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.

Alexander, W.S. (fl. 1864) to Charles Morgan Coit

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.291 Author/Creator: Alexander, W.S. (fl. 1864) Place Written: Steamer Ocean Wave Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 June 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy

This is a letter that Coit passed along to his family. The original letter stated the Coit was to receive one can of cherries and one can of milk. The note that Coit added to his family says that the milk and cherries were a generous gift from the visiting reverend.

(USCC office stationary)
Capt Coit
I send you from the stores of the C.C. same with & things by the hands of Chaplain Dr Forest of the 11th CV. 1 can milk & 1 can of cherries - very truly, W.S. Alexander The Rev Mr. Alexander is from Pomfret & visited us in the trenches a few days since. He has been connected with the CC lately & is about returning home. If you meet him in Pomfret this summer you cannot thank him too warmly for the milk & cherries.

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

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