Nathaniel C. Wilson collection, 1834/1941

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:

Nathaniel C. Wilson collection, 1834-1941. MS 0490. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
0.5 cubic feet approximately 60 items
Creator:
Wilson, Nathaniel C. (Nathaniel Claiborne), 1839-1863
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Nathaniel C. Wilson collection, 1834-1941. MS 0490. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the Civil War papers of Nathaniel C. Wilson (VMI Class of 1861) and papers of other Wilson family members, including:

  • Wilson's diary-account book fragment that includes entries from Pennsylvania and the battlefield at Gettysburg.
  • Two letters (dated 1859-1860)written while Wilson was a student at the University of Virginia.
  • One letter (dated March 14-25, 1863) from Wilson written during the Civil War from Camp near Greenville, Virginia.
  • Wilson family correspondence, legal/financial papers, and ephemera.

Written from "Camp near Greenville," Virginia. Letter regards troop movements and personal news.

This file contains genealogy notes for the Wilson, Claiborne, and James families.

Biographical / historical:

Nathaniel Claiborne Wilson was born in 1831 and matriculated into VMI in 1857, but was only at VMI for a year. From 1859 to 1860 he was at the University of Virginia. Wilson's military service is as follows:

  • Entered service at Craig Court House, Virginia on May 15, 1861 for 1 year as a Captain, Company B, 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment.
  • On recruiting service from February to April 1862.
  • Elected Major on May 1, 1862 at re-organization.
  • Was sightly wounded in action (face) on June 1, 1862 at Seven Pines, Henrico County, Virginia.
  • Was wounded in action (thigh) at Gaines' Mill, Hanover County, Virginia.
  • Went into Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania telling men, "Now, boys, put your trust in God and follow me!"
  • Was killed in action on July 3, 1863.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks