Virginia. Governor (1860-1864 : Letcher)

Governor John Letcher was born on March 29, 1813, in Lexington, Va. Letcher graduated from Randolph Macon in 1833, where he studied law. He participated in the State Constitutional Convention of 1850 and was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1852. Letcher served in Congress until 1859 when he was elected governor of Virginia. Shortly after the Virginia Convention of 1861 passed the ordinance of secession on April 17, 1861, he ordered state troops to seize the Harper's Ferry arsenal and the Gosport navy yard. On April 21, 1861 Letcher appointed an Advisory Council consisting of Col. Francis H. Smith of V.M.I., Capt. Matthew Fontaine Maury, and John J. Allen, the Convention later adding Lt. Gov. Montague and T.S. Haymond. Letcher sent Judge John Robertson to Washington to invite Col. Robert E. Lee to Richmond where he offered him the position of major general of all the state's land and naval forces. Letcher later transferred all military forces to the Confederate States of America on June 6, 1861. Letcher entrusted Lee to make the major strategic military decisions, but still remained active, usually through his aide-de-camp, S. Bassett French, in the preparations for war. Letcher was also very active in raising volunteers from Virginia throughout the war. Following his term as governor, Letcher unsuccessfully campaigned for a seat in the Confederate Congress and returned to Lexington where he continued to live after the war. As a result of his involvement in the war, Letcher was arrested by Federal authorities and imprisoned in Carroll Prison in Washington on May 24, 1865. He was paroled on July 10, and later was granted a full pardon by President Johnson. Letcher again returned to Lexington and died on January 26, 1884.

John Letcher began his administration (Jan. 1, 1860) as a proponent of moderation and a Pro-Unionist. He remained optimistic that war could be averted up until Virginia's secession on April 17, 1861. Letcher then led a vigorous campaign to mobilize Virginia for war. Although privately opposed to such Confederate policies as the draft, he publicly supported the Confederate government in most matters.

Letchers' most pressing problems during the war were the severe salt shortage and the mounting debt. Virginians also criticized his subordination to the Confederate government and he was defeated in his bid for the Confederate House of Representatives in 1863. John Letcher was succeeded by William Smith.