A Guide to the Andrew C.L. Gatewood papers, 1860-1993 MS.0068

Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI Archives
Preston Library
Lexington, VA 24450
Business Number: 540-464-7516
archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives

VMI Archives Staff, April 1979; revised April 2024

Repository

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Identification

MS.0068

Title

Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers 1860-1993

URL:

http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vmi/vilxv00001.xml

Quantity

35 items

Creator

Gatewood, Andrew C. L. (Andrew Cameron Lewis), 1843-1919

Creator

Dunlap, John M., Jr. (John McKee), 1917-?

Location

Manuscripts stacks

Language

English .

Administrative Information

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.

Online Access

A bulk of the Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers are avaliable online .

A photograph of Gatewood is also avaliable online .

Preferred Citation

Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers, 1860-1993. MS 0068. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Biographical / Historical

Andrew Cameron Lewis Gatewood was born at Mountain Grove, Bath County, Virginia, on June 30, 1843 to Samuel Vance Gatewood (1810-1861) and Eugenia Sophia Massie (1819-1884). He entered the VMI in July 1860, where he served as a cadet until the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861. On April 16, 1861, he accompanied the Corps of Cadets to Richmond, Virginia where he served as a drillmaster to new Confederate recruits. Gatewood subsequently served in the same capacity under General Robert S. Garnett at Laurel Hill, Barbour County, West Virginia. He joined the 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment in March 1862 and was elected 2nd Lieutenant, "F" Company (Bath Squadron). He served in this unit until the end of the War.

At the close of the Civil War, Gatewood returned to Bath County. His father had died suddenly in 1861 without leaving a will, and as the oldest son, he took on responsibility for his family's affairs. He married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Skillern Warwick (1845-1922) in 1869 and the couple had seven children: William Beale, Eugene Samuel, Massie Cameron, Andrew Warwick, Mary Preston, Eliza Pleasants, and one child who died in infancy. The couple moved to Big Spring, Pocahontas County, West Virginia in 1877 where Gatewood spent the remainder of his life working as a farmer and stock raiser. He died on July 31, 1919.

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers consist of 28 letters (dated 1860-1864) written by Gatewood to his parents and other family members. Early letters describe life at VMI and in Lexington, Virginia, just prior to and during early months of the Civil War. Subsequent letters date from Gatewood's service with the 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, Company F (Bath Squadron), including a letter (dated September 1862) written after the Second Battle of Manassas (2nd Bull Run).

The papers also include a "History of the Bath Squadron," consisting of a manuscript fragment, copies of a series of published newspaper articles concerning the unit, and an edited transcription, publications concerning Confederate veteran reunions, and Gatewood's VMI cadet account book.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Account Books
Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862
Clippings
Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Cavalry Regiment, 11th
Correspondence
Lexington (Va.)—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Manuscripts
Soldiers—Virginia—Correspondence
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Virginia Military Institute—Civil War, 1861-1865
Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1864

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Dunlap, John M., Jr. (John McKee), 1917-?
Gatewood, Andrew C. L. (Andrew Cameron Lewis), 1843-1919
Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890

Container List

Correspondence

5 Folder 5 folders by year

1860-1864English.

Correspondence

6 items
1860English.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1860 August 4English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards initiation of new cadets, early reference to term "rat" as a name for a new cadet, complaints of homesickness, and comments on living in camp.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1860 August 25English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter describes daily routine of cadets, life in camp, and difficulty of studies.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1860 September 1English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter describes dismantling summer camp and moving into barracks.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood
  1860 September 20English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses family matters, including court summons.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1860 December 22English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses examinations, Christmas at VMI, and the secession of South Carolina.
- Letter to William B. Gatewood
  1860 December 22English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter mentions examinations and the secession of South Carolina.
Correspondence

5 items
1861 January-MarchEnglish.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 January 9English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter informs his parents that he did well on his examinations and gives his class standing. The letter also mentions the secession of Florida and other states.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie) and Samuel V. Gatewood
  1861 February 1English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses the family's runaway slave, Jesse, and mentions willingness of cadets to fight to "save Virginia."
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie) and Samuel V. Gatewood
  1861 February 8English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses general news, including an invitation to a party, his studies, and a request for money.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie) and Samuel V. Gatewood
  1861 March 10English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses squad drill, general news, and speculates about Virginia secession and the War.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood
  1861 March 25English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses the need for new summer pants and the high price of cloth.
Correspondence

