John E. Roller papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0171

Staff Only

This collection consists of personal correspondence, 1862-1870, including:

Civil War era letters from cadet friends concerning life at VMI
Civil War dispatches and telegrams that date from John E. Roller's service with the Confederate States Engineers, including one document signed by General Robert E. Lee
Scrapbook (circa 1910) that contains clippings about Civil War battles, veterans, unit reunions, monument dedications, and related information
Two photographs, one of Confederate soldier Lt. Col. Samuel T. Walker (10th Virginia Infantry Regiment) and one of the Virginia Legislature Centennial Committee (1871)
Holograph text of a cadet literary-debating society speech delivered by Cadet Norwood B. Randolph in 1870
Other items

Dates

1862-1910

Creator

Roller, John E. (John Edwin), 1844-1917 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions

Extent

0.50 cubic feet (Approximately 40 items)

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

John Edwin Roller was born in Rockingham County, Virginia on October 5, 1844 to Peter Samuel Roller and Frances Allebach. In the summer of 1861, although underage for service, he briefly served with Company I of the First Virginia Cavalry. On December 31, 1861, he entered VMI as a second classman (equivalent to Junior), and graduated in July 1863. He subsequently taught mathematics at VMI for a few months, and then was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Company G, 2nd Confederate States Engineers in October 1863. He served as an Engineer officer in the Army of Northern Virginia to the end of the Civil War, and was paroled at Appomattox, Virginia.

After the war he studied law at the University of Virginia and practiced law in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He also served in the Virginia state legislature and was a Brigadier General in the state militia. Roller was widely known in the Harrisonburg community as "General Roller." He died in Harrisonburg on August 10, 1918.