Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Allen Shortledge Letter, Ms2021-007, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in September 2019.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Allen Shortledge Letter completed July 2021.

Biographical Note

Allen Shortledge (1820-1899) was born in 1820 in York, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Ann Plumy and had a daughter named Ruth. They lived in the New Garden Township of Chester County at least until 1852.

As the American Civil War loomed, Shortledge enlisted in the First Delaware Regiment in Wilmington, Delaware, April 1861 as a private. After regimental reorganization in August, he was promoted to captain of G company. The regiment was first assigned to Camp Hamilton near Fort Monroe, Virginia. After fighting with the regiment through several campaigns, Shortledge was wounded by gunfire during the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. In July 1863, he transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps (Invalid Corps).

Following the war, he recieved a pension and stayed in veteran's homes throughout the late 1880s and 1890s. He and is buried in Rockwood, Tennessee.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a letter written by Captain Allen Shortledge of the First Delaware Infantry during the American Civil War. Writing to a friend, Shortledge advises that he enlisted and reviews news from Wilmington. Attached is two uncolored illustrations, the top is an engraved depiction of "Fortress Monroe, Old Point Comfort and Hygeia Hotel, Va". and below is an engraving of a "Map of Fortress Monroe and Surroundings" publilshed by C. Born in Washington D.C.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

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

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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