Wharton, Gabriel C. (Gabriel Colvin), 1824-1906
Biographical Note
Gabriel Colvin Wharton was born in Culpeper County, Virginia on July 23, 1824. After graduating from Virginia Military Institute in 1847, Wharton became a civil engineer, working in Arizona and elsewhere. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Wharton was appointed a major within the 45th Virginia Infantry. Soon after, he was promoted to colonel, commanding the 51st Virginia Infantry. In July 1863, Wharton was promoted to brigadier general, commanding a brigade guarding southwestern Virginia railroads and participating in the battles of New Market and Cold Harbor, among others. Wharton married Nannie Radford in 1863; following the war, the couple made their home in Radford, Virginia. Wharton resumed his civil engineering career and was instrumental in building a railroad in the New River Valley. Gabriel Wharton died in Radford in 1906.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
F. E. Garnett Letter
The collection contains one letter by F. E. Garnett to General Gabriel Wharton dated August 30, 1878, inquirying about Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College for the potential education of his nephews.
Records of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors
The Records of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors includes unofficial minutes, correspondence, reports, Executive Committee minutes and reports, material from and about individual members of the Board, and reports to the Board of Visitors.
Gabriel C. Wharton Correspondence
The collection contains three post-Civil War letters addressed to former Confederate General Gabriel C. Wharton: one regarding potential locations for a blast furnace, one relating to fees for the use of two horses, and one about a petitition on some property in Blacksburg.