Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
John M. Jackson, Archivist
Administrative Information
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.
Existence and Location of Copies
This collection has been digitized and is available online.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Fenwick Civil War Materials Collection, Ms2001-042, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Fenwick Civil War Materials Collection was donated to Special Collections in 2000. The Gulager sketchbook had been inherited by Edward G. Fenwick; Smith's letters had belonged to Dorothea Little Vanderslice Fenwick.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Fenwick Civil War Materials Collection commenced in July 2002 and was completed in August 2002.
Biographical Note
John Newton Smith, a Confederate cavalryman during the American Civil War, was born in Nansemond County, Virginia on March 5, 1843. He was the oldest child of Burwell Riddick and Sarah Marie Cross. On June 4, 1861, "Newt" Smith enlisted at Suffolk in what would eventually become Company I of the 13th Virginia Cavalry. Smith died from typhoid fever at Hanover Courthouse military hospital (Virginia) on June 9, 1863.
Charles Gulager, an artist and Union cavalryman, was born on August 7, 1826. Best known for his paintings of naval and coastal subjects, Gulager lived in Philadelphia prior to the Civil War, and his paintings were exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy in 1860. During the Civil War, Gulager was a private in Company A, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He died on December 1, 1898, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Falls Church, Virginia.
Sources:
Balfour, Daniel T., 13th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, VA: H. E. Howard, 1986).
Groce, George C. and David H. Wallace, The New-York Historical Society's Dictionary of Artists in America, 1564-1860 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957).
Miltier, Kelly, comp. "Tom Smith Camp: the Family of Thomas Washington Smith." http://www.tomsmithcamp.com/genealogy/ (25 July 2002). Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20020602082642/http://www.tomsmithcamp.com:80/genealogy/ , accessed Feb. 13, 2023.
Scope and Content
This collection contains American Civil War materials, which had been inherited by Edward G. and Dorothea Little Vanderslice Fenwick. The collection is divided into two series: the Charles Gulager sketchbook and the John Newton Smith correspondence.
The Charles Gulager sketchbook (measuring approximately 5 x 7 inches) contains more than 30 sketches drawn by Gulager while he served in Company A of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Many of the sketches depict war-related scenes, such as camps, soldiers and ships. Also among the sketches are illustrations of such historic structures as Mount Vernon and the Chain Bridge at Washington, D. C. (Selections from the sketchbook were published by Mr. Fenwick in 1987 under the title The Civil War Sketches of Charles Gulager [call number: NC139.G85 A4 1987 Civil War Spec]). The sketches may also be viewed by searching "Gulager" on Special Collections' ImageBase (http://imagebase.lib.vt.edu/). While many of the sketches are titled, some are either untitled or have titles which are illegible.
The John Newton Smith correspondence contains letters written by Smith while serving with Company I, 13th Virginia Cavalry. The letters span the first half of 1863 and are written mostly from Essex County, as well as other points in northeastern Virginia. Smith's letters are devoted largely to personal matters (especially his need for a hat, the illness and death of his horse, war-time prices and family affairs), but he also writes of military matters (especially the Chancellorsville campaign). The correspondence concludes with letters from Smith's cousin, Charles Croft, regarding Smith's severe illness and subsequent death, as well as documents related to the military pay due Smith's estate. The series also contains a set of transcriptions made-probably in the early twentieth century-from the original letters.
Organization
Series I: Charles Gulager Sketchbook, c.1861-1865, contains a sketchbook kept by Gulager during the American Civil War. The sketchbook is self-contained, and the illustrations are arranged in no particular order.
Series II: John Newton Smith Letters, 1863-1864, contains letters written by Smith from various points in northeastern Virginia during the first half of 1863. It also contains letters from Charles Croft regarding Smith's illness and death, as well as official communications regarding the military pay due Smith's estate. The letters, which are arranged chronologically, are followed by a set of transcriptions, also arranged by date of original letter.
Separated Material
The following book was transferred from the collection to the Rare Book Collection:
The Civil War Sketches of Charles Gulager, 1862-1864 ([S.l.]: E. G. Fenwick, Jr., c1987) NC139.G85 A4 1987 Civil War Spec
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Civil War
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Fenwick Civil War Materials Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Gulager, Charles, 1826-1898
- Smith, John Newton, 1843-1863
Container List
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Headquarters, Lee's Cavalry Brigade,Jan 11, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sister"-Headquarters, Lee's Cavalry Brigade,Jan 11, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Brother"-Headquarters, Lee's Cavalry Brigade,Jan 15, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Essex Co., Virginia,Jan 21, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sister"-Essex Co., Virginia,Feb 1, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Essex Co., Virginia,Feb 9, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Essex Co., Virginia,Feb 15, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sister"-Essex Co., Virginia,Feb 20, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Essex Co., Virginia,Feb 25, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Cousin Ida"-Camp Gregg, Virginia,Apr 1, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sister"-Culpepper Court House, Virginia,Apr 12, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Pa"-Orange Court House, Virginia,May 5, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sister"-Orange Court House, Virginia,May 14, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Uncle" from C.T. Croft-Hanover Academy Hospital,Jun 2, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Uncle" from Charles Croft-Hanover Academy Hospital,Jun 8, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To Estate of John N. Smith from Alex. Savage,Jun 8, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Uncle" from Charles Croft-Hanover Academy Hospital,Jun 9, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To "Sir" from S. Meredith-Hanover Academy Hospital,Sep 29, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
To B.R. Smith from Capt. A. Savage-Fredericksburg, Virginia,Mar 18, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 3
Transcriptions of lettersn.d.