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.

Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to sister Kate

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.059 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Bermuda Hundred, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 September 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Has received orders to march at a moment's notice, but does not know where the men are marching to. The regiment is relieved by green troops, which consists of the 209th 211th, and 207th Pennsylvania. He hopes to be back to Bermuda Hundred after they've done what they have been sent to do. Includes a postscript reporting that the soldiers will cross the James River and "give you a good Union victory."

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
Painter, Catherine, fl. 1844-1870

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