Henry Clay Deshields Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from the Henry Clay Deshields Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Henry Clay Deshields Collection, Ms2017-035, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.7 Cubic Feet 2 boxes
Creator:
Deshields, Henry Clay, 1832-1884 and Deshields, Sarah Furlong Wheelwright, 1833-1901
Abstract:
The Henry Clay Deshields Collection contains letters sent to Sarah Deshields from Henry Clay Deshields during his service in the Confederate Army between 1861 and 1865. The collection also contains biographical information on Henry Clay Deshields and the book, Civil War Echoes: Voices from Virginia (1860-1891) by James I. Robertson, Jr. There is also a framed CSA Service Appointment Document dated May 1861.
Language:
Materials in the Henry Clay Deshields Collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Henry Clay Deshields Collection, Ms2017-035, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The Henry Clay Deshields Collection contains letters sent to Sarah Deshields from Henry Clay Deshields during his service in the Confederate Army between 1861 and 1865. The collection also contains biographical information on Henry Clay Deshields and the book, Civil War Echoes: Voices from Virginia (1860-1891) by James I. Robertson, Jr. There is also a framed CSA Service Appointment Document dated May 1861. The letters relate to war happenings including the death of Stonewall Jackson.

There is some variation in the spelling of Deshields' last name, which is reflected in the associated agent (name) record.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Clay Deshields was born on April 11, 1832 in Northumberland County, VA. Henry married Sarah Furlong Wheelwright (September 3, 1833-July 6, 1901) on October 18, 1853 in Northumberland County, VA. Together they had 8 children. Henry attended law school at the University of Virginia, then worked as a lawyer and insurance agent. He practiced in Baltimore, MD until the Civil War began. He returned to Virginia and enlisted with the 40th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Company G, at the rank of Second Lieutenant in May of 1861. He served as a quartermaster and eventually rose to the rank of Captain. On April 9, 1865, Deshields was among those who surrendered on the staff of Field at Appomattox, VA. Henry died on October 16, 1884.

Acquisition information:
The Henry Clay Deshields Collection was donated to Special Collections in 2017.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Henry Clay Deshields Collection was completed in June 2019.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized by material type. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence, which in chronological order.