Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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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], Elliott Family Correspondence, Ms1990-021, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The collection was acquired by Special Collections and University Archives in April 1990.

Processing Information

The collection is unprocessed. Minimal description was completed prior to 2001.

Biographical Note

Born to Henry and Nancy Elliott, Joshua L. (b. ca. 1838), Thomas A. (b. ca. 1839), and Odin B. Elliott (b. ca. 1843) were brothers from Hanover County, Virginia, who fought for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Thomas and Joshua served in the 24th Virginia Infantry, while Odin served in Company G of the 34th Virginia Infantry. Odin was captured April 6, 1865, in Farmville, Virginia, and released on July 1, 1865.

Mary F. Page of Hanover County, Virginia, was a friend of the Elliott family, for whom Thomas and Odin both had romantic feelings. She was later hospitalized for mental health issues. Listed in the 1850 U.S. Census, there is a Mary F. Page (b. ca. 1840) of Clarke, Virginia, living with Susan R. (probably her mother), Elizabeth E., Lucy R., and Ropert P. Page (probably her siblings).

Sources:

Scope and Content

The Elliott Family Correspondence consists of ten letters from brothers Thomas A., Joshua L., and Odin B. Elliott to Mary F. Page of Hanover County, Virginia, and one letter from Page to her sister.

Thomas and Joshua write in 1864 from various camps in North Carolina. Joshua comments that he believes it is General Lee's "intention to pay the Pennsylvanians a visit" and that he thinks Lee "will invite us to accompany him on his visit as we are his pets." Thomas displays romantic interest in Mary and was angry that his furlough was disapproved for "it made me mad to think that I was deprived of being with the one I love."

In 1866, Odin writes Mary from Roanoke County, Virginia, wanting his letters and a ring back after she led him on about marriage.

The collection also includes a letter written by Page in 1871 from a psychiatric hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, to her sister, Elizabeth H. Mallory, about her desperate situation.

Transcripts are available. 

Subjects and Indexing Terms

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

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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