Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction .

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], William H. and Sarah McDowell Correspondence, 1862, 1865, Ms2022-037, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in October 2013.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the William H. and Sarah McDowell Correspondence was completed in August 2022.

Scope and Content

This collection contains two 1862 letters from William H. McDowell to his wife, Sarah McDowell, and a February 1865 letter from Sarah to her husband. The letters from William to Sarah were written on October 1 and October 3, 1862, from Fredericksburg, Virginia, while serving in the American Civil War. He describes camp life and food, Confederate and Union pickets sharing news and whiskey, and impending troop movements. The letter from Sarah to her husband dates to February 1865 and contains news of the war, its destruction in Danville (such as fires and thefts), and her hope that the war will end soon.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the William H. and Sarah McDowell Correspondence by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).