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Charles T. Haigh Notebook-Diary

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0016

The collection consists of a one volume notebook-diary kept by Virginia Military Institute Cadet Charles T. Haigh in 1862- 1864. The volume provides insight into the life and concerns of a VMI cadet during the Civil War. It primarily contains poetry written by his classmates, as well as poetry by Sara Henderson Smith, the wife of VMI's Superintendent, Francis H. Smith.

The diary portion contains sparse entries for the period March-May 1863. Included are occasional references to wartime cadet life, as well as a brief account of General Stonewall Jackson's wounding, death, and funeral in May 1863. There is one brief entry written at Fayetteville, NC on March 23, 1864.

Diary Entries by Date
03/30/1863
- ex-cadet William A. Daniels
04/02/1863
- Hampton's Brigade
04/03/1863
- resignation of Cadet Smith
04/22/1863
- "Button mania"
04/28/1863
- Visit of Governor John Letcher
05/06/1863
- Gen. Lee's victory over Gen. Hooker
05/07/1863
- Gen. Stonewall Jackson wounded; Paxton and Davidson killed
05/09/1863
- Davidson funeral
05/11/1863
- Death of Gen. Jackson
05/12/1863
- Paxton's body interred
05/14/1863
- Jackson's body arrives in Lexington
05/15/1863
- Jackson's funeral

Dates

  • 1862 - 1864

Creator

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

4 items (Folder 1 contains the diary notebook. In addition, a second folder contains 2 excuses submitted to the VMI Commandant for infractions committed by Cadet Haigh, and one misc. document.)

Biographical / Historical

Charles Thomas Haigh was born March 1845 at Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended the Hillsboro (North Carolina)Military Academy and served as a drillmaster in North Carolina at the beginning of the Civil War. He subsequently enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute, where he was a cadet from late 1861 through part of 1863.

In October 1863 he began service in Company B, 37th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He was killed in battle at Spotsylvania on May 12, 1864, while leading a charge. His brigade commander wrote that "Lieutenant Haigh was among the foremost in the charge upon the battery, and won the admiration of all who saw him."

Physical Location

Manuscripts Stacks
Title
A Guide to the Charles Thomas Haigh Notebook-Diary, 1863
Author
Diane B. Jacob
Date
© 2001 By VirginiaMilitary Institute

Revision Statements

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Repository Details

Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository

Contact:
VMI Archives
Preston Library
Lexington VA 24450
540-464-7516