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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.

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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04558.072 Author/Creator: Tillotson, George W. (fl. 1830-1918) Place Written: Newport News, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 March 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.5 x 11.5 cm. Order a Copy

Inspection, cleaning his equipment and scrubbing his buttons; jokes about needing lectures from his wife "Maybe I am a sesech Democrat, but dont know guess [sic] I am straddle of the fence mit [sic] one foot on both sides." Expresses skepticism about the war's early end.

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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