Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Henry Miller Letter, October 13, 1861
Civil War
Letter from Miller to a friend, talking about camp life and activities, including cutting down trees.
Miller, Henry
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence
Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech
kad
Permission to publish material from the Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, Ms2013-029 must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
English
Letters
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Melville P. Nickerson Letter, September 21/24, 1861
Letter from Nickerson to his sister, detailing recent activities of the regiment, letters received, and travels through Boston.
Nickerson, Melville P.
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Abraham Penman Letter, October 13-14, 1861
Letter from Penmen to his wife, describing camp life and the large numbers of incoming soldiers.
Penmen, Abraham
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Jeremiah C. Rappleyea Letter, February 16, 1862
Letter from Rappleyea to his mother, describing current and future regiment movements and plans to send money when he gets paid.
Rappleyea, Jeremiah C.
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Peter Stewart Letter, September 18, 1861
Letter from Stewart to his sister, discussing the difficulties of the regiment, several skirmishes, and his hopes to return home soon.
Stewart, Peter
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Reuben Turrill Letter, March 7, 1862
Letter from Turrill to his aunt and uncle, describing brigade drills, upcoming orders, and the life of a soldier.
Turrill, Reuben
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Abraham Van Fleet Letter, September 10, 1861
Letter from Van Fleet to his parents, describing daily duties and being fired upon by Rebel cannons.
Van Fleet, Abraham
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Abraham Van Fleet Letter, September 30, 1861
Letter from Van Fleet to his parents, discussing how they took rebel entrenchments.
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence, 1861-1862 (Ms2013-029), Jonathan [unknown] Letter, August 26, 1861
Letter from a soldier named Jonathan (the last name is illegible) to "Sallie," about her desire to visit him, the poor health of soldiers in his regiment, and their impending advance to Washington, DC.
Diary, Charles O. Poland, 1864 (Ms2008-013)
This is the diary of Charles O. Poland, a private in Company B, 142nd Ohio Infantry (National Guard) during the Civil War, was a resident of Knox County, Ohio. Born around 1836, he was the husband of Angeline Disney (daughter of William A. and Mary Jane Lampson Disney) and the father of several children. Census records indicate that Poland was a farmer; documents within this collection indicate that Poland was also certified to teach in Morrow and Knox counties prior to the war. The 142nd Ohio National Guard was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio and mustered into service for 100 days on May 12, 1864. On May 14, the regiment proceeded to Martinsburg, West Virginia, where it drilled until May 19, when ordered to Fort Lyon, Virginia, from which it served guard duty in the Washington D. C. area. On June 5, the regiment was ordered to the front and arrived on June 9 at White House Landing, Virginia, where it was dispatched to guard a supply train through the Wilderness to Cold Harbor. From there, the 142nd proceeded to Point of Rocks, about five miles from Petersburg, Virginia. The regiment participated in the early siege of Petersburg through August 19, when it was ordered back to Washington, D.C., thence to Camp Chase, where it was mustered out on September 2, 1864. The diary's entries commence on June 15, 1864, with Knox already in the rifle pits before Petersburg. He writes of being detailed to destroy Confederate breastworks, erect fortifications, and fell trees as battles raged nearby. Elsewhere he mentions having seen generals Grant and Burnside, the gunboats on the James River, the discovery of a cache of buried silver and gold by a New York regiment while hunting for fishing worms, and the trading of hardtack for tobacco between the lines. Throughout the diary, Poland notes many days on picket, and the state of the fighting around Petersburg. On July 20, Poland developed a fever, and the final four entries, concluding with July 31, are devoted to the condition of his health. Also within the diary are a few entries regarding pre- and post-war personal financial transactions.
Poland, Charles O.
