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.

Sayles, Sumner (fl. 1862-1868) to Isora Skinkle

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.32.36 Author/Creator: Sayles, Sumner (fl. 1862-1868) Place Written: Memphis, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 July 1864 Pagination: 3p. : envelope ; 20.3 x 25.7 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his sister. Mentions that the men are feeling rowdy for this Fourth of July. Comments that they want to have a good time while they have a chance to. Discusses how bad he felt when heard about Oney's (possible family friend) wife killing herself while Oney was in the army. Writes that it was especially bad since she had so many small children and now there is no one left to take care of them. Request that she writes him back with all the latest news. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

Sumner Sayles enlisted as a private on 9 August 1862. He mustered into "H" Co. IL 95th Infantry. He mustered out on 17 August 1865.

Sayles, Sumner, fl. 1862-1868
Skinkle, Isora fl. 1860-1868

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