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.

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03518 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 11 April 1787 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.6 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Writes in full, "This will inform you, that your friend is the most wreched [sic] man on earth, in consequence of your Letter of the 4th Inst. recd. by the post this Evening - derange - disband - return to private life again - great gad it is too much - I cannot think of it, without distraction, and my mind is embarrased [sic] without description - point to yourself every thing, and it will fall far short, of my feelings on this occation [sic], as more than every thing that is dear to me is involved in this business - I dare not trust on paper what I would wish to say to you - it is cruel - my heart is too full to proceed." He is referring to Congress's proposed disbandment of his regiment or of the troops in general.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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