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 T. Yarbrough letters, 1863-1864. MS 0421. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

William Tilton Yarbrough was born in 1846 in Richmond, Virginia and he graduated from VMI in 1867. He was a member of the New Market Corps but did not take part in the battle due to ill health (he was left at VMI with the guard detail). After graduating from VMI, Yarbrough was in the tobacco business in Richmond, Virginia. He died in 1895 in Richmond and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of five letters documenting Civil War cadet life (dated October 1863 to May 1864) written by Cadet William T. Yarbrough, VMI Class of 1867. The letters, addressed to his parents, include references to academics, uniforms, flirting with local girls, and family concerns. The letter dated May 18, 1864 briefly mentions the fact that the Corps had engaged in the battle at New Market, Virginia, but does not contain substantive information about the battle.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
• Virginia Military Institute—Civil War, 1861-1865
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1867