James A. Harden Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0476
The bulk of the collection consists of letters written by James Harden to his sister, covering wartime events experienced by his unit as well as his time at Ft. Delaware. Also included is one letter written from VMI in June 1861 and miscellaneous items.
Dates
- Majority of material found in 1861-1865
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
27 items (approximately 27 items)
Contents Note
James A. Harden came to VMI in the early summer of 1861 to receive military training. After a few weeks he joined the Confederate Army, serving with the 36th Virginia Infantry Regiment and the 23rd Virginia Battalion before being captured at the third battle of Winchester. He was held at Ft. Delware until the end of the war.
Born- Dec. 8, 1841 in Greenville, Augusta Co. Va. Father- D.M. Harden of Ky.; Mother- Eliza Ann Gibbons of Va. No information about grandparents. Married- Winnie Ella Berkey of Buckingham Co. Va. Children- 1- Susan Mary (m) Hawrahan; 2- Annie Tupper (m) Moore; 3- Mildred Lee (m) Medlin; 4- David Humphreys Harden; 5- James Edwin Harden; 6- Capt. Edward Lee Harden; 7- Dixie May Harden; 8- Benjamin Harden.
VMI Record: Entered VMI- June 4, 1861; Trained in Military Science and Tactics for one month before joining the C.S.A.
Civil War Record- Enlisted in the 36th Va. Regiment; Appointed Sgt. Maj. Aug 10, 1861; Shown as Acting Assistant Adjutant General in the 2nd Brigade Army of the Kanawha in Nov. 1861; Resigned and discharged March 25, 1862; Became Acting Adjutant for the 23rd Va. Battalion sometime in the summer of 1862; Appointed 1st Lieut. and Adjutant of the 23rd Battalion Nov. 20, 1862; Praised for "distinguished gallantry" at Droop Mountain Nov. 1863; Captured at the Third Battle of Winchester; Held at Ft. Delaware, DE.; Released on oath June 12, 1865.
Careers: Railroad Agent
Died- Sept. 7, 1927 in Dillwyn, Va.
Born- Dec. 8, 1841 in Greenville, Augusta Co. Va. Father- D.M. Harden of Ky.; Mother- Eliza Ann Gibbons of Va. No information about grandparents. Married- Winnie Ella Berkey of Buckingham Co. Va. Children- 1- Susan Mary (m) Hawrahan; 2- Annie Tupper (m) Moore; 3- Mildred Lee (m) Medlin; 4- David Humphreys Harden; 5- James Edwin Harden; 6- Capt. Edward Lee Harden; 7- Dixie May Harden; 8- Benjamin Harden.
VMI Record: Entered VMI- June 4, 1861; Trained in Military Science and Tactics for one month before joining the C.S.A.
Civil War Record- Enlisted in the 36th Va. Regiment; Appointed Sgt. Maj. Aug 10, 1861; Shown as Acting Assistant Adjutant General in the 2nd Brigade Army of the Kanawha in Nov. 1861; Resigned and discharged March 25, 1862; Became Acting Adjutant for the 23rd Va. Battalion sometime in the summer of 1862; Appointed 1st Lieut. and Adjutant of the 23rd Battalion Nov. 20, 1862; Praised for "distinguished gallantry" at Droop Mountain Nov. 1863; Captured at the Third Battle of Winchester; Held at Ft. Delaware, DE.; Released on oath June 12, 1865.
Careers: Railroad Agent
Died- Sept. 7, 1927 in Dillwyn, Va.
Physical Location
Manuscripts Stacks
Online Access
- Confederate States of America -- Army -- Virginia Infantry Battalion, 23rd
- Fort Delaware (Del.)
- Prisoners of war
- Soldiers -- Confederate States of America
- Soldiers -- Virginia -- Correspondence
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons
- Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate
- Virginia Military Institute -- Alumni -- Biography
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1860-1869
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Class of 1864 Military Science
- Virginia Military Institute -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Source
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository