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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.

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877 Confederate Baptist. [Vol. 1, no. 41 (August 12, 1863)]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05959.39.33 Author/Creator: Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877 Place Written: Columbia, South Carolina Type: Newspaper Date: 12 August 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : 50.9 x 33 cm. Order a Copy

A "Letter from Gen. Johnston's Army" in Mississippi details the army's movements and the personal religious experiences of the writer. Reactions to the "Union of Columbia, Bethel, and Salem Associations" from the last issue. An article titled "Immerson Dangerous" responds to another previous article on immersion. A presidential call for a "Day of Prayer" ignites discussion on the sins of Southerners and the need for divine assistance. A section called "Notes on the Times" presents a relatively bleak outlook on the outcome of the War for the South. A woman writes an article titled "Stray Leaves" about the passage of time and the depredations occurring.

The purpose of this journal, according to its first issue, is the advancement of the Baptist denomination in both intelligence and piety, while giving support to the Confederacy. Thousands of copies were distributed to soldiers.

Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence)., 1814-1877
Breaker, Jacob Manly Cantey, 1824-1894

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