MSS. Manuscript Collections

The Alexandria and Fairfax Counties [Virginia] Civil War Correspondence collection consists of 19 letters by 17 soldiers, dated between 1861 and 1862. Letters were written by soldiers stationed in and around Alexandria and Fairfax counties and Washington, DC in the first 12-16 months of the Civil War.

The collection contains two handwritten recipe books from the Thomas Family of Baltimore, Maryland. These cookbooks highlight Maryland specialities (oysters, clams, crabs, and terrapins), as well as preserves, cakes, puddings, and other dishes. The majority of the recipes range from the 1870s to the 1910s, but at least one dates back to 1831.

The collection consists of a handwritten announcement, dated August 3, 1840, regarding a runaway slave from the Cuckooville neighborhood of Louisa County, Virginia. Joseph Coats Jr., presumably the slave's master, describes in detail -- including physical characteristics and temperament -- the escaped 18 year old slave named Sam and offers a ten dollar reward for his capture.

The collection contains a handwritten special order issued by the Union army to Captain Thomas Gregg of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

This collection contains a telegram from J. S. Tinsley to J. Goggin, Esq. The telegram, dated June 2, 186[2], likely refers to the Battle of Seven Pines and reports a Confederate victory after the Union forces "retired" towards Drewry's Bluff.

The collection contains an arrest warrant issued on January 30th, 1864 for Patrick Keyces, a deserter from the 30th Virginia Sharpshooters Battalion.

The collections contains a letter, dated June 15, 1864, from James M. Wysor to his mother. While stationed at Kennesaw Mountain, James Wysor, a soldier in the 54th Virginia Infantry writes about picket and military activities and actions, rations, and deserters.

The collection contains the diary of Private Henry L. Burnell, Co. "I," 8th Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1859 - 1865. Burnell served in the Union Army from September 7, 1861 until July 22, 1865.

The collection contains a letter from George W. Beach to James Earle, dated September 26, 1863. The letter responds to an earlier letter from James Earle and describes why Beach's brigade has limited rations.

The collection includes two Civil War diaries of Captain Benjamin M. Peck of the 141st Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry and later, the 1st U. S. Sharp Shooters. The diaries span 1864 and 1865, and document Peck's experiences traveling from Pennsylvania, his service (which took him to major battles in Virginia), and his eventual return home to Towanda, PA.