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Felix Kirk Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2152

  • Staff Only

Felix Kirk wrote this letter to his father, John Kirk, from Knoxville on November 14, 1861. In it, he discuses a recent illness, two deaths that had occurred from his regiment, and some old union devil who burned a bridge. He describes his unit's recent activities in Chattanooga and Knoxville. The reverse of the letter's final page bears a printed poem entitled Dixie: Southrons, hear your Country Call You! by Albert Pike of Arkansas.

Dates

  • 1861 November 14

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

Felix Kirk wrote this letter to his father, John Kirk, from Knoxville on November 14, 1861. In it, he discuses a recent illness, mentions some old union devil who burned a bridge, and describes his unit's recent activities in Chattanooga and Knoxville. The reverse of the letter's final page bears a printed poem entitled Dixie: Southrons, hear your Country Call You!

Biographical/Historical Note

Felix Kirk, the sixth of twelve children, was born to John and Frances (Blaine) Kirk in Shelby County, Tennessee on January 2, 1843. He enlisted in Company D of the 38th Infantry Regiment (CSA) as a Corporal at Camp Abington near Collierville, Tennessee on September 16, 1861. After being slightly wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro, he was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on May 1, 1865. He returned to Shelby County after the war, where he married Rose Ramsey (1853-1880) in 1870. The couple had at least two children, Birdie (Kirk) Keough (1871-1950) and Lee (1873-1884). After his first wife's death, Kirk remarried Sallie Woods (1861-1926) and had eight additional children: John (1882-1949), Mattie (1884-1972), Fred (1886-1943), Felix Jr. (1886-1887), Florence (Kirk) Roper (1890-1946), Mozelle (Kirk) Alley (1892-1917), Mark Vernon (1894-), and Mary (Kirk) Morris (circa 1902-). Felix Kirk died on December 26, 1917 of stomach cancer and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Collierville, Tennessee.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single letter.

Acquisition Note

Gerald McKinney donated this letter to Special Collections in March of 1996.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480