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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.

Tittle, George A. to his sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02828.12 Author/Creator: Tittle, George A. Place Written: Aboard USS Kearsarge at Brest, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 September 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.2 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy

Says on 7 September while at Funchal, Madeira, they learned the CSS "Florida" was in the English Channel and they immediately started in pursuit of her. Put in to Ferrol, Spain on 14 September for coal. Heard that the "Florida" had gone to Brest, France and they left to intercept her on the 15 September. Says they arrived at Brest on 17 September, where they have blockaded the Confederate ship ever since. Says their length of time there will depend on the movements of the "Florida." Would have written right away, but wanted to wait until he got his mail from Cadiz (it was telegraphed for). Says it arrived today and that he received her letter of 7 August. Wants her to tell their father he apologizes for not writing as often as he should. Thinks that many letters he did write never made it.

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