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.

Sheridan, Philip Henry (1831-1888) to Wesley Meritt

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02297.01 Author/Creator: Sheridan, Philip Henry (1831-1888) Place Written: Charlestown, Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: 28 August 1864 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25.2 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Union General Sheridan, Commander of the Middle Military Division and Army of the Shenendoah, writes to Merritt, Commander of the 1st Division Cavalry Corps. States that General William Woods Averell informed him through a scout that Martinsburg, Virginia (present-day West Virginia) is unoccupied by Confederate troops. Writes: "Send out at early dawn parties in the direction of Bunker Hill if it is possible for them, to get through and ascertain whether or not the enemy's infantry are all moving, or have gone, towards Winchester... Prompt information from you, early in the day, may save my Infantry Columns heavy marches." Written on Headquarters Middle Military Division stationery. Letter and signature in pencil.

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888
Merritt, Wesley, 1834-1910
Averell, William Woods, 1832-1900

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