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 his aunt

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.072 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Chaffin's Farm, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 December 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Reminisces about the past year and his fallen comrades. Is hopeful that the regiment will be able to return to Pennsylvania "to reap the fruits of war which is peace." Thanks Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Sheridan for their victories and hopes that African Slavery will be "blotted from the institutions of the country as an evil not necessary to the peace but rather to the division of the country." Wishes his aunt and family many blessings for the new year.

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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