Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Wilson R. Pilkington Correspondence must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Wilson R. Pilkington Correspondence, Ms2018-029, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Wilson R. Pilkington Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections in March 2018.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Wilson R. Pilkington Correspondence was completed in September, 2018.

Biographical Note

Wilson R. Pilkington was born about 1838 in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in 1861 and served with Companies A and K of the 41st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (12th Reserves). Pilkington died from wounds received at the Battle of South Mountain on September 15, 1862. He is buried in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of nine letters written by Wilson R. Pilkington, 41st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (12th Reserves), to his mother and sister from various locations in Virginia, primarily from camps in northern Virginia. The letters date from 1861-1862. In addition, there is one letter is written from John Moss to Pilkington's mother, informing her of Wilson's death. Pilkington died of wounds received at the Battle of South Mountain, September 15, 1862.

One letter written in June is from around Richmond, Virginia during the Seven Days Campaign. The letter dated August 19, 1861 is the only letter to Pilkington's sister. In it he mentions a review of the Pennsylvania troops by General George A. McCall. He describes his regiment's activities and interactions with Virginia civilians. The letter dated October 22, 1861, describes movements of the regiment and a reference to the Battle of Ball's Bluff. The letter written December 8, 1861, talks about a foraging expedition and lists what he has in terms of clothing. In the letter written March 12, 1862, he relates the movements of the army towards Centreville, Virginia, and rumor that the Confederates had burned Richmond, along with his hopes "that this movement will crush out the Rebellion forever." In May 1862, he relates a march towards Fredericksburg in which several men were captured by Confederate cavalry. and that he believes "there is something going on; it is whispered that 'Little Mac' has taken Richmond..."

Arrangement

The letters in this collection are in chronological order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental Histories--Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment -- Pennsylvania Infantry -- 41st