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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.

Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Untitled

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09369 Author/Creator: Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 October 1871 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy

As Commanding General of the Army, after his return to Army Headquarters in Washington DC from a western trip, re the Great Chicago Fire: "…I was traveling from St. Louis to Louisville Ohio during the terrific fire, which has swept away nearly all of Chicago & could only get snatches of news from the smaller telegraphic officers. I got home yesterday and like all the world am amazed to know what to do."

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