Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Howard J. Merritt papers, 1865. MS 0184. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Howard Jeffries Merritt was born in 1848 in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1868 and went on to become a farmer. He died in 1929 in Brunswick County, Virginia.

Scope and Contents

The Howard J. Merritt papers consist of the personal papers (three items) of Merritt. The papers include a letter (dated February 25, 1865) from VMI's Adjutant James H. Morrison to Merritt's father. Also included are two orders (dated February 15 and February 23, 1865) pertaining to Merritt's dismissal and subsequent reinstatement. Merritt was dismissed for deserting his post as sentinel and for breaking into a storeroom to obtain bread.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Merritt, Howard J. (Howard Jeffries), 1848-1929
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1868