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.

Ubil, Frederick (fl. 1862-1864) to John Reeser

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.43.01 Author/Creator: Ubil, Frederick (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: Delaware City, Delaware Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 June 1862 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 25.2 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to a friend. Discusses working four miles from Delaware City and having beer and sweet cakes. Enjoys living in Delaware City and going out every Saturday night. Comments "they are the old time democrats true to the union and they think everything that is not for the union is fools…" States they went fishing for "cessesion hering" with "mules tales in their mouths." Mentions that "the old gentleman" heard General Nathaniel Banks was chased into Maryland. Reports that General George B. McClellan took Richmond, Virginia; Corinth, Mississippi was evacuated; and Memphis, Tennessee was taken along with two thousand prisoners. Will send money as soon as he gets it. Talks about crops.

John Reeser enlisted as a Private on 16 July 1864. He was mustered into "B" Co. PA 197th Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on 18 August 1864. He was mustered out on 11 November 1864 at Philadelphia, PA.

Ubil, Frederick, fl. 1862-1864
Reeser, John, fl. 1862-1865
Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885

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