See the Finding Aid for the Charles O. Poland Diary
1864
Permission to publish material from the Charles O. Poland Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Charles L. C. Minor Cash Book and Edward P. Harmon Civil War Diary, 1860-1864 (Ms2008-081)
Faculty
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College
cash book maintained by Confederate Captain Charles L. C. Minor from 1860 to 1864. Also contained within the cash book's pages are diary entries of Union Army Private Edward P. Harmon (5th Maine Infantry) during May and June, 1864. Research materials on the two soldiers (including photocopies of maps, muster rolls, census records, and an image of Harmon) and a complete photocopy of the piece are also included. The small volume of 68 pages, bearing on its spine the embossment "cash book," was retained for its intended use by Captain Minor, its original owner, to carefully record personal expenditures and savings. Minor's records commence with November 6, 1860 and end on May 4, 1864. In recording these financial transactions, Minor provides details regarding his daily whereabouts and activities. He records meal and travel purchases, as well as amounts paid to individual servants, expenses for personal and household items, services, and military gear. Also recorded within the book are Minor's bank transactions for 1861-1862, a list of silver wedding gifts received by Fanny Cazenove Minor, and a list of stocks and bonds held by Minor. The cash book was among materials seized by Federal troops in the act of destroying the rail line and depot at Hewletts Station, Virginia on May 25, 1864, and came into the possession of Private Harmon, who used it as a diary. (As the first diary entry predates the volume's capture by three weeks, we may surmise that the early entries were made retrospectively or that they were copied from another book.) Harmon's first entry, for May 2, finds his regiment having just crossed the Hazel River and preparing to cross the Rapidan. Soon, Harmon describes fearful, endless shelling by "cast iron hummingbirds" during the Battle of the Wilderness. Harmon briefly mentions African American troops, Confederate prisoners of war, and camp rumors. As the regiment marches toward Spotsylvania Court House, Harmon mentions a fire in which many wounded soldiers were killed. He describes heavy fighting and losses at Spotsylvania and at one point questions the actions of the Brigade commander. As his regiment endures battles at North Anna and Cold Harbor, Harmon describes the morale of his comrades ("very much broken up they are tired heartsick &amp; discouraged") and himself ("sick, tired &amp; worn out too night this is our 9th day of slaughter"). Many of the entries center on his brigade's movements and preparations for battles that often fail to materialize. Harmon's diary entries end with June 3, 1864. Following the June 3 entry is a gap, indicating the removal of several pages, and a page of wartime accounts held by Harmon and I. F. Goodwin. The volume also contains two botanical samples, one of which appears to be a collection of four-leaved clovers, tipped into the first two pages.
Minor, Charles L. C. (Charles Landon Carter), 1835-1903
Harmon, Edward P.
See the Finding Aid for the Charles L. C. Minor Cash Book and Edward P. Harmon Civil War Diary
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=47&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fomeka.lib.vt.edu%2Ffiles%2Fthumbnails%2Fspec_forms%2FPubPermission.doc%22%3EPermission+to+publish+material+from+the+Charles+L.+C.+Minor+Cash+Book+and+Edward+P.+Harmon+Civil+War+Diary+must+be+obtained+from+Special+Collections%2C+Virginia+Tech.%3C%2Fa%3E">Permission to publish material from the Charles L. C. Minor Cash Book and Edward P. Harmon Civil War Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=46&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Minor%2C+Charles+L.+C.+The+Real+Lincoln%3A+from+the+testimony+of+his+contemporaries.+2nd+ed.%2C+rev.+and+enl.+%28Richmond%2C+Va.%3A+E.+Waddey+Co.%2C+1904%29.+E457+M66+1904+Civil+War+Spec+%0D%0A%0D%0AMinor%2C+Charles+L.+C.+%22The+old+system+of+slavery%2C+its+compensations+and+contrasts+to+the+present+labor+conditions.%22+Southern+Historical+Society+Papers+30%281902%29%3A+125-129.+E483.7+S76+v.+30+Civil+War+Spec+%0D%0A%0D%0AMinor+Family+Papers%2C+1787-1906%2C+Robert+Alonzo+Brock+Collection%2C+Henry+E.+Huntington+Library%2C+San+Marino%2C+California.+%28microfilm+copy+held+by+Library+of+Virginia%29%0D%0A">Minor, Charles L. C. The Real Lincoln: from the testimony of his contemporaries. 2nd ed., rev. and enl. (Richmond, Va.: E. Waddey Co., 1904). E457 M66 1904 Civil War Spec Minor, Charles L. C. "The old system of slavery, its compensations and contrasts to the present labor conditions." Southern Historical Society Papers 30(1902): 125-129. E483.7 S76 v. 30 Civil War Spec Minor Family Papers, 1787-1906, Robert Alonzo Brock Collection, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California. (microfilm copy held by Library of Virginia)
Diaries
Diary, Richard Colburn, 1861-1863 (Ms2010-010)
