James W. Thomson papersMS.0239Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-12 07:02:48 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives James W. Thomson papers Thomson, James W. (James Walton), 1843-1865 Pelham, John, 1838-1863 MS.0239 /repositories/3/resources/311 14 items 1860-1861 Manuscripts stacks English . Scope and Contents

The James W. Thomson papers consist of 13 letters (dated 1860-1861) written by the family and friends of Thomson. The letters were received by Thomson while he was a cadet at VMI and contain family and personal news. Correspondents include Thomson's mother, grandmother, brother, sister, and cousin. One letter (dated September 10, 1861) is from Colonel John Pelham who discusses an army appointment for Thomson.

Biographical / Historical

James Walton Thomson was born in 1843 in Summit Point, West Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1864. During the Civil War he was a Major with the Horse Artillery, Confederate States of America. Thomson was killed in battle near High Bridge, Virginia in April 1865.

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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

James W. Thomson papers, 1860-1861. MS 0239. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1864 Correspondence Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869