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], Civil War Homefront Letter, Ms1989-079, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Civil War Homefront Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Civil War Homefront Letter commenced and was completed in February 2022.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a single letter signed by "A. [L.?]" and written to "My Dear Husband" during the American Civil War. The writer reports that one of the family's hogs had recently been stolen and describes her efforts in tracking the thieves. "It was killed in the pen and taken out and Caried all through the Negroes fields down toward the bay," she writes. Unable to track any farther, she enlisted the assistance of two neighbors, asking them to ride patrol and search. "[T]hey did," she writes, "... and found Jack and Silvey with some in the Pot and when I sertched I found some of a small shote in Duncan house." She then comments that the patrol captured and whipped Jack and Duncan, who implicated one another in the theft. She advises that they "better keep Jack off of the Place as he is ... spoiling the young Negros." She then asks for her husband's advice regarding the killing of a bull and notes that much property has recently been sold in the area. "Negores sold very high," she writes. She finishes by briefly sharing news of several people, presumably family and neighbors. The letter is accompanied by a transcript.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Civil War Homefront Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).