Richard H. Adams, Jr. papersMS.0358Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-04-24 07:02:02 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives Richard H. Adams, Jr. papers Adams, Richard H., Jr. (Richard Henry), 1841-1896 Adams, Lottie P. (Lottie Putnam) MS.0358 /repositories/3/resources/438 0.25 cubic feet approximately 80 items 1862-1866 Manuscripts stacks English 1 Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the Civil War papers (approximately 80 items) of Captain Richard H. Adams, Jr, including:

  • A manuscript diary kept while serving with the 5th Alabama Regiment in Virginia (April-June 1862), with an accompanying typewritten transcription
  • Transcriptions of two additional diary volumes (September 1862-March 1863; and prison diary, 1864-1865)
  • Forty seven letters (November 1863-September 1866) to Lottie Putnam Adams, most written before their marriage while Adams was a prisoner of war
  • Twenty three letters from Lottie to Richard (March 1864-January 1865)
  • A typescript titled "Account of Wheeler's Raids," which was written after the Civil War
  • "Friendship book" (March 1865) that contains inscriptions by fellow prisoners
  • Two photographs of Adams
  • Documents and clippings
The letters reflect ongoing courtship and generally concern personal and family matters with some references to war and prison life. Diaries contain information about camp life, battles, and prison life.

 Biographical / Historical

Richard Henry Adams, Jr. was born in 1841 at "Altwood," Marengo County, Alabama. During the Civil War he served as officer with the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment and in the Engineer Corps on General Wheeler's staff. He was captured near Nashville, Tennessee and was a prisoner of war from September 1863 to June 1865 (one of "immortal 600"). After the War, Adams was an engineer. He died in 1896 in Radford, Virginia.

 Online Access

Major portions of this collection 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

Richard H. Adams, Jr. papers, 1862-1866. MS 0358. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

 Johnson Island Prison Confederate States of America. Army—Alabama Infantry Regiment, 5th Confederate States of America. Army—Cavalry Wheeler's Cavalry Corps (C.S.A.) Peninsular Campaign (1862) Fair Oaks (Henrico County, Va.), Battle of, 1862 Soldiers -- Alabama -- Diaries Virginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Prisoners and prisons Point Lookout Prison Camp (Md.) Fort Delaware (Del.) Morris Island (S.C.) Marengo County (Ala.) -- History United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Women Prisoners of war United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865 Correspondence Correspondence from Richard H. Adams, Jr. to Lottie Putnam Adams /repositories/3/archival_objects/308647 items1863-1866English11Correspondence from Lottie Putnam Adams to Richard H. Adams, Jr./repositories/3/archival_objects/308727 items1864-1865English12Civil War diary/repositories/3/archival_objects/30881862 April-JuneEnglish13Scope and Contents

Diary details the activities of Company D, 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Confederate States of America. Army—Alabama Infantry Regiment, 5thPeninsular Campaign (1862)Fair Oaks (Henrico County, Va.), Battle of, 1862Soldiers -- Alabama -- DiariesVirginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—ConfederateFriendship book/repositories/3/archival_objects/31001865English13Scope and Contents

This leather bound notebook contains inscriptions and letters of esteem written from the United States Military Prison at Hilton Head, South Carolina, by fellow prisoners near the end of the Civil War.

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Prisoners and prisonsConfederate States of America. Army—Alabama Infantry Regiment, 5thCivil War oath of allegiance/repositories/3/archival_objects/3091Adams, Richard H., Jr. (Richard Henry), 1841-18961865 June 12English14Scope and Contents

The oath of allegiance sworn by Richard H. Adams, Jr. at Fort Delaware.

Fort Delaware (Del.)United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Prisoners and prisonsOathsMilitary recordsDiaries and correspondence transcriptions/repositories/3/archival_objects/30901863-1865English17-10Scope and Contents

The original papers were accompanied by these transcriptions, created by an unknown person. They have not been reviewed or checked for accuracy by the VMI Archives staff. They include transcriptions of additional diaries for which we do not own the original manuscript, including the "Prison Diary."

Wheeler's Raid, typescript account/repositories/3/archival_objects/30921862English