William Stephen Moss Collection,
Scope and Content
The materials in the William Stephen Moss Collection include information on the conditions of Northern prisons during the Civil War and Moss's personal life. Letters from Washington, DC; Point Lookout, Maryland; and Elmira, New York stem from Moss's capture at the Germana Ford in 1863. One letter predates Moss's capture. Specifically, in these letters Moss discusses his desire for a prisoner exchange, the disinterest of authorities in prisoners, endemic sickness, and the tradability of tobacco for stamps. Many original POW covers (envelopes) are included and are marked with signed approval and original postage. Also in the collection is a biography written by Moss's son, William D. Moss, and a hand-tinted photograph of an elderly Moss with a hunting dog lounging near a tree.
Dates
- Creation: 1863 - 1864
Creator
- Moss, William S., 1839-1924 (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the William Stephen Moss Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Biographical Information
Born 12 October 1839 in Buckingham County, Virginia, William Stephen Moss became a member of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Moss served in the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company B from Chesterfield, Virginia. Captured at Germana Ford on 19 September 1863 when scouting the Union Army, Moss was brought to Washington as a prisoner of war. Moss was quickly transferred to "Point Lookout" in Maryland. On 16 August 1864, Moss was again transferred to Elmira Prison in New York-a prison with a reputation for its unhealthy conditions and high rates of scurvy. On one occasion, as related in the biography of Moss written by his son, Moss attempted to escape by tunneling out of prison with common utensils; but, guards thwarted the plot. After the war, Moss opened a general store with his brother (James Knox Polk Moss) and married Cora A. Leadbetter. William Stephen Moss died in 1924.
Biographical information was obtained largely from the biography of Moss found within the collection.
Full Extent
0.2 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Papers centering on William Stephen Moss, a Confederate prisoner of war during the American Civil War. Includes an identification card, letters from Moss to his mother, a biography written by his son, and a photograph of Moss.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by material type. Letters appear chronologically.
Acquisition Information
The William Stephen Moss Collection was purchased by Special Collections in 2004.
General Physical Description note
1 folder; 0.1 cu. ft.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement and description of the William Stephen Moss Collection took place in March-April, 2008.
- Title
- A Guide to the William Stephen Moss Collection, 1863-1864
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Emily Cook
- Date
- © 2008 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu