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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.

Hayes, Rutherford Birchard (1822-1893) to Eliakim P. Scammon

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02414.009 Author/Creator: Hayes, Rutherford Birchard (1822-1893) Place Written: Camp Reynolds Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 January 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 24.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses the deployment of three companies to Gauley Mount, West Virginia. Gives his ideas on what the troops should do and comments, "I mention this because I doubt the safety and the utility of posting a small force at Gauley Mountain." Mentions that a Colonel Hatfield has claimed an older commission than Hayes and he says this is not true. "No new Colonel must be put over me without a full Consideration of sundry matters..."

Hayes served in the Civil War in the 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment as Lt. Colonel, Colonel, and rose to the rank of brevet major general. Between 1867 and 1876 he served three terms as Governor of Ohio, and was elected President in 1876. Scammon was commissioned colonel of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry in June 1861. He was promoted to brigadier general October 15, 1862 and commanded the District of Kanawha until February 3, 1864 when he was captured and held as a prisoner of war until August 3, 1864. In the last months of the war, he commanded the District of Florida.

Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893
Scammon, Eliakim Parker, 1816-1894

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