Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

Tributes to Breathed, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Immediate Source of Acquisition

From the Hart Collection.

Biographical / Historical

Major James Breathed was born near Berkeley Spring, WV. in 1838. He graduated from the University of Maryland Medical School and served as a lieutenant in the 1st Virginia Cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart, and later as a major in Stuart's Horse Artillery. After the war ended he returned to Maryland to live with his sister and practice medicine. Breathed died in 1870 and is buried in St. Thomas Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Scope and Contents

Card from the Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia with well wishes for Major James Breathed, wounded and incapacitated for active duty in the Civil War. Robert E. Lee commended him for "valuable services" and good conduct. Other generals such as Wade Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee, J. E. B. Stuart, W. C. Wickham, Thos. L. Rosser, and T. T. Munford commend Breathed for his gallantry and bravery. Robert E. Lee also wrote "with an army of Breatheds I could have conquered the world."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• American Civil War, 1861-1865