Valley of the Shadow
The Eve of War
Fall 1859–Spring 1861

Letters & Diaries

letters

Kenton Harper (1860-1861)

Kenton Harper served as a captain in the Mexican War. He also served as United States Agent to the Chickasaws in the 1850s. According to the 1860 census, Samuel C. Harper managed the farm for his father and oversaw three male slaves and seven female slaves. During the war, Kenton served as colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and Samuel served in the Quartermasters Department for the 62nd Virginia Infantry. After the war, Samuel remained as a farmer in Augusta County. Kenton Harper died in 1867.


The following links provide access to the most likely matches in the Valley of the Shadow databases:

Harper Household


These two letters concern the prewar service of Harper Kenton. In one letter, members of the Chickasaw Nation thank Colonel Kenton for his “kind attentions.”