David Cunningham Letter
Scope and Content
This collection consists of a single letter written by David Cunningham, a Union soldier during the American Civil War. Written at "Berkley's Station," Virginia (probably today's Berkeley, West Virginia) on April 26, 1865, the letter is addressed to Cunningham's friend, Mrs. A. E. Young. Cunningham informs Young that the report of his and Joseph's (probably Joseph Young) deaths is false, probably spread by a local Copperhead. "[H]oo ever it was," Cunningham writes, "pleas tell him to at tend to his one bisness us Soldiers Can at tend to our one wee now hoo gets killed and hoo dont." The writer continues by predicting dark times for the Copperheads ("thay ar played out as well as the war ..."), then expresses regret for the tears shed over his supposed death.
Dates
- 1865
Creator
- Cunningham, David (Union soldier) (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
David Cunningham was a Union soldier during the American Civil War. The letter does not contain enough information to definitively identify him, but the mention of Reedsville within the letter suggests that he was most likely the David Cunningham buried in Church Hill Cemetery, Reedsville (Mifflin County), Pennsylvania. This David Cunningham was born in Ireland in 1842. Following the death of his father, David Cunningham immigrated with his mother and siblings to the United States. During the Civil War, he served as a corporal in Company H, 184th Pennsylvania Infantry, mustering out with the company on August 3, 1865. The 1870 census lists 26-year-old Ireland native named David Cunningham living in Mifflin County with wife Mary and two young children. The census lists "axe grinder" as Cunningham's occupation. David Cunningham died on August 27, 1874.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Letter from David Cunningham, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, written at Berkley's Station, Virginia to Mrs. A. E. Young on April 26, 1865, informing her that reports of his death are false, probably spread by local Copperheads.
Source of Acquisition
The David Cunningham Letter was purchansed by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the David Cunningham 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 David Cunningham Letter commenced and was completed in February 2022.
- Title
- David Cunningham Letter, 1865
- 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
- 2020-09-01: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2021-05-12: 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