William J. Black Civil War diary and VMI account book

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 J. Black Civil War diary and VMI account book, 1862-1865. MS 0015. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 items
Creator:
Black, William Johnson, 1845-1935
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

William J. Black Civil War diary and VMI account book, 1862-1865. MS 0015. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the one volume diary of Confederate soldier William J. Black. The diary entries date from October 1864 to January 1865, and were written while Black was serving in Captain John J. Shoemaker's Company, Virginia Horse Artillery. Included are brief accounts of various skirmishes, the Battle of Cedar Creek (Virginia), and campsites and positions that are recorded daily.

Following the diary entries are copies of two of Shoemaker's reports detailing Battery activities, dated September 1, 1864 (covering the period May-August) and December 25, 1864 (covering the period September-December 25). The volume also contains Black's VMI account book that lists expenses incurred while a cadet (1862-1864) prior to joining Confederate Army.

Biographical / historical:

William Johnson Black was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on August 2, 1845 to Allen J. Black and Mary Haythe, both of Campbell County, Virginia. Black entered VMI in 1862 and resigned in 1864 to join the Confederate Army. He served in Captain John J. Shoemaker's Battery (Breathed's Battalion, Stuart Horse Artillery).

Following the Civil War, Black was in the express company business in Lynchburg. He married Virginia Price on March 5, 1871 and the couple had two children (Charles and E. Stockton). Black died at the Confederate Soldiers' Home in Richmond, Virginia on January 24, 1935.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks