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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.

Bishoff, Lydia A. The Copperhead Song

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.40.31 Author/Creator: Bishoff, Lydia A. Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph manuscript Date: 1861-1877 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32.3 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

The poem describes "the southern copper head/It's head is big its heart is black/In treacherous deeds there will nothing lack." The author discusses the possibility of "desert[ing] this glorious union cause and join[ing] the rebel side," but concludes that, "We would rather die than thus disgrace our flag in dicksies land."

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