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.

Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) to Henry Jackson Hunt

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 #: GLC02382.028 Author/Creator: Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter Date: 17 May 1864 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20.1 x 13 cm. Order a Copy

United States Military telegram. Reports the arrival of ammunition during Wilderness campaign. Written in pencil.

A wealthy farmer who had traveled through Europe and studied artillery there, Charles S. Wainwright put his knowledge to good use during the Civil War. He spent the beginning of the war drilling his batteries and on a board weeding out incompetent artillery officers. Taking part in the Peninsular campaign he was promoted to command the regiment after the death of Colonel Guilford Bailey at Seven Pines. On leave at the time, he missed the Seven Days but served creditably at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. He had already received a brevet brigadier generalship in 1864 for the campaign to that point when he was mustered out on 21 June 1865. Hunt served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.

Wainwright, Charles Sheils, 1826-1907
Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources