Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], William W. Tinkle Letter, Ms1989-048, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The William W. Tinkle Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the William W. Tinkle Letter commenced and was completed in February 2022.

Biographical Note

William W. Tinkle was born in Johnson County, Indiana on May 7, 1841. Tinkle enlisted as a private in Company F, 7th Indiana Infantry on September 13, 1861. He was promoted to corporal on July 14, 1862. On September 20, 1864, he transferred to Company G, 20th Infantry and was promoted to sergeant on January 1, 1865. He was discharged at Indianapolis on May 31, 1865. Following the war, Tinkle moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where he married Tentie Burrel. The Tinkles moved to Woodburn (Marion County), Oregon, ca. 1904. William W. Tinkle died in Marion County on September 1, 1917, and was buried in Belle Passi Cemetery, Woodburn.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a single letter written by William W. Tinkle, serving in Company F, 7th Indiana Infantry during the American Civil War. The letter was written to Captain J. M. Jones from the front near Petersburg, Virginia on July 10, 1864. After providing "a list of all the killd wounded and mising Axcept a few that was slitly wounded ..." from Company F during the previous 11 weeks, Tinkle describes the company's movements and battle engagements since May 4. He mentions a temporary truce on his section of the front and fighting between pickets and artillery in other sections. He then describes conditions in the breastworks ("It is very fatiguable lying in the ditches all the time and the heat makes it all most suffocating ...") and the beauty he finds in the midst of battle ("It is a nice show at night to see the artilery and Mortars work th[r]ow their shell in rain bow fashion leaving a long tail of fire behind ... I love to set and watch the pickets fi[r]e it is flash flash like so many fire flies ..."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the William W. Tinkle Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).