Conditions Governing Use

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any material used from Washington and Lee University Special Collection and Archives should be fully credited to the source.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for use.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Henry Ruffner Morrison Papers (WLU Coll. 0789), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Morrison family descendents in 2024.

Biographical Note

Henry Ruffner Morrison graduated from Washington College in 1858. In June of 1861, he enlisted in the Washington College (Va.) infantry company known as the Liberty Hall Volunteers. The unit would become Company I of the 4th Virginia Infantry of the Stonewall Brigade, Confederate States Army. He transferred to Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry, in 1863 to join his brother Robert C. Morrison. After being wounded in early 1864, he transferred to the 26th Battalion of Virginia Infantry as a staff officer until the war ended.

Content Description

This collection is primarily composed of letters written and received by Henry Ruffner "Ruff" Morrison during his time as a soldier in the American Civil War. Correspondents include his brother Luther, his father Robert, family member and neighbor Sarah H. Crawford, associate Thomas Perry Gwynn, and fellow Washington college alumni and soldiers John W. Reilly and Thomas W. Read.

Morrison's December 2, 1860 letter written while in Macon, Georgia to his father goes into great detail regarding sectionalism and Morrison's belief that the Union should be dissolved. His September 20, 1861 letter to his brother describes the Battle of Fisher's Hill. His May 6, 1864 letter to his brother was written from the battle line near Spotsylvania. Subjects also include include family news, education, local news specific to the war and others' lived war experience, and Luther Morrison's "notion to hire a substitute."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Confederate States of America. Army. Liberty Hall Volunteers
• Confederate States of America. Army. Stonewall Brigade
• Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Cavalry Regiment, 1st
• Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Battalion, 26th
• Fisher's Hill, Battle of, Va., 1864
• Morrison, James Luther, 1833-1891
• Morrison, Robert , 1802-1861
• Morrison, Robert Culton, 1845-1890
• Reilly, John W. (John William)
• Sectionalism (United States)
• Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of (Virginia : 1864)
• Virginia -- Rockbridge County