John Garibaldi Papers 1862-1864

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

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The bulk of the collection consists of 38 letters, 1862-1864, written by Garibaldi to his wife Sarah during his service in the Confederate Army (27th Virginia Infantry Regiment). Primary topics include camp life, the hardships of war for both soldiers and civilians, battles and skirmishes (including Chancellorsville and Gettysburg), other members of the 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment, and family news. The papers also include 1 letter from William H. McPherson to Sarah Poor Garibaldi (1863) and 3 letters from Garibaldi to his daughter, written in 1904.

Biographical / historical:

John Garibaldi, Confederate soldier, was born in Genoa, Italy, on April 30, 1831. He immigrated to the United States 1851, where he married Sarah Ann Virginia Poor of Botetourt County, Virginia. During the Civil War, Garibaldi served as 3rd Sergeant, Co. C, 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Stonewall Brigade). He enlisted May 1861; was captured at Kernstown March 23, 1862 and sent to Ft. Delaware prison; was exchanged August 5, 1862; and returned to duty until captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse, May 12, 1864. He was again imprisoned at Ft. Delaware and was exchanged for the second time on October 30, 1864. After the war, Garibaldi was a teacher and farmer in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He died at Big Island, Bedford Co., Virginia, on September 8, 1914 and is buried in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, Lexington.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to the VMI Archives by the Lee-Jackson Foundation in 1989.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical description:
The collection consists of 42 items.