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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.

Hogeland, Sally W. (fl. 1861-1865) to her brother

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.42.58 Author/Creator: Hogeland, Sally W. (fl. 1861-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 May 1865 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.2 x 25.2 cm. Order a Copy

Apologizes for not having written in such a long time. They hope that no harms comes to him during the what seems to be the last days of the war. She knows that he is looking forward to coming home. Hopes that there will be no more lives lost as it seems the war is almost over. Writes that Ezra had typhoid fever and his recovery seemed unlikely. He was so sick that he required "watchers" during the night. Writes that he could not do any work for two months. He is feeling "smart" now and is preparing to plant his corn. Writes that she has not been feeling well either and that her eyes were "sore." She wishes that she could hear from him more as friends and family have been asking about him and his status. She wonders when they will all be together again. Asks that he continue to write to her so she can keep track of him. Writes that she has not seen Amanda since the funeral of Willard Fuller. Wonders how much more death they will have to suffer through before they meet again.

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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