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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.

Confederate States of America. Congress. House of Representatives A bill to be entitled an act to increase the efficiency of the army by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08979.04 Author/Creator: Confederate States of America. Congress. House of Representatives Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Printed document Date: 5 January 1864 Pagination: 3 p. ; 24.5 x 15 cm. Order a Copy

Confederate act stating "free negroes and slaves" shall be enlisted to work as teamsters for the Confederate army. "The efficiency of the army is greatly diminished by the withdrawal from the ranks of able-bodied soldiers to act as teamsters...therefore...all free male negroes resident in the Confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be held liable to perform such duties...in the way of work upon fortifications, or in Government works for the production or preparation of material of war, or in military hospitals, as the Secretary of War may from time to time perscribe." They will be fed, clothed, and paid eleven dollars a month. The same laws apply to slaves, except that the payment will go to their owners. With stamp of the war department.

Confederate States of America, 1860-1870

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