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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.

Guernsey, Alfred H. (1824-1902) to John B. Marchand

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02680.08 Author/Creator: Guernsey, Alfred H. (1824-1902) Place Written: Franklin Square, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 December 1858 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 20.2 x 12.4 cm. Order a Copy

Encloses documents relating to the Paraguay Expedition, a naval voyage Marchand is about to take to Argentina to explore various waterways. Encloses "the sheets of 'La Plata,' as far as printed, together with the map." Also encloses an article from "Harper's Magazine, containing an abstract of some of the most important points of the Exploration." Encloses duplicate copies for Captain Thomas Jefferson Page, who was also on the expedition. Guernsey was the editor of Harper's Weekly.

Alfred H. Guernsey was the editor of Harper's Weekly.
Thomas Jefferson Page was an officer in the United States Navy. In 1855 he captained the U.S.S. Water Witch on an voyage to survey rivers in South America. During that journey the Water Witch was fired upon, and it was in response the this event that the Paraguay expedition was sent. Page participated in the Paraguay expedition, again as captain of the Water Witch. Later became a Commodore in the Confederate Navy.
John B. Marchand was an officer in the United States Navy. He captained the steamer "Memphis" during the Paraguay expedition, served as Captain of the U.S.S. Lackawanna during the Civil War, later promoted to Commodore.

Guernsey, Alfred H. (Alfred Hudson), 1824-1902
Marchand, John Bonnett, 1808-1875
Page, Thomas Jefferson, 1808-1899

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