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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.

Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.038 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) Place Written: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 July 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.5 x 25 cm. Order a Copy

Wheeler reminds his family that mail isn't always regular and asks them not to panic if they don't hear from him regularly. Feels that his company would have won the barrel of beer for best drilling had Captain Fields not mixed up his orders. Describes a 4th of July gun salute gone awry. Reports that the company has just received orders to move.

Lysander Wheeler, a farmer from Sycamore, Illinois, enlisted in the Union Army on August 7, 1862 as a private. He was mustered into Company C of the 105th Illinois infantry and later promoted to sergeant. Wheeler was mustered out on June 7, 1865.

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