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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.

Knapp, David Scott, fl. 1839-1864 to David Knapp and Clarissa Knapp

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02669.106 Author/Creator: Knapp, David Scott, fl. 1839-1864 Place Written: U.S.S. Fort Donelson [near Wilmington] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 August 1864 Pagination: 5 p. : envelope ; 31.6 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

This document contains two letters written by David Scott Knapp. In his first letter, Knapp, a sailor on a privateer on blockade duty, writes to his father and mother, describing chasing a blockade runner which escaped them. Knapp's second letter is dated August 10, 1864, and is addressed to only his father. In his letter, Knapp primarily discusses family matters and asks his father to write him longer letters. This letter is accompanied by an envelope postmarked August 12.

Parris, Ned, fl. 1864

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