Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material, 1825-1933 A&M 2169

Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material, 1825-1933 A&M 2169


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 2169
Title
Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material 1825-1933 1833-1863
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/198919
Quantity
0.1 Linear Feet, Summary: 3/4 in. (3 folders)
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
Abstract
Records relating to the history of southeastern West Virginia. Most of the items in the collection relate to Greenbrier and/or Monroe County. Includes antebellum (1833-1850; 7 items), Civil War (1861-1863; 4 items), and postbellum (1886-1933; 9 items) materials. Antebellum material includes a land suit, an estate report and schedule, other financial documents, and personal letter. Civil War material includes four letters authored by Confederate soldiers. Two of these letters describe the battle of Carnifex Ferry. Family names Sharitz and Yonce appear in three of the letters. Postbellum material includes pharmacy receipts, personal letters, programs, and a photograph.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material, A&M 2169, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.


Biographical / Historical

The Battle of Carnifex Ferry was fought near the town of Summersville in Nicholas County, (West) Virginia on 10 September 1861. After several skirmishes in the area, Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans led Union troops down from Clarksburg to meet Brigadier General John B. Floyd at Carnifex Ferry, where the Confederates entrenched themselves. The battle lasted for several hours, stopping when night fell. Although the Confederates had suffered minimal casualties, orders from General Lee and the strength of the Union artillery caused Floyd to retreat back across the Gauley River. The battle is considered a Union victory and was arguably contributed to the eventual withdrawal of Confederate forces from the territory that would become the state of West Virginia.

Scope and Contents

Records relating to the history of southeastern West Virginia. Most of the items in the collection relate to Greenbrier and/or Monroe County. Includes antebellum, Civil War, and postbellum materials.

Antebellum material (1833-1850; 7 items) includes a land suit, an estate report and schedule, other financial documents, and personal letter.

Civil War material (1861-1863; 4 items) includes four letters authored by Confederate soldiers. Two of these letters concern the battle of Carnifex Ferry. The letter of 16 September 1861 was authored by Hiram A. Sharitz, Camp Sewell, Fayette County, Virginia to his cousin Susan V. Yonce, Wytheville, Virginia. The letter of 21 September 1861 was authored by D. McA. Sharitz, Camp Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County to his cousin. Topics covered in the letters include the sizes of Confederate and Federal forces; description of the battle; respective casualties suffered by each army; and the skillful and successful Confederate retreat. The second letter also mentions Brigadier General John B. Floyd and General Lee.

The letter of 18 August 1862 was authored by J. A. Yonce, encamped near Grey Sulphur Springs, Monroe County to his sister Fannie A. Yonce, Wytheville, Virginia. Yonce writes about family members and friends; review of troops at Camp Narrows; new commanding officer; conditions in camp; and potential movement of troops into the Kanawha Valley. Letter of 24 July 1863 was authored by J. W. Morehead from Camp Stuart, Greenbrier County to a "Turpin". Morehead writes of his experience during the war and his longing for civilian life; opinion of the war and its effect on civilization; prediction of outcome of conflict in Confederate favor.

Postbellum material (1886-1933; 9 items) includes receipts from three druggists, two personal letters, two programs for local events (High School graduation and Knights of Columbus events), and an unidentified photograph.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Account books
  • Carnifex Ferry, Battle of, W. Va., 1861
  • Civil War - West Virginia.
  • Civil War - soldier's letters, Confederate.
  • Civil War -- Greenbrier County (W. Va.)
  • Civil War -- letters
  • Civil War -- Confederate Army
  • Civil War -- Confederate letters
  • Civil War -- Confederate letters
  • Civil War -- Draft
  • Civil War -- Kanawha Valley, W. Va.
  • Civil War -- Nicholas County, W. Va.
  • Civil War battles.
  • Drugs and druggists.
  • Estates and estate settlements.
  • Floyd, John B. (John Buchanan), 1806-1863
  • Gauley River (W. Va.)
  • Greenbrier County (W. Va.)
  • Greenbrier County - Civil War.
  • Land - controversies.
  • Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
  • Loring, William Wing, 1818-1886
  • Monroe County (W. Va.)
  • Nicholas County (W. Va.)
  • Nicholas County - Civil War.
  • Sharitz family
  • Soldiers' letters - Civil War.
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
  • West Virginia - Civil War.
  • Yonce family

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Gauley River (W. Va.)
  • Greenbrier County (W. Va.)
  • Monroe County (W. Va.)
  • Nicholas County (W. Va.)
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865