Box 1

Scope and Contents

Letters from George S. Patton to his wife Susan (Sue) comprise a significant component of this collection, including three love letters written during their courtship.

Scope and Contents

The series of nine letters from George to Susan in 1863 describe in vivid detail the Confederate raid into [West] Virginia led by Generals William E. "Grumble" Jones and John D. Imboden, during which Patton was a colonel in the 22nd Virginia Infantry. Patton describes the campaign in a series of seven letters dating between 1863 April 14 and 1863 May 15; a fifth excerpted letter from December gives his final update.

Scope and Contents The Patton letters also include six letters from Susan Thornton Glassell Patton to members of her family (folder 3, 1852-1863), including one written to her husband on 1863 March 15, prior to the Jones-Imboden Raid.There are several letters to and from Susan's brother, William T. Glassell of the U.S. Navy and later of the Confederate Navy (folders 3 and 4, 1851-1863). William holds the distinction of serving as one of the world's first combat submariners when he led a crew on the...

Scope and Contents

Includes a facsimile of a letter to Susan Patton from her father [1862] and a letter from Frank W. Gross, Clerk, Supreme Court of California, to George H. Smith [recipient may be Susan Patton's second husband; dated 1880]