9 items
1861 April-JuneEnglish.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 April 2English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter discusses general news, living in barracks, and anxiety about the return to summer camp in July.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 April 15English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter describes the "flag raising incident," a confrontation between Lexington secessionists (including cadets), and pro-Union citizens.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 April 18English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter describes excitement among VMI cadets as Virginia decides to secede, suspension of academic duty, and cadet preparation for war.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 April 20English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter informs his parents that the Corps of Cadets will be ordered to Richmond, Virginia probably to drill recruits.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 April 28English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter describes the cadets' journey from Lexington, Virginia to Richmond and more news of drilling new recruits.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 early MayEnglish.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter informs his parents that he is drilling a company of new recruits and hopes for a commission.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie) and Samuel V. Gatewood
  1861 May 11English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Ashland, Virginia. Letter discusses a transfer to the Ashland Camp of Instruction to drill army recruits.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 May 29English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Andrew C. L. Gatewood has returned to VMI to drill new cadets and University of Virginia students who are at VMI to receive training. Letter includes a complaint that he is not paid for his services and is still expected to pay room and board and the hopes to get a furlough.
- Letter to Samuel V. Gatewood and Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1861 June 7English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Mountain Grove, Virginia. Letter discusses preparations to serve as drillmaster with the 81st regiment.
Civil War correspondence

3 items
1862-1863English.
- Letter to Mary P. Goode (Gatewood)
  1862 September 3English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Manassas, Virginia. Letter describes the Second Battle of Manassas.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1863 March 16English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Edinburg, Virginia. Letter discusses potential to be sent to Harrisonburg, Virginia and mentions victory at Vicksburg, Virginia.
- Letter to Mary P. Goode (Gatewood)
  1863 March 26English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from the 11th Regiment camp. Letter regards general news.
Civil War correspondence

5 items
1864English.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1864 April 9English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Falling Springs Church, Rockbridge County, Virginia. Letter regards regiment encampment.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1864 April 16English.
  Scope and Contents
  Letter written from the 11th Regiment camp. Letter regards the regiment's presention of the VMI Corps of Cadets with a captured flag and a review of troops by General Smith.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1864 April 27English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Waynesboro, Virginia. Letter regards camp at Waynesboro and expected orders to march and battle.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1864 April 29English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from Waynesboro, Virginia. Letter regards that the brigade is ordered to eastern Virginia.
- Letter to Eugenia S. Gatewood (Massie)
  1864 August 9English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written from the 11th Regiment camp. Letter regards general news from camp.

Cadet account book

1 items

1860-1861English.

Account book
1860-1861English.
Scope and Contents
Account book contains entries for cadet expenses from July 31, 1860 to May 22, 1861.

"History of the Bath Squadron"

2 Folder

English.

Partial manuscript and Bath County Enterprise newspaper articles
1899English.
- Partial "History of the Bath Squadron or Recollections of Thirty Years Ago" manuscript
  English.
  Scope and Contents
  Partial "History of the Bath Squadron or Recollections of Thirty Years Ago" manuscript in Andrew C. L. Gatewood's hand.
Typescript with annotations
1993English.
Scope and Contents
"History of the Bath Squadron" typescript with annotations by C.L. Gatewood's grandson, John M. Dunlap, Jr. Included is a 5.25 inch floppy disk that contains a digital version of the typescript.

Confederate veterans reunion publications

1 Folder

English.

Confederate veterans reunion publications

5 items
English.
- Official Report of the History Committee of the Grand Camp C. V., Department of Virginia
  1899 October 12English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written by Dr. Hunter McGuire, Chairman. Report read by the committee chairman in Richmond, Virginia on June 5, 1899.
- The Reunion of the West Virginia Division Confederate Veterans and Sons of Confederate Veterans pamphlet
  
  2 items 2 copies
  1911 October 4-5English.
  Scope and Contents
  Written by J. Coleman Alderson. Pamphlet contains "speeches, engravings of the speakers, and General Officers of this Division, with other prominent West Virginia Confederates."
- Points of Interest in the National Capital pamphlet
  1917 May 14English.
  Scope and Contents
  Document was printed for the "27th Reunion...United Confederate Veterans 22nd Annual Reunion...Sons of Veterans" held in Washington, D.C. from June 4 to 8, 1917.
- Proceedings of the Reunion of United Confederate Veterans
  1917 October 2English.
  Scope and Contents
  Proceedings of the 27th Annual Reunion of the Confederate Veterans, the 18th Annual Convention of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, and the 22nd Annual Reunion of the Sons of Confederate Veterans held in Washington D.C. from June 4 to 7, 1917.