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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.

Blanchard, Ira (b. 1835) to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.31.19 Author/Creator: Blanchard, Ira (b. 1835) Place Written: Carroll Station,Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 November 1862 Pagination: 8 p. ; 19.7 x 23.9 cm. Order a Copy

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Carroll Station. Includes the words of a love song. Describes the "darkies" returning home from the cotton fields with baskets of cotton on their heads. Explains what a cotton gin does and says the cotton fields are beautiful when fully ripe. Discusses the different responsibilities of soldiers and sergeants on guard duty. States part of his Brigade has gone to Boliver, Tennessee and if no attack occurs, Union General Ulysses S. Grant will move them to Holly Springs, Mississippi. Reports peaches are out of season but have been replaced with persimmons, grapes, and many different types of nuts. Remarks Union General George B. McClellan is generally liked but considered slow. Says the removal of Union General Don C. Buell was an excellent idea and he now expects "...stirring events in the West."

Blanchard enlisted 13 June 1861 in Illinois as a Sargeant. He mustered into "H" Co., Illinois, Infantry.

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?
Kellogg, Mary Wright, 1844-1912
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885
Buell, Don Carlos, 1818-1898
Grant, Ulysses S., 1822-1885

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