Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to reearch.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Max Weber Letter, Ms1989-027, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Max Weber Letter was donated to Special Collections in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Max Weber Letter commenced and was completed in January 2022.

Biographical Note

Max Weber was born in Achem, Baden, Germany on August 27, 1824. After graduating from military school at Karlsruhe in 1843, he served as a lieutenant of infantry in the grand duke's army, then under Franz Sigel in the revolution of 1849. Immigrating to the United States, he operated a hotel in New York City until the Civil War, when he was commissioned colonel commanding the 20th Virginia Infantry, "Turner Rifles," in May 1861. The regiment participated in the capture of Fort Hatteras, North Carolina in August. From September 1861 to May 1862, Weber commanded Camp Hamilton in Virginia and was promoted to brigadier general on April 28. His brigade participaated in the capture of Norfolk, Virginia, and he remained in command at Suffolk until September, then was transferred to command 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac. Wounded at the Battle of Antietam, Weber performed administrative duties in Washington, D. C., then served under Sigel and Hunter during the 1864 Valley Campaign and later commanded Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He resigned his commission on May 13, 1865. From 1870 to 1872, he served as New York assessor of internal revenue, then as collector until 1883. He later served as American consul in Nantes, France. Max Weber died in Brooklyn, New York on June 15, 1901.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a single letter from Colonel Max Weber, commanding the 20th New York Infantry, to Major General Benjamin F. Butler, reporting in detail the actions of Weber's troops in the capture of Fort Hatteras, North Carolina, and mentioning several of the regiment's officers by name.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893
• Civil War
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Max Weber Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).