Alfred M. Scales Papers

Collection overview Biographical/historical information Scope and arrangement Administrative information Key terms Container list

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1845-1954

Manuscript Collection #48

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Creator(s): Scales, Alfred M. (Alfred Moore), 1827-1892
Physical description: 1.3 Cubic Feet, 5 boxes
Preferred Citation: Alfred M. Scales Papers (#48), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository: ECU Manuscript Collection
Access: No restrictions

Papers of Alfred M. Scales, a lawyer who was a Brigadier General in the American Civil War from 1862 to 1865 and who was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1884.

Biographical/historical information

Alfred Moore Scales (1827-1892) attended the University of North Carolina and afterward practiced law in Madison, N.C. For two years he was a Democratic Representative in Congress and was a presidential elector for Breckinridge and Lane. In 1861, he became a captain of the Thirteenth Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers; and in 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of a Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, where he remained until the surrender at Appomatox in 1865. After the war, he served in the House of Commons, was again elected to Congress, and in 1884 was elected Governor of North Carolina. Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was elected war governor in 1862, a post he held until the end of the conflict. In 1876, he was again elected governor and later served as United States Senator. He remained in this latter post until his death.

Source: Alfred Moore Scales Papers (#0048), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Scope and arrangement

The papers mainly consist of correspondence, clippings, and other miscellaneous items. Among the correspondence is a letter, dated October 19, 1864, where Brigadier General Scales appeals at length for Governor Vance's assistance in obtaining cloth for an overcoat for the approaching winter. He notes that previous attempts to obtain an overcoat from the state have failed and he hopes that the governor will intercede in his behalf. Governor Vance's affirmative reply was noted on the Scales' letter.

Administrative information

Custodial History

March 18, 1968, 1 item; Letter of Scales to Governor Zebulon B. Vance. Transferred from J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University.

November 30, 1972, 55 items; Papers (1858-1892), including correspondence, clippings, and miscellaneous. Photocopies. Loaned for copying by Kate Lepine

January 18, 1973, 85 items; Correspondence, 1845 - (1862-1888) - 1937. Photocopies. Loaned for copying by A. H. Scales

October 26, 1973, 65 items; Correspondence, clippings, miscellaneous (1863-1910). Photocopies. Loaned for copying by Kate Lepine

January 17, 1975, 449 items; Correspondence, clippings, and miscellaneous (1854-1901). Photocopies. Loaned for copying by Kate Lepine

Source of acquisition

Scales's letter transferred from J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University

Loaned for copying by Kate Lepine

Loaned for copying A. H. Scales

Processing information

Processed by D. Lennon, May 1968

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Updated by N. Hardison, November 2024

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms

Personal Names

Scales, Alfred M. (Alfred Moore), 1827-1892--Correspondence
Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894--Correspondence

Corporate Names

Confederate States of America. Army--Officers

Places

North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Equipment and supplies

Container list

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Box 1 Folder a Photocopies of Correspondence , 2 original Documents, 1864

Box 1 Folder b Photocopies of Correspondence, 1856-05-22-1863-11-29

Box 1 Folder c Photocopies of Correspondence, 1845-11-10-1868-08-20

Box 1 Folder d Photocopies of Correspondence, 1864-04-1867-10-11

Box 1 Folder e Photocopies of Correspondence, 1870-07-14-1879-11-05

Box 1 Folder f Photocopies of Correspondence, 1870-07-14-1876

Box 1 Folder g Photocopies of Correspondence, 1877

Box 1 Folder h Photocopies of Correspondence, One Origianl 33 Page Booklet on Alfred M. Scales, 1878-04-23-1880-12-19

Box 1 Folder i Photocopies of Correspondence, 1881-01-08-1882-12-19

Box 2 Folder a Photocopies of Correspondence, 1883-01-06-1885-12

Box 2 Folder b Photocopies of Correspondence and other personal documents, 1880-09-10-1884-12-22

Box 2 Folder c Photocopies of Documents

Box 2 Folder d Photocopies of Correspondence, 1893-04-01-1899-10-01

Box 2 Folder e Photocopies of Documents, 1891

Box 2 Folder f Photocopies of Correspondence and other personal documents, 1886-06-11-1889-08-25

Box 2 Folder g Photocopies of Correspondence and other personal documents

Box 2 Folder h Photocopies of Correspondence and other personal documents, 1892-01-1892-05

Box 2 Folder i Photocopies of Correspondence, Undated

Box 2 Folder j Photocopies of Duplicate Material, 1864

Box 2 Folder k Handwritten transcribed letters, 1864-04-01-1879-04-07