Correspondence, 1864 - 1871
Scope and Content
This collection contains nine wartime letters from Thomas A. Elliott and Joshua L. Elliott, brothers serving in Company B, 24th Virginia Infantry during the American Civil War, written to Mary F. Page of Hanover County, Virginia. The letters commence with Thomas writing to Mary from a camp near Goldsboro, North Carolina on January 26, 1864. Elliott complains of having to drink swamp water, of being away from his love, and of North Carolina in general... ("I never was as sick of any one place as I am of N.C. for it is the last place with me in this world..."). Three successive letters, dated in January and February, were also written from the Goldsboro camp, one by Thomas and two by brother Joshua. The focus of the letters is largely personal, with only brief mentions of the regiment's movements and other activities. Thomas A. Elliott writes two letters from a camp near Kinston, North Carolina in late February. On February 28, he complains of having been denied a furlough that he had requested for the purpose of coming home to marry Mary. On March 19, Thomas writes from Fort Caswell, North Carolina and mentions having guarded a blockade runner that had run aground. Writing again from near Goldsboro on March 30, Joshua predicts that the regiment will soon be moving again: "[W]e expect to get orders to go to Virginia every day for I think that it is Gen Lees intention to pay the Pensylvanians a visit in a short time and I think that he will invite us to acompany him on his visit as we are his pets." He also notes being afflicted with boils and hopes that Mollie is still single and waiting for him. In an undated letter fragment, Joshua again complains of being in North Carolina: "[W]e had rather be old Gen Lees pets than to stay down here where we can only see tallow faced women...," but he notes that the regiment is enjoying plentiful rations.
The collection also contains a letter from Oden B. Elliott, written from Gish's Mills (today Vinton), Virginia on January 18, 1866, to Mary Page, in which Elliott seems to accuse Page of being deceitful with him ("why did you tell me that you would marry me .. as you was only after fooling me ...") and asks for the return of his letters, his "likeness," and a silver ring. Also in the collection, written on the reverse side of Thomas A. Elliott's March 19, 1864 letter, is a letter written by Mary F. Page Ammons to her sister, Elizabeth H. Mallory. Writing in July, 1871 from what is today the Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, Mary describes at length her suffering and cruel treatment during the first four years of what was apparently an involuntary commitment. Also within the collection is a handwritten copy of the poem "The Gallant Hussar," a brief note written in code, and seven envelopes addressed to Mary F. Page of Verdon, Hanover County, Virginia.
Dates
- 1864 - 1871
Creator
- From the Collection: Elliott family (Family)
Language of Materials
The materails in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu