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William Joseph and Nancy Wallis Short family papers

William Joseph and Nancy Wallis Short family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: William Joseph and Nancy Wallis Short family papers
Creator: Short, William Joseph, 1834-1924
Creator: Short, Nancy Wallis, 1840-1875
Inclusive Dates: 1862-1916
Bulk Dates: 1862-1864
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet 1 box
Collection Number: ms3863
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

William Joseph "Joe" Short (1834-1924) was the son of Nathan Pennington and Nancy Truett Short of Marion County, Georgia. In 1860 he married Nancy "Nannie" Wallis (1840-1875) daughter of Bland Wallis. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army - Company G., 2nd Georgia Battalion, Cavalry. After the war he became a Methodist minister and continued farming.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence, Army clothing and roll book, writings, and photographs. The letters were written 1862-1865 among members of the Short family. Most letters are between Joe and his wife Nannie in Buena Vista, Georgia. He frequently advises his wife about financial matters and the operation of his farm, but also describes the battles and his view of the war. January 23, 1863 - "...will never forget the scenery after the fight. It seemed as if the most terrible hurricane had swept over the earth." July 31, 1863 - "I am enlisted for life or until the yankees are whipped." "They are fighting for plunder, we for our homes, wives and children." Her letters tell of family matters and their son William Bascom "Billy." In a 1914 letter, L. M. Spinks remembers their time together in the war and tells of his life now in Texas. There are also several letters from his brother John Robert Short (1837-1920), who was in the 9th Georgia Battalion Artillery, Co. C.

A personal account of the war was written by William Joseph Short when he was 90 and lists locations of his camps and the main battles he was in - Murfreesboro (TN) on July 14, 1862; Perryville (KY) on October 8, 1862; Murfreesboro (TN) on December 31-January 2, 1863; Chickamauga (GA) on September 19-20, 1863; and Lookout Mt. (TN) on November 22, 1863. There is a speech by William Bascom Short on the the unveiling of a Confederate memorial in Buena Vista (GA) in 1916; a notebook listing the roster of Co. G and clothing issued during 1864-1865; and two photographs of William Bascom Short and his wife Mollie.

Transcripts are included with most letters.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in chronological order


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

William Joseph and Nancy Wallis Short family papers, ms 3863, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Processing Information

There are no original letters for transcripts dated 1862 June 21 or 1864 January 24, plus letters dated 1863 November 4 and 1863 December 17 are missing page 2.

General Notes

This collection is available through the Digital Library of Georgia, https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/guan_3863


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Chickamauga, Battle of, Ga., 1863.
Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Artillery Battalion, 9th
Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Cavalry Battalion, 2nd
Marion County (Ga.)
Perryville, Battle of, Perryville, Ky., 1862.
Soldiers -- Georgia.
Stones River, Battle of, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 1862-1863.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Correspondence.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Biographical information - Nancy Wallis Short obituary, 1875 Access Online
 
12Correspondence - Short family, 1862 April-May Access Online
 
13Correspondence - Short family, 1862 June Access Online
 
14Correspondence - Short family, 1862 July Access Online
 
15Correspondence - Short family, 1862 August-September Access Online
 
16Correspondence - Short family, 1862 October-December Access Online
 
17Correspondence - Short family, 1863 January-February Access Online
 
18Correspondence - Short family, 1863 March-April Access Online
 
19Correspondence - Short family, 1863 May-July Access Online
 
110Correspondence - Short family, 1863 August-October Access Online
 
111Correspondence - Short family, 1863 November-December Access Online
 
112Correspondence - Short family, 1864 January-February Access Online
 
113Correspondence - Short family, 1864 March-May Access Online
 
114Correspondence - Short family, 1864 June-July Access Online
 
115Correspondence - Short family, 1864 August-December Access Online
 
116Correspondence - Short family, 1865 Access Online
 
117Correspondence - Short family, undated Access Online
 
118Correspondence - L. M. Spinks to W. J. Short, 1914 December 9 Access Online
 
119Clothing book/roll book - 2nd Ga. Cavalry, Co. G, 1864-1865 Access Online
 
120Roster - 2nd Ga. Cavalry, Co. G - handwritten copy by W. J. Short and typed copy Access Online
 
121Writings - personal account of camp locations and battles by William Joseph Short, 1862-1865 Access Online
 
122Speech by William B. Short at unveiling of Confederate Memorial in Buena Vista, Ga., 1916 August 23 Access Online
 
123Photographs - William Bascom and Mollie Brown Short Access Online
 
124Transcripts - Letters from William Joseph Short, 1862-1864 Access Online