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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.

Clapp, James (fl. 1863) to Leicy M. Clapp

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08508 Author/Creator: Clapp, James (fl. 1863) Place Written: Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 June 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 17.9 x 10.2 cm. Order a Copy

Clapp, a Union soldier, writes from camp near Vicksburg, Mississippi, to his cousin in Franklin Mills, Portage County, Ohio. Describes the battle of Vicksburg to Miss Clapp, stating that the city is surrounded, and that there are gunboats in the Mississippi River. Writes "the rebels agreed to surrender if we wold let three men go that is in there but Gen Grant says he is a going to have the whole of them..." Reports that Confederate soldiers in the city "have nothing to eat but ground peas and a little cow meat i think they will get sick of it bfore long but they are gritty dogs..." Mentions that his rations include hard crackers and coffee. Declares "i dont know if we will go up to the intrenchments to night or not if we have to take the city with the bayonet it will be a hard fight but if they shell them out it will not be so hard on the infantry there is some Ohio troops here..." Mentions [General Morrison?]. Transmitted in an envelope depicting a woman dressed in Union colors. Written on stationery with the song "From the Persian," by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, printed at top.

Clapp, James, fl. 1863
Clapp, Leicy M., fl. 1863
Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907

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