Hamilton S. Sclater was born in Fluvanna County Virginia in 1844, the son of Robert, a farmer, and Janetta (possibly Jennetta) Sclater. Census indexes for 1850 and 1860 record the family name as Selater. The 1850 census shows a family of eight brothers and sisters: William H., age 18; James R., age 16; Mary A.[?], age 14; Richard J., age 12; Morton T.[?], age 8; Hamilton S., age 6; George T., age 4; and Louisa E., age one month. The ages of the parents, Robert and Janetta are shown as 42 and 39, respectively. By 1860, the only children listed are Morton, Hamilton, George, and Louisa. The 1870 census shows Morton and Hamilton living with their parents in the Cunningham Township of Fluvanna County The occupation of each is noted as "works on James," while Robert continues to be listed as a farmer, and Janetta's occupation is "keeping house." Cunningham Township lies in the southwestern corner of Fluvanna County and is bordered by the James River on the south.

During the American Civil War, Hamilton S. (H.S.) Sclater was a private in D Company of the 25th Virginia Battalion in April and July 1864 when he wrote two of the letters in this collection. Part of the Local Defense Troops, the 25th was known as the Richmond City Battalion, or simply the City Battallion, as Sclater refers to it. Company D, commanded by Captain John F. C. Potts, was known as the Richmond Minute Men. Muster rolls for the 25th Battalion show that Sclater was enlisted on either 21 January or 18 February 1863, in Richmond, by either Captain S. T. Bailey or Captain Potts. According to Wallace's A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865, the 25th was originally organized on 15 August 1862 for a period of six months, for service in and around Richmond. It was then re-mustered in January and February 1863.

Sclater's first letter, dated 13 August 1862, requests that mail be directed to him via "Ewell's Division Earley's Brigade." In Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain, Robert K. Krick identifies the infantry units comprising Jubal Early's brigade as the Virginia 13th, 25th, 31st, 52nd, 58th, and the 12th Georgia. Existing muster rolls for the 25th Virginia Infantry do not include records for H. S. Sclater.

The battle at Cedar Mountain began in earnest on Saturday 9 August 1862. Sclater reports that he arrived at the battlefield the following morning. His letter to his mother was written the following Wednesday from camp near Gordonsville, approximately 15 miles south of the battle site.

The letter from Chaffin's Farm on 4 July 1864 mentions George, Hamilton's younger brother, of whom Sclater says, "it would be best for him to join this Company before he is 18."

External Sources:

Wallace, Jr., Lee A. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865, rev. 2nd ed. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1986. (E581.4 .W3 1986 Spec Civil War)

Krick, Robert K. Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1990. (E473.76 .K75 1990 Spec Civil War)