James Henry Reid Papers
The collection consists of the Civil War correspondence (18 items) of James Henry Reid. Included are 13 letters from Reid to his parents written while he was a fourth classman at the Virginia Military Institute, August - November 1862. This correspondence contains many references to wartime cadet life, including use of the term "rat" as a name for new cadets, hazing, uniforms, food, guard duty and other aspects of life at VMI during the Civil War. The papers also contain one letter (1864 March 7) written while Reid was serving with the 13th Virginia Light Artillery Regiment, Confederate Army; and 4 miscellaneous letters, 1865 and 1867.
Dates
- 1862 - 1867
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Extent
18 items
Biographical / Historical
James Henry Reid, Jr. was born at Brentsville, Prince William County, Virginia in 1845. His parents were James Henry Reid, Sr. and Amy Ann Tolson. Reid entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1862 and resigned in January 1864 to join the Confederate Army. He served in 1864-1865 as a private in Company A, 13th Battalion Virginia Light Artillery (Otey's Battery) and was paroled at Appomattox.
During the post-war years Reid engaged in many professions, including that of teacher, justice of the peace, notary public, bookkeeper, banker, and farmer. He married Beulah Reese on December 10, 1868, at Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia. They had several children; living in 1921 were J. Henry, Jr., William, David, Beulah, and Amy. Much of Reid's life was spent in Prince William County, Virginia, where he died in 1921. He is buried at Manassas, Virginia.
Physical Location
- Confederate States of America -- Army -- Virginia Light Artillery Battalion, 13th
- Madison, Robert L. (Robert Lewis), 1828-1878
- Soldiers -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence
- Soldiers -- Virginia -- Correspondence
- Virginia Military Institute -- Academics -- History -- 19th century
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1860-1869
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Class of 1866
- Virginia Military Institute -- Curricula
- Virginia Military Institute -- Faculty -- Anecdotes
- Virginia Military Institute -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Slang
- Williamson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hoomes), 1813-1888
Creator
- Title
- A Guide to the James Henry Reid Papers, 1862-1867
- Author
- Diane B. Jacob
- Date
- © 2002 Virginia Military Institute Archives
- Language of description
- Description is in English
Revision Statements
- finding aid revision date not supplied: Feb 16, 2004 PUBLIC "-//Virginia Military Institute::Preston Library::Archives//TEXT (US::ViLxV::vilxv00028::A Guide to the James Henry Reid Papers)//EN" "vilxv00028.xml"converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Feb 26, 2004 converted to conform to eadVIVA.dtd by vivastrict.xsl
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository
