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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.

Smith, Asa to sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03696.10 Author/Creator: Smith, Asa Place Written: Camp Hamilton, Hampton, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 October 1861 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.4 x 12.7 cm. Order a Copy

to sister He says there is nothing new to report except the arrival of more troops. One of the soldiers in Company C deserted and will either run to the "secesh camp" or be shot if he returns. He praises Colonel Wyman for his character, saying
"for my part, I like him better every day." There are many ships in the shipyard, including a cigar company boat that is being used by the military. He received a letter from Wallace [his brother who enlisted in the Mass. 22nd], and Wallace is in good spirits. Numbered in pencil "18."

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