Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Letter from Gilmer Breckinridge (a cadet at VMI) to his mother, Emma Breckinridge |
Dates of Creation |
September 3, 1853 08/10/1853 08/10/1835 |
Scope & Content |
Letter headed "Saturday, V. M. I. Sep 3rd 1853" from Gilmer Breckinridge to his mother, Emma Breckinridge, at Fincastle, Virginia in Botetourt County. He tells of his return from a field trip marching back and forth to the Springs (Rockbridge Alum Springs, about 17 miles each way) carrying a musket, living in tents while there, mentions Wilson, a family slave who works at the Rockbridge Alum Springs in the summer to try to cure his breathing problems, other concerns about studying for his algebra exam, about living with four cadets in each room, having it inspected each day by the Officer of the Day at 5:00 AM, closing with a plea for all of his folks at home to write to him more frequently. |
Year Range from |
1853 |
Year Range to |
1853 |
Subjects |
Algebra Arsenals Barracks Brooms & brushes Camp Cheese citizens (civilian clothes-VMI jargon) Cleaning Cleanliness Examinations ink Journey Letter Locks (Hardware) Muskets Officer of the Day Rain Roads roads, plank School Sick Stamps Study Studying Tents Tobacco Trunks |
Search Terms |
Botetourt Breckinridge family Fincastle Lexington Rockbridge Alum Springs The Springs Virginia Virginia Military Institute |
People |
Bowyer, James Breckinridge, Cary, Jr. Breckinridge, Emma Gilmer Breckinridge, Gilmer Breckinridge, James Minor, Frank Wilson, house servant (slave) of Mary Gilmer Woodville, Dr. Woodville, Mary Ann Breckinridge |
Collection |
Breckinridge Collection |
Imagefile |
045\196951469.JPG |
Number of images |
4 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Object ID |
1969.51.469 |
Extent of Description |
Four pages, size 7 3/4" x 9 3/4" |