Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Civil War correspondence of the DeBussey brothers of Ravenswood, WV. There is a single letter each from John DeBussey and George DeBussey. John DeBussey served in the Confederate Army while George DeBussey served in the 2nd. WV Cavalry. Most of the letters are from Adolphus DeBussey who served in the 4th. WV Infantry as a musician. In his letters Adolphus documents the service of his regiment in the Kanawha Valley early in the war and in the Western Theater during the battles of Vicksburg, Mississippi and Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is much mention of fighting and prolonged encampments in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Included are details of an 1861 Confederate raid on Burning Springs, an 1861 skirmish at Gauley Bridge, and the 1861 battle of Guyandotte. The letters also record his experiences during Sherman's march through Georgia. The collection includes Corporal Adolphus DeBussey's flute with its case.

Includes business and personal correspondence, accounts, legal papers, bank statements, maps, etc. Business correspondence, 1850-1938, include letters concerning A. P. Howard's various business enterprises; farm, livestock, fruit and produce, Wellsville, Ohio; printing firm, Columbus, Ohio; tannery, Corry, Penna.; bank and metal works, Pittsburgh, PA; farm, Congo, WV; subscription agent in Wellsville, Ohio for National Era, Washington, D.C. Earlier letters are to A. G. DeSellem, an uncle, including several concerning missionary work and anti-slavery activities; mention is made of several colleges, Western Reserve, Oberlin, and a school in Albany.