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The John J. Clarke Civil War papers consist of documents, including commissions, military orders, correspondence, and dispatches that relate to activities in and around Charleston, South Carolina during the period of 1864 to 1865. One letter (dated February 4, 1865) to Colonel Clarke from Headquarters discusses proposed training of African-American troops in the Confederate States of America Corps of Engineers.

This collection (47 items) consists of two series. The first series contains records (1702-1814; 17 items) related to the Virginia Militia, including regimental returns for various militia units. This material pre-dates the establishment of the state arsenal in Lexington, Virginia, but the documents were found among Lexington Arsenal records. Two of the documents date from the British colonial period (1702). The second series (1819-1839; 30 items) contains items concerning the operation of the state arsenal in Lexington. Included are payrolls and other financial records, guard returns and muster rolls, and two enlistment documents.

"Muster Roll of Captain F.H. Archer, company E in the First Regiment of Virginia Infantry volunteers, commanded by Colonel John F. Hamtramck, called into service of the United States during the War with Mexico, by the President, under the act of Congress approved May 13, 1846, from the 30th day of June, 1847, when last mustered to the 31st day of August 1847."

The William T. Poague papers consist of the papers (approximately 75 items) of Poague. The papers include the handwritten manuscripts of his Civil War memoirs, written in 1903 (later edited and published as the book "Gunner with Stonewall"). Also included is general correspondence related to Poague's membership in Confederate veteran's organizations, battery rolls, and other documents.