Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citiaton

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item], [box], [folder], Nelson S. Walker Letter, Ms2021-002, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Nelson S. Walker Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in October 2019.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Nelson S. Walker Letter commenced and completed in July 2021.

Biographical Note

Born in Herikmer County, New York, Nelson S. Walker (1835-1895) settled in Claiborne County, Mississippi in early adulthood. Walker first lived in Grand Gulf and worked for a mercantile firm. In 1860, he moved to Port Gibson and worked in the dry goods house of J. L. Kennard.

When the American Civil War began, Walker enlisted in the local Claiborne Volunteers for the Confederate States. During reorganization in Virginia, Walker was elected first lieutenant of F Company, Claiborne Volunteers, which formed a part of the 2nd Mississippi Batallion and eventually merged into the 48th Mississippi Volunteers. In 1864, he was promoted to captain and survived the war.

In 1866 he married Frances Kennard, and they had two children. He later served as circuit court and sheriff of Claiborne County.

Sources:

Scope and Content

The Nelson S. Walker Letter dates to December 19, 1861, from Lieutenant Walker of F Company, 2nd Battalion Mississippi Infantry, Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, from Camp Magruder in Yorktown, Virginia, to his cousin, D. G. Walker in Mississippi. He describes the experiences of the early Civil War while his unit transfers from Richmond to the Confederate positions near Camp Magruder on the Virginia Peninsula. These experences include losing men to poor health, being issued new Enfield rifles, and being on high alert for Union attacks.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

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

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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