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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.

Benham, Tower S. (fl. 1841-1865) to Sarah Ogden

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06559.003 Author/Creator: Benham, Tower S. (fl. 1841-1865) Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 July 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.1 x 12.1 cm. Order a Copy

Writes from camp near Petersburg. Comments on General Ulysses S. Grant, writing "Gen Grant is not the man to rest untill [sic] he acomplishes what he started to do and that I suppose was to take Richmond and Mrs Ogden we are going to take it within two months from Date..." Also says that he no longer supports [General George] McClellan, whom he now believes to be a "Copper Head of the Darkest [Die]..." Includes an embossed seal in the upper left hand corner.

Sarah Perot Ogden was a Quaker from Philadelphia who took part in variety of philanthropic works such as assisting the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America, the Philadelphia Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and President of the Philadelphia Home for Incurables. Both Ogden and her husband, Edward H. Ogden, were strong supporters of the Union cause. During the Civil War Ogden volunteered in a military hospital where she made daily visits. Her husband served as a Union soldier.

Benham, Tower S., fl. 1841-1865
Ogden, Sarah Morris Perot, 1831-1912
Grant, Ulysses S., 1822-1885
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885

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