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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, William Wallace (fl. 1861-1862) to Asa Smith

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03742.04 Author/Creator: Smith, William Wallace (fl. 1861-1862) Place Written: Camp Holmes near Halls Hill, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 November 1861 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.4 x 12.3 cm. Order a Copy

Written by William Wallace Smith to his brother Asa Smith. References Smith's letter to him. Says everyone dives for the Washington papers when they arrive, but that Boston papers have more news on the war in them. Asks him " Do you think an attack is going to be made on Richmond or what are you cutting that road for[?]" Wallace says not much has happened recently except a divisional review by General George McClellan and his staff. Says it rained during the review he got soaked. Reports that "Our pickets brought in a contraband last week. Who was going to be killed by his master for giving notice where the rebels had some arms stowed[.] So he took to his heels and went to the Lincoln cavalry and when they moved they left him behind so he went to our pickets and they brought him in." Goes on to describe the countryside he is in. Says his company and Company A are the best drilled companies in the regiment. Says his captain is cross, but gets some of the "blockheads" in his unit to learn to drill.

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