Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Greer and Emilius Baughman Letters must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Greer and Emilius Baughman Letters, Ms2018-036, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Greer and Emilius Baughman Civil War Letters were purchased by Special Collections in April 2018.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Greer and Emilius Baughman Letters was completed in May 2019.

Biographical Note: Emilius A. Baughman

Emilius Allen Baughman was born to George and Mary Jane (Greer) Baughman in 1844 in Maryland. The family relocated to Salem, Virginia, in 1847, and later to Richmond, in 1856. At the age of 18, in 1863, he followed his father and older brothers, and enlisted in the Confederate army with 38th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery (Read's). His brother Greer was already a member of the unit. Following the Civil War, he and his brothers took over their father's stationary business, forming Baughman Bros. in Richmond. In 1873, Emilius married Mary Barney in Richmond, and the couple had 8 children. Emilius died in 1915 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

Biographical Note: Greer H. Baughman

Greer H. Baughman was born to George and Mary Jane (Greer) Baughman about 1840, in Maryland. The family relocated to Salem, Virginia, in 1847, and later to Richmond, in 1856. Greer enlisted with the 21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (along with two of his brothers), in April of 1861. In July 1861, he transferred to the Hampden Artilley, with which his youngest brother would later enlist. Greer was wounded in June 1864 and spent over a month in the Confederate hospital at Chimborazo, before returning to his regiment for the remainder of the war. Greer married Francis H. (Willie) Richardson (b. 1845, d.before 1900) on August 15, 1866. They had one daughter, May (1868-1952). Following the Civil War, he and his brothers took over their father's stationary business, forming Baughman Bros. in Richmond. Greer died in 1907 and is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of seven letters written by brothers and Confederate soldiers, Greer and Emilius Baughman from locations in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the trenches around Petersburg, Virginia. Letters were written to family back home in Richmond between 1862 and 1865.

Highlights include a letter written by Greer, September 14, 1862, near Winchester, Virginia, describing activities during the Maryland Campaign of 1862, which culminated with the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) in Maryland, September 17, 1862. The letter describes Greer being left behind in Virginia while the Confederate army marched into Maryland, as well as his wish and anxiety to go into Maryland with the army. Several letters from Emilius written in late 1864 and 1865 from around Petersburg, Virginia, shed light into life within the Confederate lines. Of particular interest is the letter dated February 26, 1865 in which Baughman confidently writes his father " I do not think that the combined forces of Sherman and Grant can capture it [Richmond]."

Related Material

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 21st
• Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Light Artillery Battalion, 38th
• Maryland Campaign, 1862
• Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Siege, 1864-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865