Special Collections Research Center
Rufus Robbins, Jr. Papers
Robbins, Rufus, Jr., 1830-1863
MS 00266
/repositories/2/resources/1083
0.40 Linear Feet
1861-1862
1861-1862
English
Biographical Information:
Rufus Robbins, Jr. was born 1830 in Massachusetts to a family of farmers and shoemakers. when the Civil War broke out in 1861, Robbins left his home in South Abington, Mass. and enlisted in the Union Army. He served as a private in the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, taking part in the defense of Washington, D.C. as well as the Peninsula Campaign. Robbins was eventually diagnosed with dysentary and was sent to Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. in November of 1862. In December, he was transferred to General Hospital in Philadelphia. He died on January 7, 1863.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase. Mss. Acc. 2009.025.
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Rufus Robbins, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains letters written by Rufus Robbins, Jr. to family members during the Civil War. In his year and a half of service in the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Robbins freqently wrote to his parents and brothers Henry and Edwin in South Abington, Massachusetts.
The letters contain information about camp life and the activities of Robbins' regiment. Of note, the letter dated May 11, 1862 gives Robbins' account of the Battle of Williamsburg, which took place on May 5.
An ambrotype of Robbins is also included, as well as a photocopied image of him taken from another print.
Correspondence
Photographs
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Williamsburg, Battle of, Williamsburg, Va., 1862
United States. Army. Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 7th
Correspondenceid49176/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029191861-1862Scope and ContentsThis series contains the correspondence of Rufus Robbins, Jr. to his father, mother, and brothers Henry and Edwin in South Abington Massachusetts.
Camp Old Colony, Tauton, Massachusettsid49178/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029211861 June 11Camp Old Colony, Washington, D.C.id49179/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029221861 July 12Camp Old Colony, Washington, D.C.id49180/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029231861 August 1-1413Washington, D.C.id49181/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029241861 August 15-2814Correspondence without given location id49182/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029251861 September 15Washington, D.C.id49183/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029261861 October 16Washington, D.C.id49184/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029271861 November 17Washington, D.C.id49185/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029281861 December 18Washington, D.C.id49186/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029291862 January 19Washington, D.C.id49187/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029301862 February 110Prophet Hill, Virginia; Camp Brightwood, Washington, D.C.id49188/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029311862 March 111Warwick (Newport News) and Yorktown, Virginiaid49189/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029321862 April 112New Kent County, Virginia (Battle of Wililamsburg)id49190/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029331862 May 113Seven Pines, Virginiaid49191/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029341862 June 114Harrison Landing, Virginiaid49192/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029351862 July 115Harrison Landing, Virginia; Chanbridge, Virginia; Downsville, Marylandid49193/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029361862 August-September 116Downsville and Cherry Run, Marylandid49194/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029371862 October 117Berling, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland; Carver Hospital, Washington, D.C.id49195/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029381862 November 118Carver Hospital, Washington, D.C.id49196/repositories/2/archival_objects/1029391862 December 119Images /repositories/2/archival_objects/2838481860's and undatedEnglishImage of Rufus Robbins, Jr. (photocopy)id49332/repositories/2/archival_objects/102940undated120Ambrotype of Rufus Robbins id284417/repositories/2/archival_objects/102941circa 1860121Scope and ContentsFor preservation reasons, placed not in a folder but in a small box at the end of the larger box.