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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.

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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.82 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Place Written: Aboard USS "Fernandina" at St. Catherine's, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 December 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 24.6 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Says Sherman has reached the coast. Says they have been expecting him and that they were ordered by the admiral to send boats up to the headwaters to get the latest news. Says he spoke to an officer who met up with some of Sherman troops. The officer reported to him that "The country in their rear is like a desert. On starting, the order was given to 'live on the enemy' and it was carried out to the letter." Goes to describe Sherman's situation in detail.

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