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.

West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) to R. West

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.77 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Place Written: Aboard USS "Fernandina" at St. Catherine's, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 November 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 24.6 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Says he received coffee, but no letter from her. Says the admiral is not accommodating to the mails, as they sit for weeks at Port Royal. Tells the story of three refugees who said they were from the North. Gave an account of Macon, where they came from. They confirmed the reports of "barbarous treatment" at Andersonville. Says "They saw the place of confinement ... where thousands of men were confined in an open field with no shelter from the weather and lying in mud knee deep." Says such things should make men who say "peace at any price" rethink their ideas. Says the Union is lucky to have "Sherman's stern, relentless, character to deal with these people." Says the war is God's punishment to America for "temporizing with slavery." Continues letter on 8 November. Is shocked that McClellan has so much support in the North. Says they are living a tedious life where they are. Sends a short list of provisions he would like. Is trying to smoke a pipe instead of cigars, but is having a tough time with it.

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