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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.

Fairchild, Lewis D. (b. 1829) to Sephronia Fairchild

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.06.08 Author/Creator: Fairchild, Lewis D. (b. 1829) Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 October 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 24.9 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

Fairchild writes to his wife from camp "right in front of Petersburg," Virginia. Writes about heavy fighting; "our boys mowed the Rebels down like wheat" and took two thousand prisoners. Reports that one hundred volunteers charged and captured a Rebel fort. Comments that the cannon fire intense, noise deafened him for two days. States they are cutting off road and railroad access. Offers his opinion on domestic matters, including the purchase of new chairs and a set of china.

Fairchild enlisted on 4 January 1864 at Exeter, New York as a private. He was mustered into "L" Co. New York 2nd Heavy Artillery.

Fairchild, Lewis D., 1829-?
Fairchild, Sephronia, fl. 1864-1865

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