Burrows, Samuel Worcester, Letter Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter, 1862 Ms.2008.038

Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter, 1862 Ms.2008.038


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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

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2008.038
Title
Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter 1862
Quantity
0.1 Cubic Feet, 1 folder
Creator
Burrows, Samual Worcester
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
The collection contains an American Civil War letter of Samuel Worcester Burrows, a private in Company C, New York Infantry.

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.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter, Ms2008-038, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter was purchased by Special Collections in 2008.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter commenced and was completed in July 2008.


Biographical Note

S. Worcester Burrows, son of Palmer and Sophronia Shaw Burrows, enlisted in the 27th New York Infantry, serving as a private, during the American Civil War. In October 1863, he transferred to the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry, serving as second lieutenant. He was captured in 1864 and held a prisoner of war until his release in February 1865. After the war, he married Jennie Rhodes of Akron, Ohio. The couple had four children (Frederick, Lewis, Mary and Carl) and resided in Ohio.

Company C of the 27th New York Infantry was recruited at Binghampton, New York and mustered into Federal service with the rest of the regiment at Elmira on July 9 and 10, 1861. The regiment proceeded immediately to Washington, D. C. and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run just one week later. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac, the 97th proceeded in April to the Virginia Peninsula and participated in battles at West Point and Yorktown and the Seven Days Battles. Later, it participated in the battles of Second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Soon after its participation in the Battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment returned at the end of its service to Elmira, where it was mustered out of service on May 31, 1863.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a letter written by Private Samuel Worcester Burrows of Company C, 27th New York Infantry, during the American Civil War. Writing to "Friend Wheeler" from a camp near Harrison's Landing [Virginia] on August 1, 1862, Burrows states that the regiment is enjoying a rest after heavy marching and fighting. He looks forward to seeing "that wonderful city Richmond, of which there has been so much said" but, in noting the army's previous attempts to take the city, calls it "the worst place to get at I ever saw." He defends the Army of the Potomac from criticism of its activities in the recent Seven Days Battles and claims that the strength of the Confederate Army had been underestimated. Burrows continues with a favorable description of camp health, rations and recruiting.

Related Material

Also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives, the Burrows Family Letters, Ms2008-007 , contain additional letters of Burrows and other members of his family.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

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

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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

Container List

Letter
folder 1 1862