Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Martha McDonald Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Martha McDonald Letter, Ms2008-029 - Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Martha McDonald Letter was purchased by Special Collections.

Biographical Information

Martha McDonald was a southern woman, presumably of North Carolina, and wife to a Confederate soldier, Lewis McDonald. Civil War service records show a Lewis McDonald who served in Company C, 55th North Carolina Infantry. The company's muster roll indicates that McDonald was a farmer, born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was promoted to corporal during the war and served through the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a letter of Martha McDonald, written from Rutherford County, North Carolina, responding to a letter she received from her husband, Lewis, on the previous day, September 14, 1862. She inquires after a mutual friend who was wounded and taken prisoner by Union troops. In the postscript she thanks Lewis for a Bible he sent her.

Index Terms

Subjects:

• Civil War
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865