James H. Jameson Civil War letters

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:

James H. Jameson Civil War letters, 1864. MS 0252. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
2 items
Creator:
Jameson, James H. (James Henry), 1820?-1864
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

James H. Jameson Civil War letters, 1864. MS 0252. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of two letters written in August 1864 by James H. Jameson to his daughter, Harriet ("Hallie"). Both letters were written while he was a Confederate prisoner of war at Point Lookout Prison, Maryland. In the letters, Jameson discusses his failing health and his need for food.

Written from Point Lookout Prison Hospital, Maryland. Letter regards James H. Jameson's poor health.

Written from Point Lookout Prison Hospital, Maryland. Letter regards James H. Jameson's poor health.

Biographical / historical:

James Henry Jameson was born circa 1820 and graduated from VMI in 1842. Prior to the Civil War he worked as a teacher, lawyer, and farmer. He married Mary Mildred Bowen of Fauquier County, Virginia in May 1845 and the couple had four children: Alwyn, Harriet ("Hallie," to whom the letters are addressed), Ella, and Henry.

In 1861 Jameson was elected Captain of Company I, 11th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America and was wounded in action at Dranesville, Virginia in December 1861. He resigned from his unit in April 1863 and was hospitalized as late as September 1863. Jameson was arrested by Federal troops at Culpeper Court House, Virginia on March 26, 1864, as "formerly a Captain in the C.S.A." and was sent to prison at Point Lookout, Maryland.

Although Jameson was ultimately exchanged, he did not survive the trip home. He became ill from the effects of his wound and imprisonment while traveling on a flag-of-truce boat to Richmond, Virginia and died on September 30, 1864. He is buried at his wife's family home, "Belle Coil," in Fauquier County.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks