George Washington Nelson Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Restrictions:

The collection is open to research use.

Terms of access:

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item],George Washington Nelson Papers, WLU Coll. 0643, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.

Summary

Extent:
16 Item
Creator:
Nelson, George Washington , Jr. (G. Washington "Wash" Nelson), 1840-1903 and Scollay, Mary (Mary "Mollie" Scollay Nelson), 1850-1923
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item],George Washington Nelson Papers, WLU Coll. 0643, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of letters primarily between George Washington "Wash" Nelson, Jr., of Hanover County, Virginia and his cousin and future wife Mary "Mollie" Nelson Scollay of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Nelson commanded the Hanover Light Artillery (Va.) and was a staff officer of General William Nelson Pendleton, the Chief of Artillery of the Confederacy's Army Northern Virginia, during the American Civil War. Nelson was captured in October 1862 and spent the remainder of the war in Union prisons at Camp Chase, Johnson's Island, Morris Island, Fort Delaware., and Point Lookout. Nelson's final letter is sent on May 23, 1865 within weeks of his release from prison. The bulk of the collection are twenty letters between George and Mollie. Also included are seven wartime letters from George to "Charlotte" who we believe is Charlotte Cazenove Massie, wife of William O. Massie, and of Alexandria, Va. The wartime letters describe prison life, details of fellow prisoners, updates on home and family, and George and Mollie's courtship.

A letter to Cassie Nelson, the daughter of G.W. Nelson and Mollie Scollay, concerning the correspondence between the couple during G.W. Nelson's imprisonment. Also included is a small spool of red twine.

Acquisition information:
The collection is a gift to Washington and Lee University Special Collections from Rockbridge County, Virginia resident Peter O'Shaugnessey in 2016. Peter is a descendant of the correspondents.
Arrangement:

The letters in this collection are arranged chronologically throughout. Folders including letters to "Charlotte" from George Nelson are noted in folder level description.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard