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.

Meacham, J. W. (fl. 1863) to John G. Walker

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03804.05 Author/Creator: Meacham, J. W. (fl. 1863) Place Written: In the Mouth of the Yazoo River Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 February 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 25.4 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Acting Master's Mate Meacham to Lieutenant Commander Walker. Co-signed by Acting Lieutenant and Executive Officer Jonathan V. Johnston, attesting to the veracity of this letter. Meacham says he ordered Henry Hines to sweep down the boiler casemates to prepare them for whitewashing. Hines refused to follow the order. He was sent to the executive officer who threw him in the brig. Afterward William Fordham also refused the duty, "saying he was not contented while on board this boat."

Walker, John

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