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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 F. Testerman Letters, Ms1989-099, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The William F. Testerman Letters were purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in two accruals: the 1864 letter in 1989, the 1865 letter in 1990.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the William F. Testerman Letters commenced and was completed in February 2022.

Biographical Note

William Penn Testerman, son of William and Mary Brown Testerman, was born in Lee County, Virginia on June 28, 1842. By 1850, the Testerman family was living in Hancock County, Tennessee, the federal census for that year counting seven-year-old William among the Testerman children living in the home of Mary Testerman. The 1860 census shows William still living in the Hancock County home of his mother and engaged in farming. In 1863, Testerman enlisted in Company E, 8th Tennessee Cavalry (Union). He was soon promoted to orderly sergeant, then to 1st lieutenant, and, in July 1865, to captain. Returning to Hancock County in September 1865, Testerman and one of his brothers purchased the family farm. He married Jane Davis on November 8, 1866; the couple would have nine children. Testerman continues to be described as a farmer in successive federal censuses. William P. Testerman died on April 5, 1925, and was buried in Alder-Livesay Cemetery, Kyles Ford, Hancock County.

Scope and Content

This collection contains two letters from William P. Testerman, of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry (Union) during the American Civil War, written from points in eastern Tennessee. The first of these letters, dated from Gallatin, Tennessee on July 25, 1864, is addressed to Jane Davis (later Testerman's wife). Testerman writes at length of his feelings for Davis: "[M]y heart is with you every moment for i often think of you when you are asleep when travailing these loneson roads in middle tenn. the thought of your sweet smiles is all the company i trust ... your sparkling blue eys and rosey red cheeks has gaind my whole afections." The second letter, addressed to Testerman's mother, is dated from Knoxville on February 11, 1865. Testerman writes that he is sending home shoes for members of the family and reports that "there is a great Deal of talk of Peace." He directs his mother to buy whatever she needs and not to worry about debts, as he will be able to settle them. Testerman adds notes to his younger siblings, admonishing them all to be good, telling his sisters that he will bring them a Yankee soldier for a "Beaugh," and advising his brother Robert to "shun the Company of those r[o]gues and rob[b]ers in that country stay at home and be a good Boy."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

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

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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