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.

Wood, Matthew (fl. 1862-1865) to Sarah Wood

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 #: GLC02176.19 Author/Creator: Wood, Matthew (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: Atlanta, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 August 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.9 x 24.9 cm. Order a Copy

Talks of cut rations, but says they function better on half rations. Describes somewhat dangerous duty accompanying the engineer, and his duty. Also describes the unreliable news he gets, even when a mile from the action, but says there is a "constant cannonading and skirmishing night and day." Expresses conern that William Tecumseh Sherman is at a standstill in his efforts to destroy Georgia.

Matthew Wood served in the Ohio Ninth Cavalry with Burnside's army in Tennessee, and William T. Sherman's army at the burning of Atlanta and capture of Savannah.

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1861-1865
Wood, Sarah, fl. 1862-1865
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Howard, Oliver Otis, 1830-1909
Kilpatrick, Hugh Judson, 1836-1881

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources