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.

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss (1816-1894) [Quotation by General Banks]

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 #: GLC05869 Author/Creator: Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss (1816-1894) Place Written: New Orleans, Louisiana Type: Autograph quotation signed Date: 4 December 1863 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20.5 x 12.9 cm. Order a Copy

"The sweetest solace that a soldier can receive is to know that the women of his country appreciate his sacrifices, and surrender their hours of leisure and luxury to his care and comfort. The voice of Christian kindness and of love stirs the blood of a warrior like the sound of cannon."

The sweetest earthly solace that a soldier can receive is to know that the women of his country appreciate his sacrifices, and surrender their hours of leisure and luxury to his care and comfort. The voice of Christian kindness and of love stirs the blood of a warrior like the sound of cannon.
N.P. Banks.

New Orleans
4.t December 1863.

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources