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.

Lee, Charles (1731-1782) to Chairman of the Committee of Botetourt

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02486 Author/Creator: Lee, Charles (1731-1782) Place Written: Williamsburg, Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: 19 April 1776 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 12.8 x 21.7 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Major General Lee as commander of the Southern Department. Says the spirit of desertion is on the rise and endangers the safety of the colonies. Requests the committee to exert themselves to secure deserters.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources