Vermonters in the Civil War

Vermont soldiers in the Civil War wrote an enormous quantity of letters and diaries, of which many thousands have survived in libraries, historical societies, and in private hands. This collection represents a selection of letters and diaries from the University of Vermont and the Vermont Historical Society. The collection includes materials dating from 1861-1865. Materials were selected for digitization to provide a variety of perspectives on events and issues. The voices represented in the collection include private soldiers and officers, as well as a few civilians. All of the extant Civil War-era letters or diaries of each of the selected individuals (at least, all that are to be found in the participating institutions’ collections) are included; each adds a certain experience and point of view to the whole. Officers in the photo above are (from left to right): Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Stoughton, Colonel Edwin H. Stoughton, Major Harry N. Worthen. All are from the Fourth Vermont Infantry Regiment.

Showing 41 - 50 of 1339 Records

Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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    • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
    • Date Created: 1865-06-06
    • Description: Writes of his current location in another hospital, this one in New York, hopes his military discharge will come soon, his need for money sent to him as he will not be paid until his discharge come through, requests the Vermont newspaper the Repository as he wants to know what is going on back home.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


    Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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      • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
      • Date Created: 1864-04-16
      • Description: Writes of having sent money home, of improved health, of not having a chance to get a photograph made, of two deserters from his company in the guard house, and gives advice as to whom to write in case he is unable to do so, Chaplain Roberts, 4th Vt Regt., Washington, D.C.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


      Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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        • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
        • Date Created: 1863-12-18
        • Description: A long letter started on Dec 18th and begun again Dec 25th. Topics include Bradford recovering from sickness, receiving goods from home, boots and shirts, Mr. Bishop eating up some of the eatable food meant for Sparrow due to going so long without food, making strawberry preserves, requesting several hundred pounds of butter and cheese, various utilitarian items including a spider frying pan, a list of items Ira wants, mentions by name other men he has seen and talked to, acknowledges that a letter went missing and recaps what was written in that letter.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


        Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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          • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
          • Date Created: 1864-05-13
          • Description: Two letters written here from the battlefield about having been in battle for the past 8 days although not on the front line & does not record his location, has not been hurt, has sent a photograph home, names three men who were killed.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


          Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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            • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
            • Date Created: 1864-06-08
            • Description: States he is in the hospital getting the sore on his heel tended to, makes reference to the Battle of the Wilderness, of wounded and killed in his company the same day he writes this letter, inquires of folks and happenings at home, wishes more folks to write to him.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


            Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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              • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
              • Date Created: 1863-11-21
              • Description: Writes of Ira, of himself having a light case of typhoid, his own health improving, will be entering Virginia winter quarters in a month, mentions the draft & how the process might be different and Bradford sending a list home of things he needs that include food and clothing.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


              Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                • Date Created: 1863-09-23
                • Description: Topics include the journey to Fortress Monroe, the fruit in the wharf, and the health of Bradford, Ira and Swift.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


                Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                  • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                  • Date Created: 1865-05-22
                  • Description: Writes from the General Hospital in South Carolina of his hopes to be discharged soon and be home by mid June, has a job in the dining room setting table, etc. & feels it is good for his health. Thinks of his parents and hopes they have not worried over his having been taken prisoner & mentions the other folks at home. Letter head United States Sanitary Commission, N. E. Women's Auxiliary Association.
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


                  Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                    • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                    • Date Created: 1863-11-08
                    • Description: Two letters; one dated Nov 8th and one dated Nov 10th ; writes of moving to a hospital near Rappahannock Station, his health is improving slowly, the news that Charleston is being shelled, of some domestic duties he is able to do, names some of his officers and updates about boys from home.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


                    Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                      • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                      • Date Created: 1864-02-12
                      • Description: Writes his health is good, there was a battle on the Rapidan on the 5th, orders given to move out, he on picket duty to remain, could hear the muskets firing, reads in the newspaper Rebels panic stricken in Richmond by Butler's approach, hears talk of moving Confederate capital to Columbia, South Carolina, paymaster in camp, will send money home, has played cards on picket duty to pass the time, thinks folks at home have gotten his picture (photo), expresses appreciation for berries sent.
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence