Thomas M. Wade, Jr. collection, 1862/1875

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

Email: archives@vmi.edu

Phone: (540) 464-7516

Phone: (540) 464-7566

Fax: (540) 464-7089

Web: www.vmi.edu/archives

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:

Thomas M. Wade, Jr. collection, 1862-1875. MS 0474. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:

4 items

Creator:

Wade, Thomas M., Jr. (Thomas Morrell), 1842-1928

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Thomas M. Wade, Jr. collection, 1862-1875. MS 0474. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of three Civil War era letters (1862-1863) from Confederate soldier Thomas M. Wade, Jr. to his sister Lou, written while he was serving as a Private in the 1st Rockbridge Artillery Battery. Topics include daily camp life, personal news, and brief references to Stonewall Jackson and the battle at Antietam (Sharpsburg), Maryland. The collection also includes one post-war photograph of Wade (circa 1875).

Written from Port Republic, Virginia. Letter regards troop travel, a visit to Weyers Cave, and life in camp.

Written from Kernstown, Virginia. Letter regards travel to Kernstown, life in camp, and family news.

Written from "Camp at Blue Run Church," Virginia. Letter regards family news and life in camp.

Biographical / historical:

Thomas Morrell Wade, Jr. was born in 1842 in Lexington, Virginia to Thomas M. Wade and Mary Bear. In March 1862 he enlisted in the 1st Rockbridge Artillery Regiment, serving until the end of the Civil War. In subsequent years he held a number of positions, among them Treasurer at VMI (1872-1882) and Commissioner of the Revenue for the city of Lexington. Wade married Minnie Lee O'Rork in March 1901 and the couple had two children, Thomas and Louise. He died in April 1928 and is buried in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, Lexington.

Physical location:

Manuscripts stacks

Related

Other descriptive data:

Camp near Port Republic

Dear Lou

Just received an order from Genl Jackson recommending a part of this day to be observed as a day for prayer & divine service & suspension of all military operations from three o'clock p.m. Revd. [Jas] Thompson has just arrived & Capt. Poague has got him to preach for us this evening. [Johnson] has just come in our shelter says tell you to send him that gingham shirt & 1 pr. drawers & other clothes he sent for. I have some twill cotton in my trunk, make me a pair of drawers. Also make up my other pair of pants. There is a small piece of flannel in the trunk to stripe them. Send them by some reliable person. I got ten dollars from McCrum when he was down. I will write on order for Mr. Hopkins to pay it.

I saw Mr. Humphries in Charlestown. One of the citizens told me his mind had been partially impaired by the exciting times.

There is a great many citizens from Rockbridge down here. Looks something like home to see so many. I must close as I have to go to cooking dinner.

Kernstown

Dear Lou

I stopped in Harrisonburg several days on my way down. Had hard work to get away from the girls. Only a portion of our Battery is at this place, the rest of it is with the army. I supposed we will go down tomorrow. The company suffered very much in the late battle of Sharpsburg. Lost about 12 horses in consequence of which this portion had to come back to the rear. We are going to get 2 large 20 lb parrot gun in a day or two. Every thing is quiet below. We are camped in sight of the battlefield of Kernstown. The weather is much cooler down here than it was in eastern Virginia. Horace has gone to Leesburg to join his regiment. I asked the Captain about the letter sent by Mr. Preston but he knows nothing of it.

5th

Camp at Blue Run Church

Dear Lou

I don't think we will have a fight for the next month. All is very quiet along the lines. As Dandridge is going right away I have not time to write longer. He did not know he was going until about 20 minutes ago.

I will write again soon. My love to all.

P.S. Your letter was directed right for the first time I believe.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Confederate States of America. Army—Army of Northern Virginia—Artillery
Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Artillery—Rockbridge Battery
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862