James L. Merritt letters

Collection

Identifier: MS-0337

Staff Only

Two letters from Cadet Merritt to his father. 1863 Nov. 24, discusses school expenses, mentions the Corps being called to defend against Averell's raids; reports dissatisfaction with VMI (complains of hunger, gets " beef, irish potatoes, milk" only). May 16, 1864 written on the day after the Battle of New Market describes being wounded, action on battlefield, mentions cadets Norborne C. Lewis (Class of 1867) and John A. Crichton (Class of 1866). Letter was possibly written from the Bushong House near the battlefield. Includes envelope addressed to W.H.E. Merritt, Lawrenceville, Brunswick Co., Virginia.

Dates

1864

Creator

Merritt, James L. (James Love), 1845-1911 (Person)

Restrictions on 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

2 items

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

James Love Merritt, from Lawrenceville, Virginia, was born in September 1845. He was the son of W. H. E Merritt and Elizabeth Willis Goode. Merritt matriculated at VMI on August 6, 1863, and on May 15, 1864, he took part in the Battle of New Market as a private in Cadet Company C. He was seriously wounded in the battle and did not return to the Institute. Following the Civil War, he pursued a career in civil engineering and subsequently settled on his farm near Lawrenceville. Merritt never married; his closest relative was Howard Jeffries Merritt, a member of the VMI Class of 1868. He died at his home on March 18, 1911.