The Civil War diary of Richard Colburn, an enlisted soldier of the 12th Infantry of the United States Regular Army attached to the Army of the Potomac. The diary contains entries from December 18, 1861 to February 17, 1863 and details camp life, daily activities, battles, and experience as a prisoner of the Confederate army. It traces Colburn's first days in the army in Iowa and his travel from 14 February 1862 when he left Iowa to his arrival at Fort Hamilton in New York City two days later and his continuing journey to Washington DC. Upon arrival in Washington, Colburn notes that he "put in to help cook." Many of his subsequent entries include brief notations of cooking for the men. Expecting to march to Manassas Junction from Washington, he moved first to Camp California, just outside Alexandria, VA, and from there to Fort Monroe in late March 1862. The 12th Infantry, marching from Fort Monroe, became involved in the Peninsula Campaign, which lasted into July 1862. Coburn refers to "the hard battle between Yorktown and Richmond" (Battle of Williamsburg) on May 5th and makes reference to Big Bethel and Camp Winfield Scott where he was camped. On Friday 27 June 1862, Coburn was engaged in the Battle of Gaines' Mill and writes, "marched off to the left where we had a heavy battle where Maj. Clitz [Henry Boynton Cliz] myself and several others were wounded and taken prisoner by the 5th regiment Va, with some that was not wounded, many killed." The remainder of the diary describes his time in hospital, both Confederate and Union, his eventual release on 15 January 1863, and his trip home. Colburn's last entry is dated 17 February 1863 when he was in Southington, Ohio visiting his sister on his way, presumably, to Iowa.
Colburn, Richard
See the finding aid for the Richard Colburn Diary
Permission to publish material from the Richard Colburn Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Jeffrey T. Wilson Diary, 1913 (Ms2011-015)
Virginia--History
Slavery--United States
African American history
Jeffrey Thomas Wilson (1843-1929) was a former slave who spent most of his life in and around Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia. He outlived four wives and had at least twelve children. Wilson's diaries include entries on a range of topics from local news and politics, race issues in the South, and much of his personal history. The 1913 diary contains extra pages on which Wilson recorded events from that date in the past. According to his obituary, he learned to read and write in secret. Based on his diary, he was the body servant of A[lexander]. P. Grice, likely the son of his owner, who served with Company A, Cohoon's Battalion, Virginia Infantry, at least during a part of 1862. In 1866, after being freed, Wilson enlisted and went to Europe with the U.S. Navy. When he returned home, he lived in the house he inherited from his mother. Wilson worked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, as a laborer, and as a bailiff for the Federal Court at Norfolk. In his later years, from 1924 until his death in 1929, he wrote a column called "Colored Notes" for The Portsmouth Star. The column included social news, Wilson's political views, and issues of race relations--all themes that occur throughout his diaries. Wilson was active in the Emmanuel AME Church in Portsmouth, where he taught Sunday school. In June of 1929, Wilson was hit by a car. He died at his son's home, two months later, on August 25, 1929. Entries for the 1913 diary were kept in a Wanamaker's Diary (produced by the department store chain) actually designed for 1911. As a result, Wilson has hand-corrected the days of the week throughout to reflect 1913. The diary includes advertisements, as well as a history of the Wanamaker stores. In addition to the entries recorded (two to a page), throughout the year, Wilson attached additional pages to continue writing. Many of these consists of reminiscences of his life in previous years on topics from the Civil War, his service in the U. S. Navy, segregation and race issues in Portsmouth and Norfolk, and local news. He also writes of daily events: his family's health, church events, the weather, and his frequent concerns about money.
In addition, the 1913 diary was the subject of a digital exhibit available online.
Wilson, Jeffrey Thomas, 1843-1929
See the Finding Aid for Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries
1913
Permission to publish material from the Jeffrey Thomas Wilson Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Memoirs
Diary, Charles H. Bushee, 1863 (Ms2009-055)
Bushee's diary is an account of his duties and the movements of Company E, 112 th Regiment, New York Infantry, from January to mid-November of 1863. Each entry begins with the phrase "1 day for Uncle Sam" and in the cash accounts in the back of the diary, Bushee refers to his pay as coming from "Uncle Sam." From September of 1862 to June of 1863, the 112 th New York Infantry was stationed in central and eastern Virginia. Bushee writes frequently of picket duty and skirmishes around Franklin, Carville [sic] (likely Carrsville), and Norfolk, Virginia. He also provides some details of the siege at Suffolk in April 1863. In July, the regiment began the trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Bushee reports on the shelling at Fort Sumter from his posts around Fort Wagner, Black Island, and Charleston in August. Although he seems he often notes being ordered to and going to the front, he does not detail his actions there. By September, Bushee's increasing illness begins to dominate his diary. The last eight weeks of entries, ending abruptly on November 18 th, consists of little more than "feel unwell." Bushee died three weeks later. The latter pages of the diary contain detailed cash accounts of Bushee's purchases, as well as a list of dead and wounded from the company, and dates he served on guard and picket duty.
