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.

Ashe, John (1721-1781) to Benjamin Lincoln

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02497.02 Author/Creator: Ashe, John (1721-1781) Place Written: South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 February 1779 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.1 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Brigadier General Ashe to Major General Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Says nothing extraordinary has happened. Reports that Colonel Lythe's light infantry advanced to take possession of the pass at the lower bridge and that he hopes to join him there soon. Said party that was sent after the field piece he mentioned in his previous letter to Lincoln returned in the evening. Says General Elbert came upon a wagon that was overset and that they found a "cohorn" (a small mortar) and several chests, but left them behind because it was not convenient to bring them back. Says report of the lower bridge on Brier Creek being destroyed is true. Ashe was surprised and defeated by General Augustine Prevost at Brier Creek on 4 March 1779, and he left the army afterward.

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