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.

Cocke, Philip St. George (1809-1861) to Thomas Jordan

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02457.02 Author/Creator: Cocke, Philip St. George (1809-1861) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: July 28, 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 15.3 x 19.4 cm. + 1 engraving ; b&w ; 23.5 x 17 cm Order a Copy

One week after commanding the fifth brigade at the Battle of First Manassas, Colonel Cocke writes to Jordan, Assistant Adjutant General of the forces at Manassas Junction. States "Capt Langhorne's troop, the only cavalry with my command- leaves this morning- I shall therefore be absolutely without the means of communication with Head Quarters & with other Commands- And without cavalry pickets in our flank - I shall be glad if you will hasten the ordering of the promised troops to operate with my Brigade." One bust engraving of Cocke included as collateral.

First Manassas (also known as First Bull Run) was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia during the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory.

Cocke, Philip St. George, 1809-1861
Jordan, Thomas, 1819-1895

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