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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.

Oves, William (fl. 1862-1896) to his friend

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02829.18 Author/Creator: Oves, William (fl. 1862-1896) Place Written: Aboard USS Young Rover at Fortress Monroe, Hampton Roads, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 December 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 17.8 x 11.5 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to tell him he is doing well. Knows he owes him "that small some," but that he has not been able to draw his pay due to various circumstances until now. Includes the payment with this letter. Wants him to write to inform him that he received it. Says they will stay at Fortress Monroe for about a week and then will sail for Wilmington, North Carolina and expects to stay there all winter. Asks him not to talk to anyone about the money he borrowed. Says he will see Joseph Allen before he leaves. Letter only dated "Dec 12th," but year inferred from content. Wilmington was not taken by Union forces until February 1865.

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