75

Correspondence of Lt. William Larkin of Virginia, including a commendation written by his general at Appomattox.

Various places, 1861-1865
8 items, various sizes and conditions, some with dampstaining and wear; sleeved in a binder.

  • Notes: "Now in the hour of disaster I find you amongst the noble few who gather around the standard of the South."

    Lieutenant William Wallace Larkin (1838-1894) of Prince William County, VA enlisted in the 49th Virginia Infantry early in the war, and was wounded at Seven Pines and Fredericksburg. He was an attorney in Lynchburg after the war. This collection includes several interesting documents and letters, particularly one written by General Walker at Appomattox praising his service "in the hour of disaster":

    W.W. Larkin's militia commission signed by Governor John Letcher, 22 July 1861.

    Letter from brother Thomas Napoleon Larkin to brother George. "I am in hopes you have purchased some wheat or flour ere this, for bread. If you have not, now is the time. You will find next spring, if you will have as much Confederate money as a mule can pull downhill on ice, you will not be able to buy provisions. . . . I am bootless & blanketless." Richmond, VA, 3 January 1863.

    W.W. Larkin's letter to his mother, written while recuperating from injuries received at Fredericksburg. Shortly after Gettysburg, he reports: "The army . . . is all on this side the Potomac. Let newspapers & men smooth it as they will. Our Md. campaign must be considered a miserable failure. . . . The Yankees have been unwilling to believe that Jackson is dead. I presume they will not want more convincing proof than the operations of the 2nd and 3rd." Jordan Springs Hospital, 17 July 1863.

    W.W. Larkin's pass to remain at his mother's and report every seven days. Lynchburg, VA, 12 October 1863. A transcript of Thomas Moore's poem "Farewell! -- But Whenever You Welcome the Hour" is written on verso.

    W.W. Larkin's letter to his brother Thomas. "We made a reconnaissance in full force starting on the 190th below Middletown & remained there a night & a day & withdrew . . . & brought off about 150 prisoners."  Camp New Market, 16 November 1864.

    W.W. Larkin's partial request for a 20-day furlough, dated 22 December 1864; approved with the signatures of Major General John Brown Gordon, Brigadier General Robert D. Johnston and others on verso. 

    W.W. Larkin's letter to his mother. Quite faded. "The morale of the army is improving I think very rapidly. The war spirit is being renewed." Records the death of two soldiers who died at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, 5-7 February 1865 (James T. Coleman and Blucher Hooe). Headquarters, Provost Guard, date illegible but circa February 1865.

    Larkin remained in service through the end of the war. The final item is a poignant letter from his commanding officer, Brigadier General James A. "Stonewall Jim" Walker, written the day after the surrender at Appomattox: "As the Army of Northern Va. is about to be disbanded, you, as a commandant of the provost guard of this division, have been more immediately under my eye & direction whilst I have been in command. I take this final opportunity to express my high appreciation of your conduct as an officer. . . . When the enemy broke through the lines of my brigade at Petersburg on the 2nd inst., you marched in with your guard to the rescue with a promptness and alacrity that elicits my highest commendation, and now in the hour of disaster I find you amongst the noble few who gather around the standard of the South." Moderate wear, two repairs on final blank leaf. Headquarters of Early's Division, 10 April 1865.
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