VIRGINIA CONFEDERATE (C.S.A.) DR. JOHN SCOTT DEYERLE (1835-1890), including 27 manuscript Civil War letters dated November 25, 1861 to January 25, 1865, written from various camps in western Virginia, eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, southeastern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, and Richmond. Most three or four pages, written in an eloquent fashion, a sample of which from an August 15, 1864 letter from camp near Strasburg, VA in response to Union troops being moved into the Shenandoah Valley, "The warpath of Jackson again bids fair to witness the closing scenes in the bloody drama of '64. We can only trust that the same genius that guided the glorious old hero in delivering the soil of the fairest portion of Virginia from the polluting tread of the invaders in 1862, will again lend its benignant smiles and preside over the councils of our leaders in the coming battles of these classic fields." Engagements discussed in the letters include three on the Battle of Middle Creek, KY, one with extensive details; the Battle of Kelly's Store, Suffolk where he was reported by the Yankees as being killed - the report was published in the Feb. 12, 1863 Suffolk News-Herald; several on the Fall 1863 Knoxville Campaign (Morristown, Battle of Bean Station, and Battle of Mossy Creek); the Battle of Moorfield, VA (WV) where he slammed the Generals Johnson and McCausland for the "most shameful and disgraceful surprise"; and skirmishes near Strasburg, VA leading up to the Battle of Fishers Hill. Other letters with outstanding content include several concerning the reasons for his resignation of commission in the 54th VA Infantry and joining the 21st VA Calvary as Surgeon; an account of his and Dr. Crockett's brief capture by "bushwhackers" near Grayson, VA; and a January 25, 1865 report from Richmond, VA discussing the state of the "beleaguered city." Additional material includes six 1855/56 letters and a drawing from Hampden-Sydney College; one 1858 letter from the University of VA; a CDV taken at Charlottesville, VA; and five 1860 letters from the University of the City of New York; some letters with original covers.
Catalogue Note: John Scott Deyerle was born on June 1, 1835 in Roanoke Co., Virginia to parents Joseph S. Deyerle (1799-1877) and Anna "Annie" Crawford (1800-1871). John was one out of a total of 13 children, eventually serving along with some of his brothers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Prior to the war, he attended Roanoke College, Hampden-Sydney, and the University of Virginia and received his medical degree from the University of the City of New York in 1860.
In October of 1861, John enlisted as captain in the Roanoke Guard of the 54th Virginia Infantry, and he was promoted to major in November of the next year. He resigned his position in April of 1863 and became a surgeon in the 21st Cavalry Battalion, his highest rank in the Confederate Army Medical Department was Assistant Surgeon.
After the war, John practiced medicine in Salem, VA, living with his father, mother, and a few siblings at the family residence of Pleasant Grove. In 1878, he was elected as a delegate for the Salem District to the Conservative Party of Virginia Convention and was elected as Treasurer for Roanoke Co. At age 52, he married Annie Maggie Garrett (1864-1921) on July 5, 1887, and they had three daughters. John suffered a stroke in 1888 and died about two years later on July 5, 1890 at age 55 and is buried at East Hill Cemetery, Salem, VA in the Deyerle/Barnett burial plot. 

Most in excellent condition.