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.

Woolsey, Melancthon B. (1817-1874) to John B. Marchand

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02680.28 Author/Creator: Woolsey, Melancthon B. (1817-1874) Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 6 April 1864 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 31.3 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

Letter enclosing papers [no longer present] regarding "Information obtained from four rebel deserters" and other reports. Written on board the U.S.S. Princess Royal, commanded by Woolsey off Sabine Pass, Texas during the blockading of Confederate ports in that area. Woolsey commanded the "Princess Royal" in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. After the war, he commanded the Navy Field at Pensacola, where he died from yellow fever.

Melancthon B. Woosley was an officer in the United States 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.

Marchand, John Bonnett, 1808-1875
Woosley, Melancthon Brooks, 1817-1874

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