Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

The collection is without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Henry C. Sommerville Letters and Obituary, 1861-1918, Accession #11210, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This material was purchased by the Library from the History Broker of Roanoke, Virginia, on Mary 15, 1997. There are no restrictions.

Biographical/Historical Information

Sommerville first attended the University of Pennsylvania medical school in 1859 and returned there following the war. During the war he returned to Virginia and served as a Confederate surgeon in a hospital at Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia. He married Fannie Meriwether of Bedford County in 1865; they had children, Elizabeth and Frank Meriwether. In 1899, he married Philippa Randolph; they had children, Susie Randolph and Mary Beverley.

Scope and Content Information

In a letter, ca. 1861, Sommerville's sister, Louisa, writes from Romney, Hampshire County, Virginia (West Virginia), concerning the excitement and confusion around the locality, rumors of the Yankees being in Romney, and the rumor that Sommerville is for the Union following his negative talk upon returning from Moorefield, and making disparaging remarks about the Union, Abraham Lincoln, and the local Union men. On September 25, [1863], Molly writes from Front Royal, Virginia, mentioning the sacramental meeting held by the Presbyterians and news of the war, including talk of victory in the west, the good news from a minister that Charleston, South Carolina cannot be taken, that the Yankees are no closer than Martinsburg, and that from ten to fifteen deserters from the Yankee army come through everyday. She also encourages him to make the acquaintance of H. S. Taylor of Westmoreland. A November 8, 1863 letter from "Castalia," Albemarle County, Virginia contains comments on Southern literature and literature in general, and mentions current works of persons such as Victor Hugo, Edward Robert Bulwer, Earl of Lytton, [ ] McCauley, and [ ] Harrison. The writer of the letter is apparently tutoring students at the small school of Mr. [Robert Walker] Lewis at "Castalia," and writes that he is busy with several music scholars and extra French scholars as well as his own studies in German. He also mentions that the Yankee raiders have disappeared from the area. On October 2, 1865, W. T. Pryor of Evergreen, [Alabama,] writes about the location at Union Depot being overstocked with physicians, the growth and sale of crops of cotton, corn, and potatoes, the M[obile] and O[hio] Railroad cars running daily, and news of family and friends. There is also a letter, February 18, 1880, from Sommerville at White Post, Clarke County, Virginia, to a delegate in Charlestown, West Virginia, discussing the terms for the donation of property to be used by the S[henandoah] V[alley] Railroad.