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.

Hampton, Wade (1818-1902) to Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02459.11 Author/Creator: Hampton, Wade (1818-1902) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 October 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.6 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy

Hampton acknowledges previous correspondence from General Beauregard, commander of a corps in the [Confederate] Army of the Potomac. Regarding fords on the Occuquan River, states "I should prefer to make a thorough personal examination of Bland's ford, with the roads leading to, & from it, before expressing my definitive conclusion as to the best position on the river. I venture however to make one suggestion ... unless the fords of Wolf Run & Davis are guarded, if my command is withdrawn from Bacon Race Church, there will be an unobstructed road to Brentsville & Bristol. I will examine the county & report to you in person, as soon as possible. I would do so today, but that I am making a road to get my Battery in to Cockpit Point..." Written at Camp Connor.

Hampton was noted for personally raising and equipping the Hampton Legion, a force of infantry, cavalry and artillery, during the Civil War.

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893
Hampton, Wade, III, 1818-1902

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