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

George S. Patton compositions, 1904-1945. MS 0253. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

George Smith Patton was born in 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He attended VMI for one year (1903-1904) before transferring to West Point, New York. After graduation he went on to become a general in the United States Army. Patton died in 1945 in Heidelberg, Germany.

Scope and Contents

The George S. Patton compositions collection (four items) consists of one essay and three poems by Patton. The essay (2 pages; circa 1903) discusses the significance of the VMI Corps' participation in the Battle of New Market (May 1864) and the New Market ceremony. This essay was likely written during the year Patton attended VMI, or shortly thereafter. The three original poems are titled "A Dream" (written in France, 1917), "God of Battles," and "Fear."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• New Market, Battle of, New Market, Va., 1864—Anniversaries
• Notebooks
• Poetry
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1907