Skip to main content

Joseph Rule Letter

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2018-011

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a letter written by Joseph Rule from his camp at Petersburg, Virginia, December 15th, 1864 to his friend Silas. The letter details Rule's Company B, 50th New York Engineers involvement in the December, 1864 raid on the Weldon Railroad which was a major supply line for Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Rule writes that they had plenty to eat from the surrounding countryside including turkey, chicken, geese, and pigs. Applejack was drank by some cavalry and infantrymen accompanying the engineers. The engineers, including Rule, tore up 21 miles of track on the Weldon Railroad. On their return march they burned every house and barn on their way in retaliation. Rule writes, "I dont think that we would of burnt anything if the Rebbels had not brutily murdered some of our men on the line of march."

Dates

  • 1864

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Joseph Rule Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Letter written by Joseph Rule from his camp at Petersburg, Virginia, December 15th, 1864 to his friend Silas. Letter details Rule's Company B, 50th New York Engineers involvement in the December, 1864 raid on the Weldon Railroad which was a major supply line for Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

Acquisition Information

The Joseph Rule Letter was purchased by Special Collections in February 2016.

Alternate Form Available

This collection has been digitized and is available online.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Joseph Rule Letter was completed in September, 2018.

Title
Joseph Rule Letter, 1864
Status
Completed
Author
Jeff Felton, Graduate Intern and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Date
2018 (CC0)
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

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