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ODU Community Collections
3000 Perry Library4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections
Special Collections Staff
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Source of Acquisition
Mary E. Jonitz Major
Method of Acquisition
Gift. Accession #A80-1
Biographical or Historical Information
The Union Army during the Civil War was essentially a volunteer army. To become an Officer of Volunteers, one only needed to raise a company. Often prominent and wealthy citizens used their money and influence to sign up a hundred men or so to make up their company. At the beginning of the war, this was fairly easy to do, as the enthusiasm for fighting for the Union was high. The Union Army of the Potomac was itself a largely volunteer army. In August of 1861 the Union Army of the Potomac formed by merging commands in Washington, Northern Virginia, and the Shenandoah. In Virginia, the primary battles took place between the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of the Potomac (later renamed the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862). The two forces fought at the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Seven Days, The Wilderness, Bull Run, and Gettysburg. The Union Army of the Potomac was led during these times by such generals, as George McClellan, Ambrose Burnside, and George G. Meade. Born in 1815, William Henry French was a veteran of the Mexican wars. He was appointed a Major General during the Civil War in November 1862. He commanded troops at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Manassas Gap, Auburn, Kelly's Ford, Brandy Station, and in the Mine Run operation. Meade considered French personally responsible for the failure at Mine Run. When the Army of the Potomac reorganized that winter, French was displaced and saw no further field service. He continued in the regular army until 1880 when he retired as Colonel 4th Artillery. He died in 1881.
Note written by Special Collections Staff
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of correspondence, orders, reports, and other material collected by Samuel J. Major. The bulk of the collection centers primarily on General William French and the activities of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.
Arrangement Note
The material in this collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- French, Wm. H. (William Henry) (1815-1881)
- Union Army of the Potomac
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- French, Wm. H. (William Henry) (1815-1881)
- Major, Samuel J. (1815-1881)
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Container List
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
Folder 1: Letter of Appointment of B. General William H. French1861 September 28Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Letter of Appointment of B. General William H. French, 1861 September 28, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2A Folder 2A
Folder 2A: Orders and Dispatches During the Operations of the Left Wing Army of the Potomac Between November 6 and 9, Cover1863Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2A, Orders and Dispatches During the Operations of the Left Wing Army of the Potomac Between November 6 and 9, Cover, 1863, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2B Folder 2B
Folder 2B: Orders and Dispatches During the Operations of the Left Wing Army of the Potomac Between November 6 and 91863Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2B, Orders and Dispatches During the Operations of the Left Wing Army of the Potomac Between November 6 and 9, 1863, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3 Folder 3
Folder 3: Copy of Order Issued by Abraham Lincoln1863 November 10Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Copy of Order Issued by Abraham Lincoln, 1863 November 10, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4 Folder 4
Folder 4: List of Confederate Prisoners1863 December 3Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, List of Confederate Prisoners, 1863 December 3, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
Folder 5: General Henry Prince's Operations Report1863 December 6Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, General Henry Prince's Operations Report, 1863 December 6, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6 Folder 6
Folder 6: Letter from John W. Horn, Coloner 6 Rgt. Maryland to General French1864 March 27Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Letter from John W. Horn, Coloner 6 Rgt. Maryland to General French, 1864 March 27, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7 Folder 7
Folder 7: Correspondence: Charles H.T. Collis to General French1864 July 8Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Correspondence: Charles H.T. Collis to General French, 1864 July 8, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8 Folder 8
Folder 8: Correspondence: Charles H.T. Collis to General French1865 July 9Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Correspondence: Charles H.T. Collis to General French, 1865 July 9, Samuel J. Major Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.