Collection: Samuel Downing, Jr. papers

This collection consists of three items, including:

One letter (dated November 17, 1859) from Samuel Downing, Jr. to his father, in which he describes in detail the cadet trip to Norfolk, Virginia, including an interesting account of an uncomfortable canal boat journey
One list of demerits (April to June 1860)
One quarterly grade report (July 1860)

Dates

1859-1860

Creator

Downing, Samuel, 1842-1885 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Extent

3 items

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Samuel Downing, Jr. was born circa 1842 in Lancaster, Virginia to Samuel Downing and Catherine E. Payne. He entered VMI as a third classman (sophomore) in August 1859 and graduated in December 1861. Downing joined the Confederate Army, serving throughout the Civil War with the 55th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

After the War he was a teacher in Virginia, but subsequently moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he was engaged in the tobacco business. In 1865 he married Miss Betts of Northumberland County, Virginia and the couple had one son who died in infancy. Downing died in Baltimore on March 11, 1885 and is buried in London Park Cemetery.