Letter, John W. Burke to John A. Washington III, 1861-04-20
Scope and Contents
This series consists of family correspondences on various subjects including Civil War and slaves owned by the Washington family.
Dates
- Creation: 1861-04-20
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Extent
From the Collection: .5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
John Woolfolk Burke was a co-founder of the Burke & Herbert Bank in 1852. This letter describes the impending Civil War. Burke was a good friend of John A. Washington as well as his banker. The $200,000 in proceeds from the sale of Mount Vernon were deposited in the Burke & Herbert Bank in Alexandria. Washington had rented out some of his slaves to Mount Vernon from his Fauquier County Waveland Plantation and Burke assures him that he will transport the slaves. Events were rapidly unfolding. On May 24, Federal troops poured into Alexandria from Washington DC. Upon the arrival of Federal troops, Burke withdrew JAW’s funds from the sale of Mount Vernon, and hid the $200,000 in his own house, eventually smuggling it to the Corcoran & Riggs bank in Washington, DC.
Repository Details
Part of the Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives Repository