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.

Gardner, W. W. (fl. 1865) [General Order No. 21 regarding the education of African American troops]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04219.01 Author/Creator: Gardner, W. W. (fl. 1865) Place Written: Dickson, Tennessee Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 2 June 1865 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.7 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy

Issued by W. W. Gardner as Assistant Adjutant General based on the orders of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Stone. Orders that school will be held instead of company drills. States that classes will be taught by men within each company, and that soldiers may buy their books individually, or the company commander will purchase the books from the company fund. Declares "the surest and only step to a respectable life as Freemen, is intelligence. The best way to win the respect of all and to render themselves worthy of the right which Freemen confers, is for every man to acquire the best Education he can. Let it be deemed a disgrace for any man in the Reg't. to leave the Service without at least, knowing how to read." Created in Smeedsville, the original name of Dickson, Tennessee.

Gardner, W. W., fl. 1865
Stone, Henry, fl. 1864-1865

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources