William D. Stuart papers

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:

William D. Stuart papers, 1850-1863. MS 0108. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
60 items 60 items in one box
Creator:
Stuart, William D. (William Dabney), 1830-1863, Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890, and Jordan, Gabriel, Jr., 1831-1884
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

William D. Stuart papers, 1850-1863. MS 0108. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The bulk of the William D. Stuart papers consists of the Civil War papers (60 items; 1861-1863) of Stuart. The papers contain:

  • Correspondence to and from various Confederate Army officers
  • Morning and guard reports
  • Military orders
  • Invoices and receipts documenting Stuart's brief service with the 15th Virginia Infantry Regiment and his command of the 56th Virginia Infantry Regiment
Other items include letters of recommendation for a United States Army Commission (1850), a letter from Gabriel Jordan, Jr. (VMI Class of 1850) dated November 1854, and printed material.

Biographical / historical:

William Dabney Stuart was born on September 30, 1830 in Staunton, Virginia to Thomas Jefferson Stuart and Martha M. Dabney. He did preparatory work at the Staunton Academy and then entered VMI in July 1847. Stuart graduated from VMI in July 1850, standing 3rd in a class of 17.

Following graduation he taught at VMI (1850-1853) and was subsequently a principal of classical schools in Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. He married Frances Harris of Loudon County, Virginia and the couple had three children: Martha, Mary Bell, and William.

During the Civil War, Stuart briefly commanded the 15th Virginia Infantry Regiment, and was then appointed Colonel with the 56th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Confederate States Army. He was mortally wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during Pickett's Charge, and died in a hospital in Staunton on July 29, 1863.

Custodial history:

The William D. Stuart papers were originally in the possession of Stuart's widow and were passed down through the family before being donated to VMI.

Arrangement:

The papers are arranged by document type and chronologically thereunder.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks