Samuel F. Atwill papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Preferred citation:

Samuel F. Atwill papers, 1862-1864. MS 0061. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
4 items
Creator:
Atwill, Samuel F. (Samuel Francis), 1846-1864
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Samuel F. Atwill papers, 1862-1864. MS 0061. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Samuel F. Atwill papers consist of two letters (dated 1862) written by Cadet Atwill to his parents that relate anecdotes about life at VMI. The papers also include one letter (dated July 1864) from Superintendent Francis H. Smith that notifies the Atwill family of Cadet Atwill's death, and a fragment of Atwill's cadet account book.

Atwill was thoughtful and religious, and his letters also reflect a wonderful sense of humor. The letters contain amusing anecdotes about wartime cadet life, including a colorful account of cadets stealing chickens from a local farmer in order to supplement the basic mess hall fare (September 28 1862), and a story of students vying for the attention of a professor's "prettie daughters" (September 3, 1862). The letters also highlight the difficulty of wartime communication and the pain of separation from family. Although Cadet Atwill was wounded on May 15, 1864, his father did not receive the news until July, and he did not hear of his son's death until early August.

Two page account book fragment listing Samuel F. Atwill's school expenses.

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards exams, a request for money, and a story of students vying for the attention of a professor's "prettie daughters."

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family matters, cadet life, and an account of cadets stealing chickens from a local farmer in order to supplement the basic mess hall fare.

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Superintendent Francis H. Smith wrote this letter to notify the Atwill family of Samuel F. Atwill's death.

Biographical / historical:

Samuel Francis Atwill ("Frank") was born in Atwillton, Westmoreland County, Virginia on January 31, 1846 to Samuel Bailey Atwill and Jane Ann Broun. He matriculated at VMI on May 20, 1862. Two years later, while a Cadet Corporal in Company A, he took part in the Battle of New Market, Virginia (May 15, 1864) where he was mortally wounded. Atwill died on July 20, 1864 at the home of Dr. F. T. Stribling in Staunton, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Gift of William H. Atwill
Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks