Samuel J. Smith Civil War diary and matchsafe

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 6002

Staff Only

Scope and Content

From August 1863 to July 1864, Samuel J. Smith, a private in the Confederate Army, kept a pocket diary noting daily events, camp life, news of his family, and the weather. Notable entries include his wounding and the death of his brother near Brandy Station on September 13, 1863, recovery at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, the presence of African-American soldiers near his home while on leave, reunion with his regiment in April 1864, and the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864.

Dates

Creation: 1863

Creator

Smith, Samuel J. (Samuel Jarvis) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Historical note

Private Samuel J. Smith was a 31-year-old farmer when he enlisted in the Confederate army near Moseley, Virginia, on July 18, 1861. He served in Mullins’ Fifth Cavalry Regiment, then joined the Fourteenth Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, which, in turn, consolidated with the Fifteenth Battalion to form the Fifteenth Regiment Virginia Cavalry. The Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry merged into the Fifth Virginia Cavalry Regiment Consolidated on November 8, 1864, but disbanded before the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865.