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.

Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield (1834-1864) to James Oliver Churchill

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02464.14 Author/Creator: Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield (1834-1864) Place Written: Natchez, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 29.2 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Asks Captain Churchill to forward by express a package of shirts, remarking that he is very much in need of them. Writes, "We are occupying this delightful place, been here for ten days- captured some 50 prisoners- 5000 Texas beef cattle marked C.S.A. an ordnance train for Kirby Smith 1800 head sheep for C.S.A. & cotton & sugar for C.S.A..." (possibly referring to Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith). Contains two autograph notes on verso. The first is written in pencil by an ordnance sergeant who was detailed with Churchill. Writes, "We make it a point to serve the boys below in any way possible hence the package in Churchill's care from Knickerbocker & [Bedend?] who were proprietaries of the St Charles Hotel or Cairo. Was saved by me as a Relic of the dark days..." Unsigned and date is not indicated. The second note is signed by Lewis G. Parker, dated 23 April 1884. Parker writes that he received this letter from H. M. Parker of Blissfield, Michigan, with a full length photograph of Ransom. Writes, "This letter, large and small Picture of Genl Ransom ought to go to my heirs when our order no longer has need for same, this is my earnest wish and desire."

Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield, 1834-1864
Churchill, James Oliver, 1835-?
Kirby-Smith, Edmund, 1824-1893
Parker, Lewis G., fl. 1884
Parker, H.M., fl. 1863

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