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

William O. Yager diary, 1849-1852. MS 0188. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

William Overall Yager was born in 1833 in Luray, Virginia. He graduated from VMI in 1852. During the Civil War he was a Colonel with the 1st Texas Cavalry, Confederate States of America. After the War he was a school superintendent and banker. Yager died in 1904 in Luray.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a diary fragment (approximately 25 pages) kept by William O. Yager from 1849 to 1852. The bulk of the diary concerns a dispute between his classmates John A. Thompson and William M. Gordon that led to a court of inquiry and court martial. The diary also contains lists of roommates and poetry.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
• Diaries
• Gordon, William M. (William Milburn), 1830-1907
• Thompson, John A. (John Addy), 1832-1867
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet compositions—Poetry
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1840-1849
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1852