VMI Civil War admissions circular

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

VMI Civil War admissions circular, 1861 May 3. MS 0178. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 items
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

VMI Civil War admissions circular, 1861 May 3. MS 0178. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The printed portion of the document outlines the proposed training regimen and lists estimated monthly expenses. This particular document was mailed to Christopher Damron, a lawyer in Allegheny County, Virginia, who had inquired about enrolling his sons (they did not enroll). A handwritten note from VMI's treasurer William S. Polk to Damron appears at the bottom of the document.

Biographical / historical:

When the Civil War began in the Spring of 1861, most of the regularly enrolled cadets were sent to Richmond, Virginia, to serve as drillmasters for new Confederate States of America Army recruits. Back in Lexington, Virginia, VMI opened its doors to new students who desired a brief course in military training in preparation for entering the Confederate Army. This circular, printed in May 1861, was sent to these prospective cadets, who would be "organized into classes for instruction in infantry, artillery, and cavalry tactics, in field fortification, strategy and pyrotechny...." Most of these trainees stayed for three months or less.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks