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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.

Slayton, Asa W. to Colonel Stricklan

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03955.05 Author/Creator: Slayton, Asa W. Place Written: Munfordville, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 October 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32.1 x 20.7 cm. Order a Copy

Asa requests the return of a contraband cook by the name of George Washington who left the 25th Michigan under persuasion of officers from the 5th Ohio. [On the same piece of paper is the return letter.]
1863/10/18 Seargon, NJ, Colonel Commily to Asa W. Slayton Commily found George Washington among the 50th brigade. He vows to send him back on the first train in Munfordville. Expresses willingness to arrested the Captain who was harboring Washington and offers Slayton the opportunity to press charges, as he will send the captain to Lamillla for trial.

Asa W. Slayton and Chester M. Slayton were brothers from Grattan, Michigan who served in the 25th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Asa W. Slayton enlisted as a sergeant at age 30 and Chester as a corporal at age 27, the later being promoted to full sergeant on 15 July 1864 during his participation in the Atlanta Campaign. Asa resigned from his position in the army in 1864 and returned to Grattan where he worked a school teacher, farmer and amateur artist. Chester served as a surveyor and draughtsman in the Engineers Department of the 25th Infantry until the end of the war. After being mustered out in June of 1865, he returned to Grattan to live as a farmer.

Slayton, Chester

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