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 and Lydia Jane Wood

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02176.22 Author/Creator: Wood, Matthew (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: Chattanooga, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 October 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.1. x 25.1 cm. Order a Copy

Written from Chattanooga, Tennessee to his wife and daughter. Talks of reuniting with a friend from home named Dempsy. Speculates his regiment will move on to Atlanta. Is too ill to ride, so in free time will have another likeness taken with money obtaining by selling his watch. Says some men took a tour up Lookout Mountain, which presents "a perfect scenery." Discusses the popular conception concerning the 1864 election, saying "I dont think like some of our McCllelan men do that" believe the Confederates "will fight us four year longer if Old Abe is reelected."

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

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