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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.

Edwards, Oliver (1835-1904) to Eunice Lombard Edwards

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02163.05 Author/Creator: Edwards, Oliver (1835-1904) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 January 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25.2 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his mother from head quarters, 37th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Notes that he was recently on picket duty on the Rappahannock River, one hundred yards from enemy pickets: "they seemed greatly to enjoy the reading of Jeff Davises' congratulatory order on their victory of Fredericksburgh in so loud a tone that we could easily hear it... but not a gun was fired by either side." Spent New Year's day on picket duty. Declares, "The Government ought to send half this army West and McClellan with it immediately. The Army is in good spirits yet the belief is growing general that the South will eventually achieve their independence and yet we can whip them man to man everytime provided all else was equal. If Richmond is ever taken it will be from the South side." Sends his love to family.

For biographical information pertaining to Oliver Edwards, refer to GLC02163. The 37th Regiment was part of the Army of the Potomac September 1862- July 1864.

Edwards, Oliver, 1835-1904
Edwards, Eunice Lombard, 1797-1875
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885

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