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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 his aunt

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.079 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 April 1865 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Reports on the fall of Richmond and describes the streets of the city as being full of people cheering and playing music in celebration of the "conquering heroes." Writes that the city was burning and various explosions were happening when he arrived there. Comments that the people of the city are "resigned to their lot and submit to the national authority with good grace." The 3rd division, 24th Army Corps were the first to enter the city. Reports on a siege at Petersburg. Has written to his sisters and asks his aunt to tell them to send all correspondence to Fort Monroe. Includes a postscript stating that the letter was written in haste and he is not certain of what he has written. Another postscript note on the first page asks his aunt to include some postage in her next correspondence.

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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