Civil War trunk of Cpt. James P. Smith

This trunk of my great grandfather's was handed down to me full of Civil War letters, books, maps, etc.

 

Nice looking trunk, look to me it’s made out of Maple!

 

What unit did your great grandfather serve with?

 

Started with Rockbridge Artillery and then transferred to staff of Stonewall Jackson.

 

James Power Smith was born in New Athens, Ohio about 5 miles from my home. Was his family associated with Franklin College in New Athens?

 

I will look it up. I have his father's original diary that I have translated over a few year span. He was at the seminary at Hampden-Sydney College when the war broke out and fought for the South while his two brothers, Joe and Frank, fought for the North.

 

James Power Smith, aide-de-camp with the rank of captain to Lt. Gen. Ewell at Gettysburg, graduated in 1857 from Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and from 1858-1861 attended Union Theological Seminary, Virginia.

 

Union Theological Seminary was founded in 1812 as the theological department of Hampden–Sydney College, located near Farmville, Virginia, and housed in Venable Hall.

 

See also: A General Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, 1823-1884 (Baltimore, Maryland: The Sun Book and Job Printing Office, 1884). James Power Smith is listed on p. 53. Several chaplains in the Army of Northern Virginia attended this seminary.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101055680282;view=1up;seq=57

 

Awesome trunk, etc. What a treasure to have from your great grandfather!

 

Capt. James Power Smith is at bottom left between Hunter McGuire and Henry Kyd Douglas.