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.

Paul, Miles W. to Celicia Paul

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03058.08 Author/Creator: Paul, Miles W. Place Written: Camp Humphrey, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 February 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 26.7 x 20.1 cm Order a Copy

Paul informs his wife that he is well and is glad that she is not working outside of the home any more because he was afraid for her health. He notes that her employers were kind to hire her and treated her well, and that he is glad that she bought herself some new clothes. Paul then asks her to send him a box and reminds her to send it via the Captain because the guard opens all other mail. Paul informs Celicia that he went on picket (group missions scouting for the enemy) for a week and that they suffered muddy conditions. Finally, Paul assures his wife that he will have enough money to buy new clothes upon his return, and he names a deserter in his company, Jacob Painter.

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