Collections

The bulk of the Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers consist of 28 letters (dated 1860-1864) written by Gatewood to his parents and other family members. Early letters describe life at VMI and in Lexington, Virginia, just prior to and during early months of the Civil War. Subsequent letters date from Gatewood's service with the 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, Company F (Bath Squadron), including a letter (dated September 1862) written after the Second Battle of Manassas (2nd Bull Run).

This collection consists of correspondence, photographs, and documents of R. Henry Campbell and members of the Varner Family of Lexington, Virginia. The families are related through the marriage of Campbell's sister, Augusta, to Varner.

The Clayton G. Coleman papers consist of three letters written to Coleman's sister Lucy during the Civil War, and an autograph album containing inscriptions written by his classmates at VMI, the University of Virginia, and the Medical College of Virginia (circa 1858-1861).

This collection consists of two letters regarding members of the Dunlap Family of Jennings Gap, Augusta County, Virginia. The first letter (dated May 20th, 1864) is from Confederate soldier Robert B. Dunlap to his mother Margaret Dunlap and describes the aftermath of battle. The second letter (dated July 13, 1864) is from Adam Dunlap, a Union loyalist, to his brother Robert Dunlap. This letter discusses the murder of their brother Jim (also a Union loyalist) by a member of his own unit and encourages Robert to "change your way of thinking."

The collection consists of related to three members of the Fulkerson family: Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1822-1862), his brother Abram Fulkerson, Jr. (1834-1902), and Abram's son, Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1863-1926). Significant items include:

• Civil War correspondence (dated March-May 1862) written by Samuel V. Fulkerson (1822-1862)
• Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862) reports of the Battle of McDowell and the Battle of Winchester (dated May and June 1862)
• Wartime correspondence (dated 1863 and 1865) written by Abram Fulkerson, Jr. Two letters were written while he was a prisoner of war.
• A letter of appreciation (dated September 1862) written by General Stonewall Jackson following Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862) death in battle

• Battles of Port Republic and Kernstown
• Death of Turner Ashby
• Refugee and civilian life
• Camp life
• References to Stonewall Jackson, including Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862 assessment of his character and Abram Fulkerson, Jr.'s reflections following the Jackson's death

This collection consists of correspondence of Confederate soldier Henry H. Dedrick, a Private in the 52nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. A bulk of the correspondence consists of letters to and from his wife, Mary E. A. Dedrick (Balsley) ("Lissa" or "Lizza"). Subjects include camp life, regimental activities, family and personal news, and hardships endured by civilians. The letter dated May 10-11, 1863 mentions the wounding and death of General Stonewall Jackson.

The bulk of the collection consists of letters written by James A. Harden to his sister, covering wartime events experienced by his unit as well as his time at Ft. Delaware, Delaware. The collection also includes one letter (dated June 6, 1861) written while Harden was at VMI and other items.

The James W. Massie papers consist of the personal papers (40 items) of Massie, including:

• Incoming correspondence (1855-1857)
• Civil War papers, primarily incoming letters, orders, and commissions (1861-1863)
• Post-War papers, including letters written by Massie's wife, Sophonisba Breckinridge McDowell (Massie), and documents related to their son, James McDowell Massie
• Confederate bonds
• Envelopes

This collection consists of the Civil War papers of John Garibaldi. The bulk of the collection consists of 38 letters (dated 1861-1864) written by Garibaldi to his wife Sarah Garibaldi (Poor) during his service in the Confederate Army (27th Virginia Infantry Regiment). Primary topics include:

• Camp life
• The hardships of war for both soldiers and civilians
• Battles and skirmishes, including Chancellorsville (Virginia) and Gettysburg (Pennsylvania)
• Other members of the 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment
• Family news

This collection consists of one letter (dated June 18, 1861) from Confederate soldier John Hamilton Ervine of Bridgewater, Rockingham County, Virginia, to his wife Ellen J. Ervine. The letter was written from camp in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Primary topics are troop movements, value of horses, camp life, helpfulness of civilians in providing food and water, and family news.