William G. Williamson papersMS.0205Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-09 17:47:30 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives William G. Williamson papers Williamson, William G. (William Garnett), 1840-1898 MS.0205 /repositories/3/resources/281 0.10 cubic feet 1/2 document box 1857-1898 Manuscripts stacks English . Scope and Contents

The William G. Williamson papers consist of the personal papers of Williamson. Included is an original manuscript Civil War notebook that contains:

  • Reports (September 1862-May 1863) submitted to the Chief Engineer's Office, Army of Northern Virginia, in which Williamson discusses destroying bridges at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, and reconnaissance and mapping trips in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont
  • Poetry
  • Notes about architecture, engineering, and Williamson family genealogy
The papers also include correspondence and documents (1868-1898), Williamson's obituary, and a book owned by Williamson titled "Scott's Infantry Tactics" (Volume III, 1860 edition).

In addition, the papers include a digital version only of an additional notebook (original owned by a descendant). This notebook dates from circa 1857 to 1861 and contains class notes and sketches, including a drawing of Stonewall Jackson while he was professor at VMI. The notebook likely dates in part from the period in which Williamson was a student at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University).

 Biographical / Historical

William Garnett Williamson was born in 1840 in Norfolk, Virginia. From 1858 to 1859 he was a student at Washington College, Lexington, Virginia. In 1861 he received military training at VMI (VMI Class of 1864 Military Science). During the Civil War he served with the 1st Regiment Engineers, Confederate States of America.

After the War, Williamson was a civil engineer. He died in 1898 in Pensacola, Florida while constructing coastal defenses during the Spanish-American War. He was the brother of Thomas Hoomes Williamson, a longtime member of the VMI faculty.

 Online Access

The Civil War reports and the pre-War notebook are available online.

 Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

 Conditions Governing Use

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 G. Williamson papers, 1857-1898. MS 0205. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

 Confederate States of America. Army—Corps of Engineers Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1864 Military Science United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865 Washington College (Lexington, Va.)–Students Washington and Lee University—History Reports Correspondence Poetry Williamson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hoomes), 1813-1888 Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863 Williamson family