, he was promoted to Sergeant and eventually mustered out on 21 January 1866 as First Lieutenant. Painter also held a post as Quartermaster's clerk, and performed freedman duties shortly after the war ended.

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900
Frick, Rebecca, fl. 1803-1862

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