Sutton I. Harris Civil War letter, 1861

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:

Sutton I. Harris Civil War letter, 1861. MS 0394. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 items
Creator:
Harris, Sutton I., 1844?-1864
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Sutton I. Harris Civil War letter, 1861. MS 0394. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of one letter (dated September 12, 1861) from Confederate soldier Sutton I. Harris to "my dearest Lizzie." The letter regards camp hardships, personal news, mentions being surrounded by Union troops, and also mentions Colonel Turner Ashby.

Biographical / historical:

Sutton I. Harris was born circa 1844 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Prior to the Civil War, he was employed as a tinner. He was described as being of fair complexion, with blue eyes and fair hair, and was 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Based upon the events described in the letter, it appears that it was written in September 1861 while Harris was serving in one of the companies of the 7th Virginia Cavalry. Although his name does not appear in published rosters of the 7th Virginia, many companies in this unit later became part of the 12th Virginia Cavalry, and Harris's official military record indicates that he enlisted in the 12th Virginia at Mt. Jackson on February 26, 1862. Sutton was about 17 years old when he wrote this letter to his fiancée, Lizzie. We do not know if they married before Harris was killed in action at Ream's Station, Virginia on August 25, 1864.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks