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.

Donahue, Thomas (fl. 1863) to Almira Winchell

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04706.10 Author/Creator: Donahue, Thomas (fl. 1863) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 July 1864 Pagination: Order a Copy

Written from camp "in front of" Richmond. Discusses the Battle of the Crater. Describes the attempt of the 9th Army Corps to mine under a rebel fort, blow it up and break the Confederate line at Petersburg. Donahue's battery offered supporting fire after the explosion took place. Describes the charge, capture of the fort by a black regiment, and the fort's recapture. Writes, "All that I am Sorry for is that the Rebs did not Capture every nigger there was there and Shoot them for I think that we have got white men enough in the north to fight our battles..."

Winchell, Almira, fl. 1862-1865
Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

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