Stonewall_Greyfox
09-12-2007, 11:06 AM
I'm looking for primary sources and wartime images of VMI cadets. I am very familiar with the VMI Archives & VMI Museum & the New Market Battlefield(having spent 5 years there while in school) and I am familiar with many of the current publications about the school.
The intent of this posting is to search out the lesser known articles and hopefully images of VMI Cadets. For example; I recently came across a UDC publication from the Gloucester, VA area entitled Reminiscences of CS Soldiers from Gloucester...in here is a wonderful description from Cadet John Tabb, describing how he was detained at VMI (being struck with Typhoid fever) and subsequently missing the Battle of New Market...something he regretted the rest of his life. Tabb goes onto describe the evacuation of VMI barracks and the posting of the school in Richmond...later describing the evacuation of Richmond and his adventure on the road to Appomattox (where he and his classmates hid from the Yankees w/ their brown CS blankets), ending with his capture and release.
Note: I know several VMI Buttons have been dug in the Saylor's Creek area, and this is the area in which Tabb says they were present before their capture...it would take some of the mystery out of why VMI Cadet buttons are found from Richmond to Appomattox.
Note: I also came across a gentleman several years ago @ the New Market Battlefield who claimed to have an image of Charles Wesson, I believe this man said he was in the Powhatan, VA area...I was given his contact information and carelessly misplaced it in my moving around. If this rings a bell with anyone, I would be most appreciative to have his contact information forwarded onto me.
Thanks,
The intent of this posting is to search out the lesser known articles and hopefully images of VMI Cadets. For example; I recently came across a UDC publication from the Gloucester, VA area entitled Reminiscences of CS Soldiers from Gloucester...in here is a wonderful description from Cadet John Tabb, describing how he was detained at VMI (being struck with Typhoid fever) and subsequently missing the Battle of New Market...something he regretted the rest of his life. Tabb goes onto describe the evacuation of VMI barracks and the posting of the school in Richmond...later describing the evacuation of Richmond and his adventure on the road to Appomattox (where he and his classmates hid from the Yankees w/ their brown CS blankets), ending with his capture and release.
Note: I know several VMI Buttons have been dug in the Saylor's Creek area, and this is the area in which Tabb says they were present before their capture...it would take some of the mystery out of why VMI Cadet buttons are found from Richmond to Appomattox.
Note: I also came across a gentleman several years ago @ the New Market Battlefield who claimed to have an image of Charles Wesson, I believe this man said he was in the Powhatan, VA area...I was given his contact information and carelessly misplaced it in my moving around. If this rings a bell with anyone, I would be most appreciative to have his contact information forwarded onto me.
Thanks,