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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.

Smith, Melancton (1810-1893) [General order to be read aloud by the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Miami]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02254.20 Author/Creator: Smith, Melancton (1810-1893) Place Written: Albemarle Sound, North Carolina Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 8 June 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 20 x 31.5 cm. Order a Copy

General order to read letter from Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. A transcription of Welles' letter, a response to Smith's report of the action at the Battle of Albermarle is attached. Welles "congratulates all of the Officers and Men of the U.S. Navy who participated in this remarkable contest between wooden gun boats and a formidable armored vessel -- in which the latter was forced to retreat to prevent capture."

Smith, Melancton, 1810-1893
Renshaw, Richard T., 1822-1879
Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

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