Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Commissary Records of the 7th Virginia Infantry, Compiled by James William Green, Accession # 7057-a, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This volume was a gift to the Library from Dr. and Mrs. Armistead Page Booker of Charlottesville, Virginia, through the Rare Books Division of the Special Collections Department on January 27, 1988.

Biographical/Historical Information

Green was a native of Culpeper, Virginia where he had been a lawyer and commissioner of courts before enlisting in Company C as a lieutenant in April, 1861. He served as regimental quartermaster until appointed to the rank of major and as commissary for [George Edward] Pickett's Division, Kemper's (and later [William Richard] Terry's) Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia, in June, 1862. Green served in this capacity until his regiment surrendered at Appomattox in April, 1865. He founded the Culpeper "Exponent" in 1881 and died three years later.

Scope and Content Information

The volume contains Green's accounts on the amount of provisions received from or issued at the camps under Kemper's command (including the 7th, 11th, 17th, and 27th Virginia Infantry regiments and the Loudoun Artillery) as well as a quarantine hospital and employees of the Quartermaster Department. Several regimental commissary officers are mentioned frequently. Also present are reports concerning monthly summary statements ("Form 6") and current quarterly accounts ("Form 7"); the entries begin in May, 1862 and continue to December, 1864. Edible provisions, listed in pounds or gallons, include: pork, beef, flour, bread, rice, peas, vinegar, salt, dried apples, sugar, molasses, whiskey, fish, coffee, mutton, corn meal, potatoes, fruit, crackers, and pickles. Candles, soap, lard, and tobacco were also issued.

For the quarter ending September 30, 1864 Green provides an inventory of commissary office supplies issued, received or remaining on hand; letter and calf paper, steel pens, memorandum books, pencils, bottles of black ink, rulers, scale balances, butcher knives, barrels, and empty sacks are among the items enumerated. Major Green served as temporary commissary chief for Brigadier Generals Eppa Hunton (1822-1908) in October, 1863 and Robert Frederick Hoke (1837-1912) in April, 1864. He had a plethora of supplies to categorize and disburse as a result of the capture of the Union base at Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 20, 1864, and this is reflected in his records. Green's June, 1870 income tax receipt, showing the amount he paid at Culpeper Court House on his yearly income and two gold watches, is contained with this collection. Further information on Green may be found in David F. Rigg's 7th Virginia Infantry; Confederate Staff Officers by Joseph H. Crute, Jr.; and in Volume XV of The Southern Historical Society Papers, "Paroles of the Army of Northern Virginia . . ." These studies are available at Alderman Library.