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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.

Welles, Edmund (fl. 1864) to Sarah Ogden

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06559.093 Author/Creator: Welles, Edmund (fl. 1864) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 February 1864 Pagination: 5 p. : envelope ; 26 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Writes from "Head Quarters A" of Potomac Signal Corps." Says the news of the Broad and Cherry Hospital's closing saddens him and other grateful wounded soldiers. Notes he is sorry to "learn of Miss Peterson's accident." Tells Ogden that he saw Sergeant Perkins, who has been promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant and has reenlisted for three more years. Perkins is now traveling home for recruiting purposes. Describes camp life, stating that women would be appalled at the way the soldiers live. Says he is unable to send Ogden a photograph at present, but he will send her a "Substitute." Mentions that he misses his home, but feels sad for those who "shall not return." He is now stationed at a camp overlooking the Rebel Camps, and he can "see them playing ball and in all the sports incident to a Camp life."

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.

Ogden, Sarah Morris Perot, 1831-1912

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