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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.

Van Nuys, John H. to Samuel Watson Van Nuys

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07687.120 Author/Creator: Van Nuys, John H. Place Written: Franklin, Indiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 January 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20.7 x 13 cm. Order a Copy

Continued criticism of army officers for lack of action: "There is but one way to close this war in a hurry and that is let Congress reduce the pay of all officers to that of Privates, and if they resign put them in the ranks….[y]ou will hear nothing more of 'not ready' which in my opinion is nothing but a plea to fill their pockets with Uncle Sam's gold." Comments on the health of family members and the deaths of two soldiers, and mentions reaction the release of James M. Mason and John Slidell, who had been captured aboard the British steamer Trent.

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