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.

McKinney, Erastus R. (fl. 1851-1904) [Diary of Erastus McKinney]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02179.02 Author/Creator: McKinney, Erastus R. (fl. 1851-1904) Place Written: [various places] Type: Diary Date: 26 January 1862 - 9 June 1862 Pagination: 87 p. ; 15 x 10 cm. Order a Copy

Autograph manuscript signed. Includes reports on Union casualities during the capture of Fort Donelson (fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862 at Stewart County, Tennessee).

Enlisted in the Union Army on 20 August 1861as a Corporal. On 1 September 1861 he mustered into "I" Co. IL 11th Infantry. He was discharged on 20 August 1862. He was a member of GAR Post # 276 (Kirpatrick) in Austin, Illinois. Died on 4 December 1902.

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