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.

Scarborough, William H. (fl. 1862-1865) to Father

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02173.06 Author/Creator: Scarborough, William H. (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: Holmes Plantation, LA Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 April 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 14 x 21.7 cm. Order a Copy

It is his birthday and he is 24. He would love to be at home but he understands how necessary it is for him to be here. He expects a battle soon and he hopes a speedy peace to follow.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources