Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Isaac White Letters
Snead, Bess Duvall White
White, Isaac, 1837-1889
Ms.1997.013
0.2 Cubic Feet
1 box, 1 oversize folder
1861-1938
The collection consists of letters written mostly by Isaac White (1837-1889) to his wife, Mary Virginia "Jinnie" Day White, while he served with the Confederate Army as an assistant surgeon during the American Civil War. Many of the letters are written while encamped along the Shenandoah Valley. Other papers include literature gathered by Bess Duvall White Snead, White's grand-daughter, in her search for military information about Isaac White.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Isaac White Letters, Ms1997-013, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection, with complete transcripts, has been digitized and is available online.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Isaac White Letters commenced and was completed in 1998. Additional description was completed in 2009.
Biographical Note
Isaac White was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on January 29, 1837. He graduated in 1859 from the Medical College of Virginia. He married Mary Virginia Day (1840-1922) on November 6, 1860. He and Mary bore two sons, John Day White (1864-1923), and George White.
During the American Civil War on May 27, 1861, White was commissioned as an assistant surgeon in the Virginia Active Volunteer Forces, with the rank of captain. He was appointed as an assistant surgeon in the Confederate Army on September 2, 1861, and served in the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment until his resignation on December 6, 1861. On May 13, 1862, he was appointed a major in the 29th Virginia Infantry Regiment, effective until his resignation on October 18, 1862. He served as acting assistant surgeon in Montgomery White Sulphur Springs Hospital (a resort before and after the war) in Montgomery County, Virginia, from September 8, 1862, until January 8, 1863. He was appointed assistant surgeon in the 62nd Virginia Regiment Mounted Infantry on March 24, 1863. It is unknown when he ended his service with this regiment. White was captured on December 10, 1864, and taken as a prisoner of war, until he was released at Camp Hamilton, Virginia, on January 6, 1865.
After the war, White was a resident physician at Montgomery White Sulphur Springs and Allegheny Springs resorts, and wrote for the Lynchburg and Richmond newspapers describing the history and social conditions of the local resorts as they were in the their glory days. Isaac White died on August 3, 1889, at his home in Shawsville, Virginia, and is buried in the family graveyard on the property.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of letters written mostly by Isaac White to his wife, Mary Virginia Day White, while he served with the Confederate Army as an assistant surgeon during the American Civil War. He refers to her as Jinnie in the letters. Many of the letters are written while encamped along the Shenandoah Valley. Other papers include literature gathered by Bess Duvall White Snead, Isaac White's grand-daughter, in her search for military information about Isaac White.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Isaac White Letters by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Civil War
Folk, historical, and patent medicine
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Medicine
Medicine, Military -- History
Montgomery County (Va.)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
White, Mary Virginia Day, 1840-1922
Transcript of Isaac White letters done by George Snead193811Certificate to Isaac White certifying his appointment to Surgeon with the rank of CaptainMay 27, 186112Letter to Alfred (James A. Agee of Appomattox County, Virginia) from S.H. Mullan of Highland Co., VirginiaJune 8, 186113Letter to Alfred from S.H. MullanFebruary 3, 186214Letter to Alfred and Sarah from MullanJuly 4, 186215Letter to Isaac White from Colonel James D. Imboden inviting White to apply as a surgeon in Imboden's regimentJuly 24, 186216Letter to Isaac White from the Assistant Secretary of War inviting him to appear before the board for his examination for the position of Assistant SurgeonDecember 22, 186217Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp WashingtonApril 13, 186318Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Buckhannan Upshur Co. VirginiaMay 2, 186319Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Williamsport, MarylandJuly 9, 1863110Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Harrisonburg, VirginiaAugust 20, 1863111Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Harrisonburg, VirginiaSeptember 7, 1863112Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp, 10 Miles North of Harrisonburg, VirginiaSeptember 13, 1863113Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Near Dayton, VirginiaSeptember 30, 1863114Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Near DogtonOctober 6, 1863115Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp 18 Miles NW of StauntonOctober 24, 1863116Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - HarrisonburgNovember 18, 1863117Letter to Isaac from Grandma DayDecember 8, 1863118Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp 5 Miles from StauntonDecember 24, 1863119Letter from Mary Day to White(?)February 28, 1864120Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Near Dear Field, VirginiaMarch 9, 1864121Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Mt. Crawford, VirginiaApril 30, 1864122Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Woodstock, VirginiaMay 7, 1864123Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Newmarket, VirginiaMay 16, 1864124Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Hanover Junction, VirginiaMay 20, 1864125Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Hanover Junction, VirginiaMay 27, 1864126Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - On The Battle FieldJune 3, 1864127Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Charlottesville, VirginiaJune 8, 1864128Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Charlottesville, VirginiaJune 12, 1864129Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp 4 Miles of SalemJune 22, 1864130Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Near StauntonJune 27, 1864131Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Strausburg, VirginiaJuly 22, 1864132Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Near Jefferson Co. VirginiaAugust 9, 1864133Letter from Isaac to his Mother - Camp 8 Miles Above ?August 11, 1864134Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Camp Lurray Valley, VirginiaAugust 17, 1864135Letter from Isaac to his Mother - Camp Lurray Valley, VirginiaAugust 17, 1864136Letter to Jinnie from IsaacAugust 19, 1864137Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Jefferson Co., VirginiaAugust 24, 1864138Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Strausburg, VirginiaSeptember 22, 1864139Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - Port RepublicOctober 2, 1864140Letter to Jinnie from Isaac - On Pickett Near Newhope, VirginiaOctober 6, 1864141Telegraph to Jinnie from Isaac - Mt. Dr (?)October 20, 1864142Envelopes of letters from Isaac White143Letter from Leslie Day to Leslie's Sister - Bluefield, West VirginiaSeptember 21, 1897144Note from Bank of Christiansburg, VirginiaNovember 28, 1900145Isaac White's War Record from the Adjutant General's office of the U.S. War DepartmentMay 16, 1938146Virginia State Library Certificate from Wilmer Hall, State LibrarianDecember 7, 1938147Letter to Mrs. S.C. Snead from Mr. Hall, State Librarian, showing the service of Isaac White in the Confederate ArmyDecember 8, 1938148Blank Sheet of Snead Lumber Company paper149Story of Mrs. Payne's Life - "A Brief Outline of My Life, Written for the Benefit of my Grandchildren"150Invoice of Medicines, Instruments, Hospital Stores, Bedding, Etc. issued to Surgeon Isaac White, Camp Alaghany by Surgeon E.W. Johns, signed by E.W. Johns, Surgeon and Medical PurveyorAugust 26, 18611