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Francis M. Boykin Civil War papers, 1861. MS 0232. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Francis Marshall Boykin was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia on March 1, 1837. His ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and his father, General Francis Boykin, was a member of the Virginia Senate. Boykin entered VMI in July 1853 and graduated in 1856. He engaged in teaching until 1861.
During the Civil War, Boykin served as a Lieutenant Colonel with the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America. He served throughout the War and was briefly imprisoned at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie.
After the War he was in the tobacco business in Richmond, Virginia. Boykin married Ellen B. George, and they had three children: Hamilton, Anna, and Ellen. He died on May 5, 1906 in Richmond.
The Francis M. Boykin Civil War papers include:
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter orders Francis M. Boykin to proceed to Grafton, West Virginia and contact Colonel Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall).
Executive Department
Richmond Apl 29 1861
Major F. M. Boykin
Weston Lewis Cty Va
Sir:
You will proceed at once to Grafton at the junction of the B and Ohio and the Parkersburg Road and communicate with Col. Thomas J. Jackson* at Harpers Ferry who is in the command of the Volunteer forces in that section of the State.
I am most Respectfully
John Letcher
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter orders Francis M. Boykin to muster into service volunteer companies and to take position near Grafton, West Virginia to protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Hdqtrs Va Forces
Richmond Va
April 29th/61
Major F. M. Boykin
Virg Volunteers
Weston Va.
You are desired to take measures to muster into the service of the State such volunteer companies as may offer their services for the protection of the N. W. portion of the State. Assume the command and take position at or near Grafton unless some other point should offer greater facilities for the command of the Balt. & Ohio R. R. and the branch to Parkersburg. It is not the object to interrupt peaceful travel on the road, or to offer annoyance to citizens pursuing their usual avocations, but to hold the road for the benefit of Maryland and Virgi9nia and to prevent its being used against them. You will therefore endeavor to obtain the cooperation of the Officers of the road and afford them on your part every assistance in your power to attain this end.
You will also endeavor to give quiet and security to the inhabitants of the country.
Major Alonso Loring at Wheeling has been directed, with the volunteer companies under his command, to give protection to the road near its terminus at the Ohio River, and you will place yourself in communications with him and cooperative with him if necessary.
Please state whether a force at Parkersburg will be necessary and what number of companies, and what number of companies can be furnished in that vicinity.
You are requested to report the number of companies, you may muster into the service of the State, their arms, condition vc and your views as to the best means for the accomplishment of the object in view. To enable you to supply any deficiency in arms in the Company's, 200 muskets of the old pattern, flint lock, will be forwarded to Col. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) the Comdy Officer at Harpers Ferry to your order from whom you must take measures to receive them and convey them in safely to their destination under guard if necessary. I regret that no other arms are at present for issue.
Very Respectfully
R. E. Lee
Maj. Genl Comd
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Order requires officers to submit returns of their commands and to abide by regulations concerning military correspondence.
General Orders
No. 4
1. The General or other officers commanding Virginia Forces at Richmond, Norfolk, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, & Harpers Ferry, and such other points as they may hereafter be sent in separate commands, are required to submit to this offices; returns of their respective commands once in ten days, commending on the 1st day of each month.
2. The attention of all officers of the Va Volunteers, is called to the regulation concerning military correspondence as laid down in the Army regulations of the late United States Edition of 1857.
By Command of Maj. Genl Lee,
R. S. Garnett
Adjutant General
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Order discusses officers' obligations with regard to expenditures and record keeping.
Hd Qrs Va Forces
Richmond, Va
April 29, 1861
General Orders
No. 5
The General commanding desires to impress upon all officers and agents employed in the military and naval service of the State, the necessity of observing the strictest economy and accountability, in the expenditure of public money, or in the use of the credit of the State.
No expenditures will be made unless duly authorized; nor will they assume the responsibility of incurring any expense, or of using the credit of the state, unless the necessities of the case are so clear and imperative as not to admit of the delay of referring to the proper authority.
Records + vouchers must be made + preserved for all expenditures or uses of the credit of the State, specifying the nature + necessity of the service of which they were made. They will keep all expenditures in the subsistence department (food for the men only) distinct from those of the Qr Master Dept. which embraces shelter for men and horses, transportation, forage, stationary + like subjects. As soon as the exigencies of the service will permit the officers and agents of the disbursing dept of the service will be supplied with the necesary blank forms for the proper performance of their duties.
By Command of Major General Lee
R. S. Garnett
Adjutant General
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Order appoints Lieutenant Colonel Henry Heth and Major James R. Crenshaw acting Quartermaster General and Acting Commissary General, respectively.
Hd Qrs Va Forces
Richmond, Va
April 29, 1861
General Orders
No. 6
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Heth, Va Volunteers, and Major James R. Crenshaw, Va Volunteers, are announced respectively as acting quartermaster general and acting commissary general of subsistence of the Forces in the field, subordinate officers in these departments will refer to them before making their purchases + contracts, unless the circumstances of the case prevents.
By Command of Major Genl Lee,
R. S. Garnett
Adjutant General
Document appoints Francis M. Boykin to the rank of Major, signed by Governor John Letcher.
The Commonwealth of Virginia
To Francis M. Boykin, Jr
Greeting:
Know you, that from special trust and confidence reposed in your fidelity, courage and good conduct, our Governor, in pursuance of the authority vested in him by an Ordinance of the Convention of the State of Virginia, doth commission you a
Major
In the active volunteer forces of the State, to rank as such from the Second day of May 1861.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name as Governor, and caused the Seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed, this 29 day of April 1861.
(signed) John Letcher
Document appoints Francis M. Boykin to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, signed by Governor John Letcher.
The Commonwealth of Virginia
To Francis M. Boykin, Jr Greeting:
Know you, that from special trust and confidence reposed in your fidelity, courage and good conduct, our Governor, in pursuance of the authority vested in him by an Ordinance of the Convention of the State of Virginia, doth commission you a Lieutenant Colonel in the active volunteer forces of the State, to rank as such from the 14th day of December 1861
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name as Governor, and caused the Seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed, this 14th day of December 1861.
John Letcher
Written from Richmond, Virginia. Order assigns Lieutenant Colonel Francis M. Boykin to the 31st Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
Extract
Adjutant and Inspector Generals Office
Richmond, VA Decr 16th 1861
Special Orders
No 267
IV Major F. M. Boykin Va Vols having been appointed Lieutenant Colonel is assigned to duty with the 31st Regiment Virg Vols and will report accordingly.
By order of the Secretary of War
Jno Withers,
AAG