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.

Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to his aunt

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.097 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 January 1866 Pagination: 2 p. ; 20 x 25.5 cm. Order a Copy

Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). Reports that he has received orders to be mustered out of service. Plans to meet up with the regiment at City Point but hhas to stay behind temporarily. The other soldiers were sorry he had to remain and some wished to stay with him until he could leave.

Before joining the service, Painter was a trained printer from Danville, Pennsylvania. He was mustered as a private into F Company of the 58th Pennsylvania infantry on 8 October 1861 and transferred to I Company on 1 March 1862. While in I Company, he was promoted to Sergeant and eventually mustered out on 21 January 1866 as First Lieutenant. Painter also held a post as Quartermaster's clerk, and performed freedman duties shortly after the war ended.

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900
Frick, Rebecca, fl. 1803-1862

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources