Reuben Oscar Reynolds Papers

Collection

Identifier: W-0163

Scope and Contents

The documents in this collection (mostly photocopies) describe the military service of Reuben Oscar Reynolds of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry Regiment. One interesting item is his telegram to Mrs. E. A. Reynolds in Columbus, Mississippi, on May 21, 1864. The message is short and meant to reassure her of his well-being. It states "I am safe. Capt. Halliday [sic] is killed." He is referring to the battle of the Wilderness of Spotsylvania, Virginia, which occurred on May 5-7, 1864, and to Captain Thomas C. Holliday.

Dates

1861-1887

Creator

Williams, A. S., III (Collector, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

Reuben Oscar Reynolds, son of Reuben Young and Jane A. Pinkard Smith Reynolds, was born in Columbia County, Georgia, on October 9, 1832. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia and University of Virginia (law school). After law school he set up his practice in Aberdeen, Mississippi. He married Mary (Mollie) Branch English on February 20, 1855. She died on March 5, 1857.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Reynolds joined the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry as a first lieutenant in the "Van Dorn Reserves." He was promoted several times, rising to the rank of colonel, and was wounded four times, the last at Hawke's Farm (Virginia?) on March 25, 1865. He was captured nine days later while in the hospital in Richmond, Virginia, recovering after having his right arm amputated.

At some point in 1865, he married Sarah Banks Young. The couple had six children: (1) George; (2) Reuben (Ruben) Oscar; (3) Hamelton; (4) Janie; (5) Beverly; and (6) Sallie.

Reynolds served as the Supreme Court Reporter in 1866, was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1875. He died in Aberdeen, Mississippi, on September 4, 1887.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Correspondence and records of military service (photocopies) of Reuben O. Reynolds of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry Regiment.

Physical Location

A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama

Provenance

gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010

General

Title on box: A. S. Williams III Americana Collection - Small Collections

General

To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.