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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], Leonard A. Slater Letter, Ms2011-052, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Leonard A. Slater Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in February 2011.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Leonard A. Slater Letter was completed in June 2011.

Biographical Note

Dr. Leonard A. Slater, son of John and Fluvanna P. Slater, was born in New Kent County, Virginia in 1835. He attended Lynchburg College where he graduated Valedictorian at the college's first commencement in 1856. He was married to Ellen H. Williams, daughter of Leroy and Susan Williams, in May 1866. They had seven children: Clarence H. (b.1867 d.1869), Leonard A. Jr. (b.1869), John L. (b.1871 d.1873), Lawrence W. (b.1873), William S. (b.1876), Mattie Lucile (b. 1879), and Ellen W. (b.1883).

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Dr. Leonard A Slater enlisted in Company F, 3rd Virginia Calvary, Stewart's Division. In 1861 he was appointed assistant surgeon in the Confederate States Army. In 1862 he was appointed surgeon in 15th Virginia Calvary. In 1864 he was appointed surgeon of General Hospital at Columbia, South Carolina. Lastly he was appointed surgeon in charge of 2nd Division of General Hospital No. 10, State of North Carolina at Salisbury. Following the war he returned to New Kent County, Virginia to continue practicing medicine.

He served as school trustee of Cumberland District 1879-1884 and county physician to the almshouse in New Kent County 1878-1874. He also served as a member of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College's Board of Visitors from 1881-1885.

Leonard Slater resided at his family home, Slatersville, in New Kent County until his death in 1897.

Sources: Hardestys Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia , H.H. Hardesty 1884 and Ancestry.com

Scope and Content

The collection consists of a letter written by Dr. Leonard A. Slater to his father, John Slater, on October 10, 1862, during the American Civil War. At the time of the letter, Leonard A. Slater was serving as a surgeon in the 15th Virginia Calvary at General Hospital No. 23 in Richmond, Virginia. The letter details items that L.A. Slater sent had sent home to his family in New Kent County. These items include whiskey "well sealed with wax" as well as medicine for his mother's headaches. In the letter Slater also advises his father to take the people he enslaves and leave his home and furnishings for the Yankees rather than lose those enslaved people to Union troops. He advises that losing the family home, Slatersville, would be preferable to being "subject to the brutal insults of the same (Union soldiers)."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Folk, historical, and patent medicine
• Medicine
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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