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.

Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) To his wife

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.023 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Camp Dickinson, Roanoke Island, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 May 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.5 x 12 cm. Order a Copy

Soldiers leaving on furlough, one of whom "told us that the Dickinson Guards might kiss his [drawing of donkey]...." Describes men pretending sickness to avoid drill, salute for capture of New Orleans. "You must excuse the looks of this sheet for I have had bad luck and had my ink bottle upset twice fooling with the boys."

Tillotson was thirty-one years old when he enlisted as a corporal on November 5, 1861. He mustered in H company of the NY 89th infantry or Dickinson Guards and later promoted to Sergeant. He was discharged on December 18, 1864.

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

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