Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16768, Charles Irving Harvie expense book, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased from Eilenberger Rare Books by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 3 April, 2020.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Irving Harvie (1842-1864) a native of Amelia County, Virginia and was a University of Virginia freshman in 1860 on the eve of the Civil War. He was the son of Lewis E. Harvie, the president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad Company, which became a vital conduit of supplies for Lee's army and the Confederate capital. All of Lewis's sons of fighting age went to war and the four eldest, including Charles, became Confederate staff officers. The others were Colonel Edwin James Harvie (Johnston's inspector general), Major John Blair Harvie (Early's staff), and Major William Old Harvie (Lee's staff).

Charles's first semester at the University of Virginia was dominated by talk of secession. After Lincoln's election, the university ended a prior band on military companies on campus. The sons of Liberty and the Southern Guard were promptly formed, given uniforms, and armed with flintlocks and bayonets.

On April 17, 1861, the Sons of Liberty went to Harper's Ferry along with the Southern Guard and other Charlottesville volunteers who were ordered to seize the Federal arsenal by Governor Letcher. They were disbanded on May 8. (Robert E. Lee's son was in the Sons of Liberty and he didn't want to have his son in the army that early).

In May 1861, Harvie enrolled in Company G, the "Amelia Dragoons," 1st Virginia Cavalry, as a private. In December 1862,he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to General Jenkins staff and served as drillmaster. At Gettysburg, he was appointed A. D. C. on the staff of Colonel Ferguson who commanded Jenkin's brigade after the general was wounded. In November 1863, Ferguson gave harvie a commendation for distinguished gallantry at the Battle of Droop Mountain and soon afterward requested that he be granted the temporary rank of captain. In February 1864, Harvie was promoted to captain. He was serving on General McCausland's staff as assistant adjutant and inspector general by the fall of 1864. On November 12, he was mortally wounded during an engagement near Cedarville and Front Royal while "leading a charge against the enemy" (Creecy, The Harvie Family, p. 13.) He was captured and taken to Sheridan Depot Field Hospital at Winchester, where he died on November 14 at the age of 22. Harvie is buring in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

Content Description

This collection contains the ledger of Charles Irving Harvie, a first year at the University of Virginia on the eve of the Civil War. Six pages record payments for matriculation, transportation, personal items, and memberships to groups like the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty, were one of two confederate military companies formed at the University.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Eilenberger Rare Books, LLC
• Ledgers (account books)
• University of Virginia -- Alumni