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Robert B. Secrist Letters

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1991-010

Scope and Content

This collection contains six letters from Robert B. Secrist, a soldier in Company K, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry and Company F, 1st U. S. Cavalry during the American Civil War. Most of the letters are addressed to Secrist's sister, Maria G. Secrist. In his first letter, written from Camp Worth (18 miles from Franklin, Tennessee) on April 12, 1862, Secrist relays news of the Battle of Shiloh and writes of scouting, standing guard, and taking prisoners. In a letter to his father, written from Camp Worth on June 25, 1862, Secrist recounts the recent movements of his company, concluding with a detailed account of the celebration surrounding the hoisting of the Union flag over "McMimisville" [McMinnville, Tennessee?]. On March 13, 1863, Secrist writes from Washington, D. C., informing his sister of his recent transfer to the 1st Virginia Cavalry. He describes his experiences in camp and notes that he has been making extra money by "playing tailor." Secrist writes briefly to his mother from Potomac Creek Station on May 3, 1863, describing his supper and asking that she send him some paper for writing. Writing briefly from a camp near Warrenton, Virginia, on July 27, 1863, Secrist mentions recent skirmishes with Confederates and notes mutual acquaintances that he has recently seen. An undated fragment of a letter from Secrist to his mother and sister includes his account of firing on and taking a prisoner. Also addressed to Maria Secrist are letters from Charles G. Leland, relaying news of the death of Lieutenant Fisher; [G.?] H. Brown, of the Commissary Department in Nashville; and Eugene Stocking, at Camp Stoneman. The collection also includes a letter written to R. B. Secrist by L. A. Wilson of the 1st U. S. Cavalry.

Dates

  • 1862 - 1864

Creator

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

Robert Brown Secrist, son of Michael and Sarah Brown Secrist, was born in Pennsylvania on December 31, 1840. The 1850 federal census lists him as the youngest of four Secrist living in the Fayette Couty, Pennsylvania, home of his parents. Robert B. Secrist mustered in with Company K, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry on October 12, 1861. Records indicate that he transferred to the 2nd U. S. Cavalry on February 10, 1863, but the contents of the letters in this collection suggest that he was serving in the 1st U. S. Cavalry by March, 1863. Records seem to indicate that Secrist enlisted in the 4th U. S. Cavalry on February 12, 1864, through the end of the war, and into 1867. Following his military service, Brown returned to Fayette County. On April 24, 1873, he married Emma S. Kemp (1852-1923). By 1880, the Secrists had four children; they continued to live in Fayette County, where Robert Secrist worked as a carpenter. Robert B. Secrist died in Fayette County on December 11, 1915, and was buried in Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville (Fayette County).

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

Letters from Robert B. Secrist, serving in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the American Civil War, most addressed to his sister Maria, together with wartime letters from other acquaintances.

Source of Acquisition

The Robert B. Secrist Letters were purchased by Special Collections and University Libraries in 1991.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Robert B. Secrist 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 Robert B. Secrist Letters commenced and was completed in October, 2022.

Title
Robert B. Secrist Letters, 1862-1864
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

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308