Melchoir M. Long Obituary and Notes 1864; 1893

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195

Summary

Creator:
Unknown
Abstract:
This collection contains a handwritten copy of an obituary written 15 November 1864 from a Camp near New Market, VA, by a friend (Amicus) for Melchoir Mason Long. Appended to the copied obituary are notes made concerning the 12 August 1893 removal by his sisters of Long from Strasburg, VA and re-interment at Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains a handwritten copy of an obituary written 15 November 1864 from a Camp near New Market, VA, by a friend (Amicus) for Melchoir Mason Long. It was published 25 November 1864 in the Richmond Examiner, a copy of which has been added to the collection. Appended to the copied obituary are notes made concerning the 12 August 1893 removal by his sisters of Long from Strasburg, VA and re-interment at Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.

Biographical / historical:

Melchoir Mason Long (1838-1864), a son of Burgess Ball Long (1796-1873) and Sarah Ann Thompson (d. 1841) was born in Union County, KY and died during the Battle of Cedar Creek 19 October 1864. Little is known of his childhood, education or early adulthood. According to available records on the Civil War, Long enlisted, 27 May 1861, at Manassas, serving first as a Private before appointment as Sergeant, 27 August 1861, in Company F (Williams Rifles), 1st Virginia Infantry. Subsequently he is listed as Sergeant, Company C (Beauregard Rifles), 1st Virginia Artillery and, 22 January 1862, in Command as Captain of Infantry. By 30 April1864 he is listed as a 1st Lieutenant, Confederate Engineers. Hewas killed at Cedar Creek, 19 October 1864, while acting as an aide de campe to Brigadier General Gabriel Colvin Wharton (1824-1906) an 1847 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Initially buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Strasburg, VA, Long's remains were removed by his sisters, Virginia Mason Long (1834-1925) and Eleanor Long (1836-1900) and reinterred, 12 August 1893, in the Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA, next to his father, Colonel Burgess Ball Long. Long's Mother, Sarah Ann Thompson, died and was buried in Union County, KY as was a younger brother William Allen Thompson Long (1840- ca. 1842). Virginia and Eleanor Long are interred in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition information:
Unknown, transferred to Town of Leesburg by Loudoun County in July 1994.
Physical description:
1 item (2 leaves) and photocopy