West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown,
WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
Abstract
A transcription of a diary of a Civil War soldier from West Virginia who was the third man from the state to be awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor. There are extensive notes, including maps, and commentary by the transcriber that provide a
background interpretation to the stark factual entries of the diary. Entries in the diary refer to camp life, Civil War battles,
mustering out and Washington, DC at the end of the war. There are entries for the remainder of the year which indicate post-war
adjustments and economic conditions of the author. McWhorter, though a man of few words, does provide many statistical details
as to prices paid, rations received and wages earned. A member throughout the entire war of the West Virginia Third Cavalry
Regiment, McWhorter was in Gen. George Custer's illustrious Third Cavalry Division which in 1865 was stationed in the Shenandoah
Valley and along the line at the siege of Petersburg. Custer's forces pursued, harassed and effectively stymied the movement
of Lee's forces from Petersburg to Lynchburg. The Battle of Sailors Creek, a part of the successful Union campaign that stopped
Lee at Appomattox, was where this Lewis County native distinguished himself for the Medal of Honor by capturing the battle
flag of the Tennessee Sixth Infantry Regiment.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Walter Fields McWhorter, Transcribed Civil War Diary, A&M 3025, West
Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
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