M. A. Bentley Letters
Scope and Content
This collection contains two letters from M. A. Bentley, a Confederate soldier, possibly serving with a Virginia unit, during the American Civil War. The letters, both addressed to Bentley's father, John E. Bentley, were written from hospitals in Liberty (now Bedford) and Richmond, Virginia, on April 2 and September 2, respectively. Bentley's letters focus largely on personal matters, as he describes his health, his desire for more letters from home, and his religious faith. In the April 2 letter, Bentley writes at length with a prediction for dark days for the Confederacy: "[T]he cloud that is hovering over us looks veary dark and gloomey, it is the darkest cloud that ever over shadowed the eyes of this confederacy..." Bentley foresees a number of bloody battles, concluding, "[T]he hardest fightting that ever has bin done will be done this somer. The hills of the [saucy?] south will be full of wripling streams of blood." In the September 2 letter, he writes at length of religion and of religious services in camp.
Dates
- 1863
Creator
- Bentley, M. A. (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to 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
M. A. Bentley served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, possibly with a Virginia unit. No further verifiable information could be found.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Letter from M. A. Bentley, a soldier serving in the Confederate Army--possibly with a Virginia unit--during the American Civil War, written from hospitals in Liberty (now Bedford) and Richmond, Virginia, commenting on his health, his religious faith, the Confederacy's prospects, and church services in camp.
Source of Acquisition
The M. A. Bentley Letters were purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in two accessions: the September 2, 1863 letter was purchased in 1990; the April 2, 1863 letter was purchased in 2017.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the M. A. Bentley Letters 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 M. A. Bentley Letters commenced and was completed in August, 2022.
- Title
- M. A. Bentley Letters, 1863
- 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
- 2020-09-08: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2021-03-11: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection, added FA title and filing titles, 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