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Captain Isaiah A. Welch Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2009-094

Scope and Content

The collection contains a letter from Captain Isaiah A. Welch to his former fellow American Civil War officer, Crispin Dickenson. Welch's intention was to "renew the friendly relations which our contact and association during two or three years of hardships and common suffering begot..." The letter also depicts some of the post-war difficulties of Confederate soldiers, particularly in Welch's portrayal of Richard Miller's circumstances. The collection also contains a handwritten shopping list.

Dates

  • 1866 - 1867

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

While Captain Isaiah A. Welch's tombstone in Bramwell, West Virginia, marks his birth as March 3, 1823, it is more probably that he was born in 1829. Welch was born in Doddridge County, Virginia–now part of West Virginia. He worked as a civil engineer before and after the American Civil War. During the war, he served on the field staff as Assistant Quartermaster for the 13th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery. Welch's most enduring legacy, however, may be his work in the West Virginia coal fields. He died in 1902. The town of Welch, West Virginia, is named after him.

Captain Cripsin Dickenson (Dickerson) was born on December 6, 1832 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Dickenson, a physician, and his wife, Mary C. (Catherine), had three sons: Charles T. (b. abt. 1856), Daniel C. (b. abt.1857), and John C. (b. abt.1859). Dickenson enlisted with the Confederate Army in Company B ("Ringgold" Battery), 13th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery. A 1st Lieutenant at the time of his enlistment in 1862, he was promoted to Captain only a year later. On April 9, 1865, Dickenson surrendered his regiment at Appomattox Court House. From 1885 to 1887, he served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Richard T. "Dick" Miller (b. 1842) served in the 18th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, before being transferred to the 13th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery, where he became Quartermaster Sergeant in the "Ringgold" Battery. After his capture at Petersburg, Miller was a prisoner at Point Lookout from April 4-June 16, 1865. Following the war, he worked as a laborer.

For additional information, see:

  1. Biographical Publishing Company. Men of West Virginia. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1903.
  2. Cavanaugh, Michael A. The Otey, Ringgold, and Davidson Virginia Artillery. Virginia Regimental History Series. Lynchburg, Va: H.E. Howard, 1993.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This letter from Captain Isaiah A. Welch to Captain Crispin Dickenson details Welch's desire to get back in touch with Dickenson, following their American Civil War service together. A shopping list of Captain Crispin Dickenson's is also included.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Source of Acquisition

The Captain Isaiah A. Welch Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections in 2009.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Captain Isaiah A. Welch Correspondence 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, arrangement, and description of the Captain Isaiah A. Welch Corrrespondence commenced and was completed in June 2009.

Title
Captain Isaiah A. Welch Correspondence, 1866-1867
Status
Completed
Author
Lora Settle, Graduate Assistant
Date
2009 (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