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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 #: GLC03523.06.10 Author/Creator: Fairchild, Lewis D. (b. 1829) Place Written: City Point, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 December 1864 Pagination: 6 p. : envelope ; 18.6 x 22.9 cm. Order a Copy

Fairchild writes to his wife from a camp near City Point, Virginia. Reports that he has been in the hospital with rheumatism and is pleased with his care. Informs he is doing picket duty on the Appomattox River and mentions seeing Rebels. Wishes for a furlough, but knows only wounded men will get one. Advises his daughter Eunice to stay home to study and help her mother. In a postscript, writes he is sending his badge in the letter, "so in case we are wounded or killed they will know to what corps we belong to." A double sided page of the letter is in three pieces. A few lines are missing.

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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