Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Virginia Lucas Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Alternate Form Available

This collection has been digitized and is available online .

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Virginia Lucas Letter, Ms2018-021, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Virginia Lucas Letter was purchased by Special Collections in February 2017.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Virginia Lucas Letter was completed in September, 2018.

Biographical Note

Virginia Bedinger Lucas was born in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), in December 1838 to William and Virginia Ann Bedinger Lucas. She was the youngest of four siblings, one of whom was Virginia lawyer and poet, Daniel Bedinger Lucas. Virginia Lucas wrote poetry, though she was never published during her lifetime. Several of her poems appear in her brother's 1869 volume, The Wreath of Eglantine, and Other Poems . She died in April 1865 and is buried in Jefferson County.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a letter written by Virginia Lucas from Clarke County, Virginia to her brother [likely Daniel Bedinger Lucas] at Halltown, Jefferson County (now West Virginia) July 11, 1861. Virginia writes how she and other relatives were sent away from Jefferson County because of approaching Union troops. She relates some war news about an engagement in Berkeley, Virginia (now West Virginia) giving the casualty statistics as well as mentions of Turner Ashby, Joseph E. Johnston, and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.

Transcription of letter as follows: Direct to Halltown [written perpendicular to text at top of letter] Clark County, Va July 11th, 1861 My dear brother: I write you a few lines this morning to keep you advised of our movments. We arrived here yesterday at Col. Larue's and "we may stay a week, and we may stay longer." We left Pa very well, though somewhat fatigued with the harvest. He has finished, and uncle Robert expected to get done yetserday. they have splendid crops. The enemy's pickets were at Kearneysville, and Walper's Crossroads, so we thought we had better leave the neighborhood. I have not seen Brother for a day or two, the last time I saw him, he said he felt better than he had done since he had been sick. He is riding his colt, and takes a great deal of exercise. My colt is a perfect little beauty. Pa says its the prettiest colt in the county, and three or four persons want to buy it. I hope you will write, and give us an accurate account of the fight at Buchanan. We were alarmed at first, on your account, at that truthful [underline] paper the "Sun," said Wise's brigade was all cut to pieces. Our Enquirer did not come, and I only heard of the statement it made from Mr. Stronick. I understood from him that Gen. Wise was slightly wounded. I hope he is not seriously wounded. Cousin Emeline is staying at the river, and cousin Sarah, Tex and Ellie and myself, are all here together. If necessary we are to be moved somwhere else. We are delighted with the place. Col. and Mrs. L. are very kind indeed, and we feel quite at home here already. His son is an invalid at present and is at home recruiting. Josephine Grantham, and Mrs. L's aunt are also here, and last but by no means least (in his own estimation) a young widower Mr Beck; and his little boy. I suppose you ahve heard of our fight in Berkeley. Col. Harper's regiment and Cap. Pendleton's artillery Co. in all 380 men were overtaken by the enemy 15000 in number, and after killing about 250, and taking 59 prisoners (who are now in the Winchester jail) retreated in good order with the loss of 2 killed and 11 wounded,none of our acquaintances. Col. Ashby, with 19 nineteen men only, killed 19 of the enemy and routed the rest (they had 65 in all, in a skirmish sometime ago) but Richard Ashby his brother was badly wounded, and has since died. I dare say I am giving you no news, but unless you have seen Gen. Johnson's report, you might hardly credit such an extraordinary victory on our side. The "Sun" gives Patterson's official report in which he says they defeated Johnson's whole army with the loss of 2 or 3 on their side, & 1300 on ours. Cap. Avis acquired great credit for his bravery on the occasion. Gen. Jackson commanded our troops. Be sure and write often. Your affectionate

Related Material

The Daniel Bedinger Lucas Papers (Ms1995-012) contains a scrapbook believed to have belonged to his sister, Virginia. The finding aid for the collection is available online. The scrapbook has been digitized and is available online .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Clarke County (Va.)
• Jefferson County (W. Va.)
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Homefront