Soldier of Southwestern Virginia: The Civil War Letters of Captain John Preston Sheffey

Far more than a documentation of the horrors and banality of the Civil War, John Preston Sheffey’s literate and witty writings demonstrate his ardor for battle, his love of Virginia, and his passion in waging a most arduous and suspenseful campaign: to win Josephine Spiller as his wife. Superbly edited by James I. Robertson, Jr., Sheffey’s letters are the first published correspondence by a member of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. A native of Marion, Virginia, Sheffey provides an invaluable picture of socio-military affairs in the overlooked western and southwestern regions of the state. His combination of intimate minute-to-minute, day-to-day recording and larger insight into the dynamics of men, terrain, supplies, and protocol make this collection unique. Sheffey’s more than ninety letters are a singular source of interest for revealing the paradoxes and tragedies of isolated but vital Civil War skirmishes in southwest Virginia.