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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.

Holly, William H. (d. 1864) to Mary Ann Davis

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02165.16 Author/Creator: Holly, William H. (d. 1864) Place Written: New Iberia, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 December 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.1 x 12.7 cm. Order a Copy

Written to a friend. Talks of a Colonel Merritt suspected of stealing from his regiment's mail, and a man accused of the same thing sent to Ship Island. Expresses hope for coming home in 11 months, but acceptance that, of course, he could die. Describes a march in a tremendous thunderstorm, and comments sarcastically that General William Franklin "and other generals would have thought if they had heard the conversation that night that they were thought highly of by the men of their command." Finally, asks Mary to send him a needle kit and says he includes stamps for postage.

William H. Holly was mustered into the "E" Co. CT 12th Infantry on 11/19/1861. He died a prisoner of war on 12/11/1864 at Salisbury, NC. N.B. Holly spells his name "Holley."

Holly, William H., ?-1864
Mouton, Alfred, 1829-1864
Franklin, William Buel, 1823-1903

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