Bushee, Charles H.
See the Finding Aid for the Charles H. Bushee Diary
1863
Permission to publish material from the [collection name] must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Letter, E. D. Wilson to B. L. Brown, Philippi Va. (now WV), February 16, 1849 (Ms2010-060)
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Bosworth family, Randolph County, Va. (now WV)
Bosworth, Squire, Dr.
See the Finding Aid for the Squire Bosworth Papers
Permission to publish material from the Squire Bosworth Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Letter, Unidentified to 'Uncle,' Bridgewater Va., October 6, 1867 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Alfred H. Reiss to Squire Bosworth, Baltimore Md., February 3, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, William H. Richardson to Squire Bosworth, July 17 1859 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, 'Newt' (Squire Newton Bosworth) to 'Friend,' Camp Pegram's Brigade, September 6, 1864 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, William [Ewin?] to B. L. Brown, St. George [WVa.?], August 31, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, J. H. Arbogast to Squire Bosworth, Waynesboro Va., October 14, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, John B. Smith to Squire Bosworth, Waynesboro Va., December 1, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Frank McIntosh to John. W. Bosworth, Richmond County NC., January 1, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, 'John' (John W. Bosworth) to 'Pa' (Squire Bosworth), Baltimore Md., February 22, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Mollie to 'Mr. Bosworth,' Cumberland County Va., February 26, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, M. A. Root to Squire Bosworth, Philadelphia Pa., March 21, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, 'Sister Bee' (Sunny Manse) to 'Bro Newt,' June 29, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Benj. H. Smith to Squire Bosworth, Wheeling WVa., July 21, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Squire Bosworth to E. B. French, Beverly WVa., December 24, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, John W.. Bosworth to 'Pa' (Squire Bosworth), Fishersville Va., September 2, 1867 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, Mollie D. B. to 'Pa,' Philippi WVa., September 20, 1869 (Ms2010-060)
Letter, 'Sister Bee' (Sunny Manse) to 'Bro,' n.d. (Ms2010-060)
undated
Receipt, for Subscription to The Central Presbyterian (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, April, 1869 (Ms2010-060)
Financial records
Receipt, for Subscription to The Richmond Examiner (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, December 4, 1853 (Ms2010-060)
Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, March 12, 1849 (Ms2010-060)
Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, February 25, 1853 (Ms2010-060)
Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, April 4, 1854 (Ms2010-060)
Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, June 11, 1855 (Ms2010-060)
Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, December 9, 1855 (Ms2010-060)
Pay Voucher, for Election Officer, Randolph County Va., 1860 (Ms2010-060)
1860
Bill of Sale for Female Enslaved Person Named Huldah, Randolph County Va., 1848 (Ms2010-060)
1848
Bills
Deed, Granting Squire Bosworth Regional Patent Rights to William H. Babbit's Improvements to the Hillside Plow, Randolph County Va., July 18, 1856 (Ms2010-060)
Deeds
Certificate of Election, Abraham Hulton, Justice of the Peace, Randolph County Va., June 24, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
Certificates
Certificate of Election, Justices of the Peace, Randolph County Va., June 24, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
Summons for Archibald Earl, Witness in Matter of Senter v. Cottell, Randolph County Va., August 6, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
Legal works
Marriage Certificate, Mary M. Chenoweth and Hicman Triplett, Randolph County Va., January 19, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
Marriage License, Chenoweth B. Hart and Rhoda J. Lewis, Randolph County Va., April 25, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
Marriage License, Marshall Schoonover and Eliza Louk, Randolph County Va., May 9, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
Summons, From State of West Virginia, Randolph County to Squire Bosworth, July 10, 1866 (ms2010-060)
A summons ordering Squire Bosworth to appear before a local voter registration board to explain why his name should not be stricken from the local roll of voters.
Medical License, S. Bosworth, Morganstown WV., May 17, 1866 (Ms2010-060)