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.

Gillis, John P. (1803-1873) to William H. Dana

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 #: GLC02680.23 Author/Creator: Gillis, John P. (1803-1873) Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript letter Date: 12 March 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 31.7 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy

Copy of a letter to Dana, the first page ordering Dana to patrol specific waterways, the second page giving orders regarding "prizes seized at the Rio Grande." Written on board the U.S.S. Ossipee, commanded by Gillis off Galveston, Texas, during the Union blockade. Dana was a Union Naval officer in command of the U.S.S. Cayuga.

John P. Gillis was a Union Naval officer, and commander of the U.S.S. Ossipee.
William H. Dana was a Union Naval officer in command of the U.S.S. Cayuga.

Gillis, John P., 1803-1873
Dana, William H., fl. 1864
Marchand, John Bonnett, 1808-1875

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources