Francis M. Boykin Civil War 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:

Francis M. Boykin Civil War papers, 1861. MS 0232. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
8 items
Creator:
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 and Letcher, John, 1813-1884
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Francis M. Boykin Civil War papers, 1861. MS 0232. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Francis M. Boykin Civil War papers include:

  • Two commission documents
  • Extracts from military orders
  • One letter from Governor John Letcher that orders Boykin to proceed to Grafton, West Virginia and communicate with Colonel Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall)
  • One letter bearing the signature of General Robert E. Lee

Biographical / historical:

Francis Marshall Boykin was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia on March 1, 1837. His ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and his father, General Francis Boykin, was a member of the Virginia Senate. Boykin entered VMI in July 1853 and graduated in 1856. He engaged in teaching until 1861.

During the Civil War, Boykin served as a Lieutenant Colonel with the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America. He served throughout the War and was briefly imprisoned at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie.

After the War he was in the tobacco business in Richmond, Virginia. Boykin married Ellen B. George, and they had three children: Hamilton, Anna, and Ellen. He died on May 5, 1906 in Richmond.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks