Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Rufus Robbins, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Purchase. Mss. Acc. 2009.025.

Biographical Information:

Rufus Robbins, Jr. was born 1830 in Massachusetts to a family of farmers and shoemakers. when the Civil War broke out in 1861, Robbins left his home in South Abington, Mass. and enlisted in the Union Army. He served as a private in the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, taking part in the defense of Washington, D.C. as well as the Peninsula Campaign. Robbins was eventually diagnosed with dysentary and was sent to Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. in November of 1862. In December, he was transferred to General Hospital in Philadelphia. He died on January 7, 1863.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains letters written by Rufus Robbins, Jr. to family members during the Civil War. In his year and a half of service in the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Robbins freqently wrote to his parents and brothers Henry and Edwin in South Abington, Massachusetts. 

The letters contain information about camp life and the activities of Robbins' regiment.  Of note, the letter dated May 11, 1862 gives Robbins' account of the Battle of Williamsburg, which took place on May 5. 

An ambrotype of Robbins is also included, as well as a photocopied image of him taken from another print.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Photographs
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
• United States. Army. Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 7th
• Williamsburg, Battle of, Williamsburg, Va., 1862