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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.

Damuth, Dolphus (fl. 1839-1913) to John Damuth

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.14.03 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus (fl. 1839-1913) Place Written: Camp Gill, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 November 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 12.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Encloses his letter of 7 November, which he thought lost, and gives an account of the boat ride across the Mississippi River mentioned in the earlier letter. Tells stories of being on guard duty along the river. The men are nervous and there are repeated scares throughout the night - one soldier shoots at a man who runs away, and two other soldiers accidentally shoot at an ox. Mentions a foraging expedition led by their colonel from which "20 mules 8 horses 2 greys on a buggi 2 loads of corn 4 Sesech prisoners and lots of traps" were brought into camp. Damuth also goes on a foraging expedition to a deserted plantation where he and other soldiers steal livestock and corn. He describes a two hundred acre cotton field behind the house and encloses a piece of cotton for his family.

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