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.

Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) to Joseph M. Maitland

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.082 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Reports that the draft will begin in Kingston the following week. Discusses Morgan's Raid, noting "At last accounts Morgan and his men were still pursuing his course without much interruption." Complains that [Lieutenant Colonel] Benjamin P. Runkle was appointed by the Ohio Governor, David Tod, to stop Morgan with a militia force of three or four thousand, but so far Runkle has failed. Writes, "I cannot understand it why some men are permitted to enjoy ease and emolument while others have to suffer and endure so much hardship." Mentions the "3 days fighting at Gettysburg." Continues on about the soldier's life, "I am sorry to hear that you will have to pay for those clothes burnt by the orders of your Superior Officers. On what grounds will you have to pay... I think it a great outrage that the soldier is in obedience to his Superior Officers Commands have to perform duties and then have to pay for it; but the soldiers have many hardships to endure for his country..."

Joseph Maitland enlisted on 8 August 1862 as a private. He was mustered into "G" Co. OH 95th Infantry. He was mustered out 31 May 1865 at Memphis, Tennessee.
During his July 1863 raid through Ohio and Indiana, Confederate General John H. Morgan captured supplies and soldiers, disrupted railroads, and destroyed bridges. Symbolically, Morgan's Raid was terrifying to many who feared Southern invasion of Union soil.

Maitland, Joseph M., 1839-1918
Maitland, James M., 1815-1864
Runkle, Benjamin Piatt, 1837-1916
Tod, David, 1805-1868
Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources