William Burgess Letter
Scope and Content
This collection consists of a single, two-page letter written by William Burgess, formerly a lieutenant in Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves Regiment (aka 35th Pennsylvania Infantry). Written on Cumberland Valley Railroad stationery, the letter is dated Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1886. Addressed to General William D. Dixon, the letter discussses details of the Battle of Dranesville, focusing on whether or not General Edward Ord dismounted to train the guns of Hezekiah Easton's artillery battery and Ord's orders to the 6th to "take that Battery (Rebel Battery) at the point of the bayonet ..."
Dates
- 1886
Creator
- Burgess, William (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
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.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
William Burgess was born in Fort Loudon (Franklin County), Pennsylvania on November 27, 1830. He married Margaret Ann Newman Burgess (1839-1930), and the couple would have five children. The 1860 federal census shows the family living in Franklin County, with William Burgess employed as a railroad agent. During the American Civil War, Burgess served as a lieutenant in Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (aka 35th Pennsylvania Infantry). (Later in life, Burgess was commonly known as "Captain Burgess," but the rank of captain seems to have been an honorific.) Following the war, Burgess returned to Franklin County and was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature for 1877/1878. In 1881, he was hired as a freight agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and he remained in this position until his death in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 18, 1887. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Chambersburg.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Letter from William Burgess, formerly a lieutenant in Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves Regiment (aka 35th Pennsylvania Infantry), written on August 24, 1886, to General William D. Dixon discussing details of the Battle of Dranesville (Virginia) and the actions of General Edward Ord in that engagement.
Source of Acquisition
The William Burgess Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the William Burgess Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing and description of the William Burgess Letter commenced and was completed in February 2022.
- Title
- William Burgess Letter, 1886
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- John M. Jackson
- Date
- 2022 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020-08-31: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2021-05-10: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection (abstract, source, processing, bio note), added FA title, added FA date from EAD, and added component with instances previously attached to collection level.
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