Lilburn O. Byers Diary
Scope and Content
This collection contains the 1864 diary kept by Confederate soldier Lilburn O. Byers during the American Civil War. Byers writes about battles, troop movements, and events happening in camp. Byers' diary also covers the death of Confederate General William E. Jones. A page at the end contains a letter from Byers to his wife in February 1865 to give the diary to her. The front of the diary contains an almanac for 1864, and there are lists of names and money from people at the back.
Dates
- 1864 - 1865
Creator
- Byers, Lilburn Owen, 1825-1889 (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in this 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
Lilburn Owen Byers (also Byars) was a farmer born to Benjamin Burkhart Byers and Mary B. Owen on June 25, 1825, in Tennessee. He was baptized the following year at Bristol. During the Mexican-American War, Byers enrolled in Company D of the 5th Tennessee Infantry of the U.S. Army on November 7, 1847, in Knoxville. He mustered out on July 20, 1848, at Memphis. Byers married Olivia King on December 20, 1849, in Washington County, Virginia, and the couple had at least one child.
During the American Civil War, Byers served in the 21st Virginia Cavalry of the Confederate Army. In November 1869, Byers married a woman named Elizabeth, and by the 1880 census, They had two children and were living in Johnson County, Missouri. Byers passed away on January 2, 1889, and is buried alongside Elizabeth in the Leesburg Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Washington County, Tennessee.
Sources:
U. S. Federal Census, 1850-1880
"Lilburn O. Byers," Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46934521/lilburn-o-byers, accessed February 27, 2025.
"Lilburn O. Byars" in the Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60214/records/3162520, accessed Feb. 27, 2025.
"Lilburn O Byers" in the U.S., Compiled Military Service Records for American Volunteer Soldiers, Mexican War, 1845-1848, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2058/records/88972, accessed Feb. 27, 2025.
"Lilburn Owen Byars" in the U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/61048/records/1934986, accessed Feb. 27, 2025.
"Byers, L.O.", National Park Service's Civil War Soldier Database, https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=BDAD138A-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A, accessed Feb. 27, 2025.
"Byars, L.O.", National Park Service's Civil War Soldier Database, https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=6BAA138A-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A, accessed Feb. 27, 2025.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection contains the 1864 diary kept by Confederate soldier Lilburn O. Byers (1825-1889) during the American Civil War. Byers writes about battles, troop movements, and events happening in camp. Byers' diary also covers the death of Confederate General William E. Jones. A page at the end contains a letter from Byers to his wife in February 1865 to give the diary to her. The front of the diary contains an almanac for 1864, and there are lists of names and money from people at the back.
Source of Acquisition
The Lilburn O. Byers Diary was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in November 2018.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Lilburn O. Byers Diary 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 Lilburn O. Byers Diary was completed in February 2025. Initial description was completed in October 2023.
- Title
- Lilburn O. Byers Diary, 1864-1865
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- LM Rozema, Archivist, and Tyler Williams, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2025 (CC0 1.0)
- 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