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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)Jeff Felton, Graduate Intern, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Permission to publish material from Greer and Emilius Baughman Civil War Letters to Mary Jane Baughman must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
The collection is open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Greer and Emilius Baughman Civil War Letters to Mary Jane Baughman, Ms2018-037, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The Greer and Emilius Baughman Civil War Letters to Mary Jane Baughman were purchased by Special Collections in July 2018.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Greer and Emilius Baughman Civil War Letters to Mary Jane Baughman was completed in May 2019.
Emilius Allen Baughman was born to George and Mary Jane (Greer) Baughman in 1844 in Maryland. The family relocated to Salem, Virginia, in 1847, and later to Richmond, in 1856. At the age of 18, in 1863, he followed his father and older brothers, and enlisted in the Confederate army with 38th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery (Read's). His brother Greer was already a member of the unit. Following the Civil War, he and his brothers took over their father's stationary business, forming Baughman Bros. in Richmond. In 1873, Emilius married Mary Barney in Richmond, and the couple had 8 children. Emilius died in 1915 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
Greer H. Baughman was born to George and Mary Jane (Greer) Baughman about 1840, in Maryland. The family relocated to Salem, Virginia, in 1847, and later to Richmond, in 1856. Greer enlisted with the 21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (along with two of his brothers), in April of 1861. In July 1861, he transferred to the Hampden Artilley, with which his youngest brother would later enlist. Greer was wounded in June 1864 and spent over a month in the Confederate hospital at Chimborazo, before returning to his regiment for the remainder of the war. Greer married Francis H. (Willie) Richardson (b. 1845, d.before 1900) on August 15, 1866. They had one daughter, May (1868-1952). Following the Civil War, he and his brothers took over their father's stationary business, forming Baughman Bros. in Richmond. Greer died in 1907 and is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
The collection contains two letters written by brothers and Confederate soldiers Greer and Emilius Baughman. The letters were written April 5, 1862, by Greer and July 26, 1863, by Emilius. Both letters were written to their mother, Mary Jane Greer Baughman, at home in Richmond.
The April 5, 1862, letter contains a description of the Battle of Kernstown, Virginia fought March 23, 1862. This battle was a Confederate defeat and the first battle in Stonewall Jackson's famous 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The letter also contains descriptions of skirmishing around Edinburg, Virginia, between Turner Ashby's Confederate cavalry and Union forces. The letter of July 26, 1863, written by Emilius, described the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg, particularly the experiences during the retreat of Emilius' unit, the Hampden (VA) Artillery.
The letters are in chronological order.