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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.

Terry, Robert B. (fl. 1861-1865) to Louisa B. Terry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.08.92 Author/Creator: Terry, Robert B. (fl. 1861-1865) Place Written: Alexandria, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 February 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20 x 25 cm. Order a Copy

Relays to his sister "Lou," that he is not fond of writing letters and that he makes them all "as short as possible. In fact we have no news that the world does not know and it is wasting both time and labor writing a whole rigamarole of nonsense." Reports that he thinks there will be a draft in Philadelphia. Writes "but as far as I'm concerned I do not care how often they draft in the City for I would like to see some the pretty boys there drafted for three years or sooner Kill." Discusses not having enough shirts to wear, stating about the two shirts that he does have, "I manage to stick to them both like Grim death to a dead nigger for the simple reason that I cannot better myself."

Robert Terry enlisted on 4 June 1861 as a Private. He was mustered into "K" Co. PA 36th Infantry. He was discharged on 27 April 1865.

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865
Terry, Louisa B., fl. 1861-1865

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