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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.

Bell, Grove L. to home friends

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08913.11 Author/Creator: Bell, Grove L. Place Written: Camp Hope Landing Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.8 x 26.6 cm. Order a Copy

Received their letter the night before last; would have answered earlier but has had a lot to do. Had a lot of fun bathing and fishing. Recently fought at Chancellorsville. "Anything but fighting for me" after the horror of his first battle. Soldiers used to really want to see a battle, but not anymore. "They have all got enough of it." Vouches for the courage of his compatriots, saying that they would not have retreated had the order not been given. Several of his fellow troops were maimed. One, Herman, lost his leg from below the thigh. Cad, their commander, is trying to get a furlough because "the fight sickened him."

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

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