Our Collection

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.

Boston, John W. (fl. 1862-1865) [Collection of Union private John W. Boston] [Decimalized .01- .52]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09315 Author/Creator: Boston, John W. (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Header Record Date: 1862-1865 Pagination: 52 letters Order a Copy

52 articulate letters of Union Pvt. John W. Boston, Company A, 81st Ohio Volunteers, between October 1862 and July 1865. Describes fighting in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign at Corinth and Resaca; also describes the March to the Sea. "[Camp Limy 10/13/62] I would love to come home and see you all before I go to Dixie for when we leave we will soon be in an engagement and in danger but we have to stand our chances with the rest but I go not for the money but for our Government and if I die I die a soldier and not a coward we are to be armed and equipped for the 81 Regiment and I expect to be fighting before 2 weeks….

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