Further reading

Richard O'Sullivan, 55th Virginia Infantry, H E Howard Inc, Appomattox, Va. USA. 1989. ISBN 0 930 91973 4.

A narrative of the regiment's operations, accompanied by a roster containing short sketches of the military careers of all its soldiers.

This book is now out of print, but still may be found on Amazon. Very generously the publisher's have returned the copyright to the author, who is considering re-publishing a revised version. Should this happen details will be given here.

Evelyn Ward, The Children of Bladensfield, Viking Press 1978. ISBN 0 670 21661 5.

An amusing account of the 55th at the start of the war, with poignant recollections of life on the home front. Evelyn was the daughter of the unit's first major.

Suzanne P. Derieux and Wesley P. Pippenger Essex County, Virginia Cemeteries Vol. 1, Derieux & Pippenger

The book includes information of significance such as occupation, spouse, maiden name and place of death and medical cause of death. In some instances information found on multiple records does not agree. Information includes a photograph of individual monuments.

For those in the USA, this book may be obtained from The Essex County Museum Shop.

Pippenger, Wesley E. Essex County, Virginia Newspaper Notices Vol. 1: 1738-1932

Earliest newspaper printed in Essex County available is the Tidewater Index, May 10, 1873. Material also came from various other newspapers that covered the area from the Williamsburg, Richmond and Fredericksburg. Entries from the Tappahannock newspapers are verbatim transcripts. Entries from others newspapers may be abstracts.

For those in the USA, this book may be obtained from The Essex County Museum Shop.

Pippenger, Wesley E. Essex County, Virginia Newspaper Notices Vol. 2: 1736-1952

Earliest newspaper printed in Essex County available is the Tidewater Index, May 10, 1873. Material also came from various other newspapers that covered the area from the Williamsburg, Richmond and Fredericksburg. Entries from the Tappahannock newspapers are verbatim transcripts. Entries from others newspapers may be abstracts.

For those in the USA, this book may be obtained from The Essex County Museum Shop.

Carroll M Garnett, Fort Lowry and Raiders on the Rappahannock, Vantage Press Inc. 2002. ISBN 0 533 13766 7.

A detailed study of the fort manned by the 55th Va during the first year of the war. It contains three contemporary diagrams and two contemporary sketches of the fort, an appendix listing the slaves (and their owners) and the free-blacks who built it, and numerous illustrations including six previously unpublished pictures of 55th Va officers. There are also chapters about the US flotilla that operated on the Rappahannock, the infamous Draper's Raid and the last days of John Wilkes Booth. Two of the author's ancestors (Private Muscoe Garnett Jr. and Lieutenant William Kemp Garnett) served in the 55th Va.

There are often second-hand copies of the book available on amazon.com (search using ISBN 0 533 13766 7).

James B. Slaughter, Settlers, Southerners, Americans: The History of Essex County, Virginia, Walsworth Press Inc. 1985. ISBN 0 961 35490 9.

Settlers, Southerner, Americans captures the history of Essex County "from the Indians of the 1600s to today's thriving rural community. Our county has undergone nearly all of the great trials and transitions of our nation: frontier wars and revolution, slavery and civil war, reconstruction, depression, and rapid modernisation."

For those in the USA, this book may be obtained from The Essex County Museum Shop.

Robert Gaines Haile Jr., compiled and edited Robert M Tombes Tell the Children I'll be Home When the Peaches Get Ripe, Tizwin Publishing (PO Box 35552, Richmond, Va 23235) 1999. ISBN 0 967 50740 5.

Wartime letters and journal of Lt. Robert Gaines Haile Jr. Essex Sharp Shooters, Co F, 55th Va, 1862; compiled and edited by his great-great-grandson. Robert M Tombes. Lt. Robert Gaines Haile Jr. a young, able and self-confident member of Essex County's slave owning gentry,describes his martial experiences.

If you have difficulty in finding this book, it may be purchased through Amazon Books in the USA (i.e. amazon.com, not amazon.co.uk).

In addition, for those in the USA, this book may be obtained from The Essex County Museum Shop.