The Men of Randolph-Macon College and the Civil War

In 1861, talk of secession transformed into armed conflict. Many of the men educated at Randolph-Macon College in the preceding 29 years immediately responded to the calls of their state militias to serve, while others later enlisted or were conscripted into the Confederate or Union armies. Others served in public office, or were ultimately drawn into the conflict in the last days in reserve units in local defense. These are their stories.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Alexander Watts Massey, student 1853-1854

Massey, variantly spelled Massie, was a farmer in Spotsylvania County, VA at the beginning of the war. He was conscripted as a private in the Camp Guard Battalion, VA Conscripts, on October 1, 1862. In early 1863, he was serving at the Camp of Instruction at Camp Lee, VA. Massie had been promoted to sergeant by the summer of 1864, and served at Camp Lee until the war's end.

After the war, he returned to Spotsylvania County, where he was a farmer, teacher, county surveyor, and served on the county school board. Massey died on Feb. 13, 1909, and is buried in the Smith-Massey Cemetery in Post Oak, Spotsylvania County, VA.