Skip to main content

Williamsburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 39 Collections and/or Records:

James City County Oral History Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 00241
Scope and Contents The James City County Oral History Collection holds two copies of transcripts and one corresponding cassette tapes of the Oral History Project directed by Robinette Fitzsimmon of the James City County Historical Commission. The collections includes interviews of residents of James City County, the City of Williamsburg, and York County, Virginia.  Topics range from education to farming to Eastern State Hospital.  Time periods covered begin with family memories from the Revolutionary War to...
Dates: 1983-1986; Majority of material found in 1984
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

John Adams Dix Letter to Henry A. Wise

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00649
Scope and Contents

Letter, dated April 28, 1863, from Union Major General John Adams Dix to Confederate General Henry A. Wise requesting he stop the attacks on the Union-held insane asylum in Williamsburg, Virginia. Dix writes that, although the asylum is under the control of the Union, there have been repeated attack by officers of the Confederacy on its employees and residents. Dix also mentions he has directed General Keyes to re-occupy Williamsburg.

Dates: 1863 April 28
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Robert W. Johnson Letter

 Collection
Identifier: SC 01349
Content Description Four page letter from Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Johnson of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers from near the Pamunkey River, on the Road to Richmond, May 21, 1862. Johnson describes in great detail the latest battle against the Rebels and their ability to claim victory with the assistance of fresh Union troops who were able to charge the forces near the end of the fighting. He describes Williamsburg as a beautiful city, filled with about 200 inhabitants before the outbreak of war, a nice...
Dates: 1862 May 21
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Lee Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 1993.06-01 and Mss. Acc. 1995.27
Scope and Contents Mss. Acc. 1993.06-01, Series 1 - 4: Papers and photographs of the Edward Myers Lee Family of Williamsburg, Virginia. Lee graduated from the College of William and Mary, as did many of his children.  An album has photos of a May Pole in front of the Williamsburg Court House on Duke of Gloucester St. The papers include material for some of his children, particulary Elizabeth Mallory Lee (Mrs. John Walston Henderson), Peticolas Lee (Mrs. Robert Edward Lee), Mary King Lee, and Edward M. Lee. ...
Dates: 1858-1976; Majority of material found in 1900-1950
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Joseph Keith Newell Diary

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00652
Scope and Contents Diary, 19 March 1862 to 24 August 1862, of Joseph Keith Newell, a captain of the 10th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War. Diary runs from March to August of 1862, and describes the life of a Union soldier during the Peninsula Campaign. Describes his trip down the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Hampton, Virginia. Also includes a description of the Battle of Williamsburg, 5 May 1862, as well as his observations of the College of William & Mary. Newell also describes his...
Dates: 1862
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Colonel Robert W. West Letter

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00096
Scope and Contents

One page letter from Colonel Robert W. West to Mrs. Lucy Tucker, Mrs. Lucy Hausford, and Mi[f]s. Emily Morrison dated 29 November 1863.  It is a summons for the ladies to return to Mrs. Vest's home in Williamsburg, all of the property they took without permission.  He requests them to comply within a week or he threatened to send colored troops to their homes to search and remove the items for them.

Dates: 1863 November 29
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Series 32: Williamsburg

 Series
Identifier: id104292
Scope and Contents Scope and Contents An artificial grouping of papers, 1632-1973, relating to Williamsburg, Va. Includes maps, articles, drawings, letters, material concerning the Battle of Williamsburg, papers concerning the Black population, photographs of buildings, church bulletins, papers concerning civic organizations, deeds, leases, tax receipts, advertisements, papers concerning education and items relating to Colonial National Historical Park. The materials that comprise this collection were donated...
Dates: 1663-1980
Found in: Special Collections Research Center / Virginia Cities Collection

H. Clinton Thompson, M.D. Affidavit on the Eastern Lunatic Asylum

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00668
Scope and Contents Manuscript affidavit of Dr. H. Clinton Thomson, MD, on the conditions of Eastern Lunatic Asylum (the present day Easter State Hospital) in Williamsburg, Virginia dated March 3, 1866. The affidavit describes the patients and the buildings when Thomson arrived in 1862 to take charge of the hospital. He indicated patients were in need of food and clothing, the sewage system of the buildings had been confiscated for the war, and bedding and other items used when the "rebels" were in...
Dates: 1866 March 3; Majority of material found in 1866
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Tucker-Coleman Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 40 T79
Scope and Contents Papers, primarily 1770-1907, of the Tucker and Coleman families of Williamsburg, Winchester, Lexington, Staunton and Richmond, including papers of: St. George Tucker (1752-1827), Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1784-1851), Henry St. George Tucker (1780-1848), Ann Frances Bland (Tucker) Coalter (1779-1813), John Coalter (1769-1838), and John Randolph of Roanoke (commonplace book is in box 64B), as well as other family members. Members of the family were involved in law, politics,...
Dates: 1664-1945; Majority of material found in 1770-1907
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

United Daughters of the Confederacy Records, Williamsburg (Va.)

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 92 U9
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook material from the Williamsburg Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) consisting of newspaper clippings on the Civil War, veterans still living, battle reenactments, correspondence, yearbooks, programs, and other. Also included are papers concerning Confederate monuments in Williamsburg, as well as dealing with the Cross of Honor. One copy of "A History of the United Daughters of the Confederacy" is included.

Dates: 1890-1998
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Unknown Union Soldier Letter to Catherine G. Cooke

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00339
Scope and Contents

A letter from a soldier, 1st Mass. Mounted Riders, Williamsburg, Va., to his sweetheart, Catherine G. Cooke, Richmond, Mass., regarding his reenlistment. He hopes that the war won't last any longer than 15 months more.

Dates: 1864 January 11
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Virginia Cities Collection

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 39.4 V82ci
Scope and Contents

Artificial collection of papers relating to various cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dates: 1663-1980
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

F. N. Walker Diary

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. MsV D23
Scope and Contents

Diary of F. N. Walker, Captain in the 3rd South Carolina Volunteers, in which he discusses what he is reading, news he hears of battles, and marching from Manassas, Virginia, (including a visit to the battlefield of First Bull Run) to the vicinity of Yorktown and Williamsburg, Virginia (mentioning the statue of Lord Botetourt, College of William and Mary, and Eastern State Hospital).

Dates: 1862 January 21-June 8
Found in: Special Collections Research Center

Williamsburg Area Historical Society Records

 Collection
Identifier: 01/Mss. Acc. 1993.41 and Acc. 2005.45
Scope and Contents

Records of the Williamsburg Area Historical Society and six monographs on Williamsburg, Virginia related topics.

Dates: 1983-1993
Found in: Special Collections Research Center