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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.

Clark, Hank S. (fl. 1861-1865) to Wash

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.42.06 Author/Creator: Clark, Hank S. (fl. 1861-1865) Place Written: Rolla, Missouri Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 September 1861 Pagination: 6 p. ; 21.4 x 26.2 cm. Order a Copy

Written at camp near Rolla, Missouri. He writes that he is in excellent health. General David Hunter has arrived to take command of the post. Many of the troops are sick and the healthy ones are constantly at work. He would like it if Franklin would join the regiment as they are in need of new recurits. Writes that he will teach Franklin the "hooks and crooks" of being a soldier. He would very much like Franklin to join the regiment as he will gain valuable experience and not have to wait while a new regiment is organized. Writes about the health of some of their friends from home. In a post-script he writes some of the names of the men in the regiment.

Franklin W. Fuller from Howard, Illinois enlisted on 14 August 1862 as a Sergeant. He mustered into the I Company of the Illinois 74th Infantry on 4 September 1862. He was mustered out on 10 June 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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