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.

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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.14.45 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus (fl. 1839-1913) Place Written: New Iberia, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 November 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 12.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to "friend Ida." Says that the weather is getting cold, and the men need new clothes and tents. Although their captain is strictly against foraging, Damuth says "he dont know all that is going on in Co D Dave dont care how much the boys forage he dont belive in the boys going hungry." Stops writing for a moment because "the boys are yelling Dolph come and draw our whiskey it has come." Enjoys being orderly of the company very much. Talks about the men who are being drafted and writes that "I wish thear was no such thing as thear getting rid of it by paying $300." Of the dearth of young men back home in Wisconsin, Damuth writes "I think that our neighborhood is about run ashore for young folks." Reminisces about the squad a year ago: of the twelve original men, only four remain.

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