Alexander Welch Reynolds Letter
Scope and Content
The letter of Alexander Welch Reynolds, written from Wytheville, Virginia to his sister in Lewisburg, Virginia, is dated July 13, 1861, just three days after he was commissioned colonel of the 50th Virginia Infantry in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He writes that he has been organizing his regiment and invites his nephew to join his command. Reynolds predicts that the Union Army will be a formidable foe--a minority opinion at the time--and states that he deplores the necessity of the war, though he feels it necessary to take up arms in defense of country and home.
Dates
- 1861
Creator
- Reynolds, Alexander W., 1817-1876 (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
Alexander Welch Reynolds was born in Clarke County, Virginia in 1817 and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1838. He served in the United States Army until Virginia seceded from the Union in early 1861. During the American Civil War, he served as a Colonel in the 50th Virginia and of four Tennessee regiments, successively. In 1863 he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the 54th and 63rd Virginia, 58th and 60th North Carolina attached to Major General Carter L. Stevenson's Division, Hardee's Corps. He served in this capacity until he was wounded at New Hope Church in 1864 during the Atlanta campaign. Post-war, Reynolds served as a brigadier general in the army of the Khedive of Egypt until his death in 1876.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The collection contains a letter from future Confederate Army Brigadier General, Alexander Welch Reynolds, dated July 13, 1861 from Wythevllle, Virginia and addressed to his sister in Lewisburg, Virginia.
Source of Acquisition
The Alexander Welch Reynolds Letter was purchased by Special Collections in 2004.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Alexander Welch Reynolds Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
- Title
- Alexander Welch Reynolds Letter, 1861
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Emily Bibby, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2008 (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
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