Charles T. Haigh Notebook-Diary
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
- Haigh, Charles Thomas, 1845-1864 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
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
- Diaries
- Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
- Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
- Lexington (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1860-1869
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Class of 1866
- Virginia Military Institute -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Creator
- Haigh, Charles Thomas, 1845-1864 (Person)
- Smith, Sara Henderson, 1812-1884 (Person)
- 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
