William J. Hubard notebook

Collection

Identifier: MS-0014

Staff Only

The collection consists of a one volume notebook compiled in 1862 by VMI cadet William J. Hubard. The bulk of the volume contains poetry and mementos. There are also two diary entries. The poetry includes The Six Plebes and The Old Gray Coat by Sara Henderson Smith, and several poems attributed to cadets Edward A. Rhodes, John F. Hanna, and Benjamin F. Bishop. Subjects of the verses are VMI life and regulations, including many references to faculty members (Francis H. Smith, Raleigh Colston, John T. L. Preston, William Gilham, Thomas H. Williamson, and Stonewall Jackson).Poetry composed by cadets, includes "Soliloquy of a Rat," "Examination," "The Faculty," "The Rat's Dream," and other poems about cadet life. Mementos consist of autographs and dried pressed leaves presented to Hubard by young ladies. One sprig of cedar is labelled as being from Stonewall Jackson's coffin.

The notebook also contains two diary entries. The first, dated November 2, 1862, concerns the death of cadet William Thomas Fleming, who died of typhoid fever. The second entry mentions Hubard's examinations on June 24, 1863.

Dates

1862

Creator

Hubard, William J. (William James), 1845-1917 (Person)

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

1 items

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

William James Hubard, the son of William Hubard and Maria Mason Tabb, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 8, 1845. He enrolled at VMI on March 1862 and on May 15, 1864 took part in the Battle of New Market, Virginia. The following autumn he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the First Confederate Foreign Battalion, in which he served from November 1864 until he re-entered VMI on February 23, 1865.

After the Civil War Hubard taught school for several years and then worked as a civil engineer and in business until 1896. He spent the rest of his life working for the Masonic Order, and was Grand Lecturer of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Masons of Virginia. He married Mary Booth Troutman of Long Branch, New Jersey and they had one son, Nathaniel Walter (also a VMI graduate). Hubard died at his home in Richmond, Virginia, on April 20, 1917 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.