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

James E. Witt letter, 1865. MS 0477. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

James Etchison Witt was born in 1845 in Bedford County, Virginia. He graduated from VMI in 1867 and was a New Market cadet. After the Civil War he was a teacher. Witt died in 1936 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one letter (dated February 8, 1865) from New Market Cadet James E. Witt (Class of 1867). Witt had just resigned his cadetship in order to join the Confederate Army during what turned out to be the last weeks of the Civil War.

The letter was written from VMI headquarters at the Alms House in Richmond, Virginia. The letter is addressed to "Dear Miss" [Fannie, last name unknown] is largely personal in nature, involving his relationship with the young woman. The letter also mentions the resignation of large numbers of cadets who were trying to join the army.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• New Market Cadets
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1867