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.

Hess, Luther Martin (fl. 1862-1864) [Diary of Luther Martin Hess]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09353 Author/Creator: Hess, Luther Martin (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: s.l. Type: Diary Date: 1862-1864 Pagination: 170 p. ; 19.6. x 12.2 cm. Order a Copy

Diary of soldier in 93rd Illinois Infantry, Co. G. Took part in Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta campaigns, and Sherman's "March to the Sea." Vivid writing throughout, some daily, some retrospectively. Confronted with the prospect of death during the Vicksburg campaign, Hess writes, "I trust in God that he will not permit me to be slain by the enemy which is now before us, my daily prayer is for Gods power to be with me."

Needs decimilization.

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