Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Bosserman Family Civil War Letters, Accession 10859, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased on July 26, 1989.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This modest collection of eight letters and letter fragments, 1861-1864, n.d., chiefly pertains to Henry B. Bosserman and Amanda Bosserman and consists of news from relatives and friends in the Virginia counties of Augusta , Highland , and Rockbridge during the Civil War. Among these are indirect references to members of the 5th Virginia Infantry . [Researchers using this collection should note that many of the correspondents and places mentioned in this guide were identified by a manuscripts dealer.]

In his August 7, 1861 letter William B. Bosserman informs Henry Bosserman that he has no tidings but requests "shilling tobacco" and writing pens; William also requests that Henry reply to his letters as "I don't like to write and get no answer." An incomplete letter of September 8, 1861, addressed to Henry as "Dear Brother" complains that the winter has been so hard that clothing is difficult to obtain and there is much sickness in Fisherville ; coffee sells for fifty cents, and bacon is twenty-five cents, per pound, respectively. This correspondent also makes references to not having a husband.

Five of the letters were addressed to Amanda Bosserman from her niece, Francina M. Bosserman , as well as from Mollie Hall and Mollie Lowman . On December 13, 1863, Francina, writing from Kerr's Creek, Rockbridge County , mentions having attended religious services in the morning and evening and that the [Augusta] Home Guard had been called out for duty the previous day, consequently, all of the "main men" have gone. This letter is continued on December 22 with comments on the availability of two "good looking men" and of how the weather has turned very cold. Francina's April 27, 1864 letter informs her aunt (who was at that time residing at Arbor Hill) that David Argenbright [ Company F, 5th Virginia Infantry ] is home and has been detailed for hospital duty. Corporal David Francis Argenbright (1839-1902), sick for most of 1862-1863, was declared unfit for duty on the day of Francina Bosserman 's letter (April 27, 1864) but later served at a Richmond hospital and was eventually paroled at Appomattox .

Mollie Hall 's December 30, 1862 letter addresses Amanda as "Sis" and expresses sympathy that she (Bosserman) is suffering from neuralgia. Hall laments the lack of men in Augusta during the Christmas holiday and pities the hard times suffered by the soldiers; she hopes the war will soon end, declares that calico is costly at two dollars per yard, and commiserates with Bosserman over their stolen sheep.

Mollie Lowman 's letter to Amanda is undated. It was written at Walker's Creek to Bosserman (at Mount Hope ) and she reports that a regiment of cavalry is stationed in the neighborhood but she has only met one of its members, a Mr. Nelson of Monroe County who Hall declares is nice enough but is a "pokeroot". She also asserts that "I had the very pokeroot last Sunday at church" and "you will enjoy yourself fine if you do have to take pokeroot." There is a letter fragment in Lowman's handwriting [addressed to Amanda?] during which she mentions a soldier relative as suffering from liver troubles, an outbreak of diphtheria, and the mailing address for the 5th Virginia Infantry , care of a Captain [ George T.] Antrim [ Company H, West Augusta Rifles, 5th Virginia Infantry ].

In a July 31, 1861 letter written in Green Springs, Rockbridge County , and addressed to "Respected Brother" [a Confederate soldier?] the unidentified writer informs him that the family is well and that he or she has sent clothing to him.