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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 sister and family

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.061 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) Place Written: Nashville, Tennesee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 November 1863 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm. Order a Copy

Comments on the rainy weather and muddy conditions. Reports that the troops were reviewed by General R.S. Granger. He writes that the men put their best appearance on for the general and made a very good impression. Wheeler remarks that he's glad that the Methodist Ministers have taken the oath "if for nothing else but to sift out the miserable copperheads" (referring to Illinoisian Democratic Methodist ministers that sympathized with the South). Wheeler writes that there is no prospect of leaving Nashville. He also writes that the men don't belong to any specific army corps or division, but are classed as Ward's Independent Brigade. Referring to General Ward as "papa" he writes: "papa has been so much longer in the service than these mushroom generals that he won't report to them."

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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