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 1 - 7 of 7 Records

? to Lorenzo Thomas
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    • Date Created: 1862-08-30
    • Description: Topics include the request to inquire after statements made by the Major General, and a request for an investigation of the Battle of Baton Rouge by a court of inquiry.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence


    N. A. M. Dudley to William C. Holbrook
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      • Creator: Dudley, N. A. M., Phelps, John Wolcott.
      • Date Created: 1862-08-30
      • Description: Two letters; one signed by N. A. M. Dudley and the other by W. C. Holbrook requesting a Court of Inquiry to investigate allegations against the 7th Regiment participation in the Battle of Baton Rouge by a Commanding General.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence


      Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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        • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
        • Date Created: 1862-08-20
        • Description: Topics include the duties of being the Officer of the Guard being in charge of overseeing men under watch, media misrepresentation of the regiments in the Northern newspapers, living conditions and costs in the South, death of Joseph La'Mondy (or Lamondy), the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the suicide of a man in Company I.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


        W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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          • Creator: Holbrook, W. C.
          • Date Created: 1863-04-18
          • Description: Topics include investigation of the 7th Vermont Regiment's role in the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the suggestion to bring charges against General Butler. The writer, Col. Holbrook, apologizes for not representing the regiment as well as he could have, were he more experienced in the Courts of Inquiry. Holbrook mentions "a good deal of marching and counter marching" in the Baton Rouge area.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence


          William C. Holbrook to Frank
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            • Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
            • Date Created: 1862-11-21
            • Description: To his brother Frank, William writes of the findings of the Court of Inquiry that was held by General Butler regarding the conduct of the 7th Vt. Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Baton Rouge in August; his decided opinion of a soldier's unreliable word; his expectation of having comfortable living quarters in Pensacola as his regiment has moved there (to which he adds he well deserves as he has lived in "bush houses long enough"); mentions the steamer Cumbria and of his having a fever for the past several days.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence


            William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
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              • Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
              • Date Created: 1862-08-08
              • Description: Topics include a description of the battle at Baton Rouge on August 5th, expresses his thoughts that the Rebels received misinformation about the strength of the Union forces thus suffering great losses, blowing up of a Rebel boat that was part of a CSA plan to attack Union gunboats, mentions "ram On Ransom", the death of Colonel George T. Roberts and General Williams.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence


              William C. Holbrook to Mother
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                • Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
                • Date Created: 1862-08-14
                • Description: Topics include the number of men that were killed and wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge August 5th, lost of his "boy Jack" [does he refer to a Black man in his service or to a child?], the loss of Col. Roberts, the unpopularity of the current officer Col. Faillam, the men's request that Holbrook replace Faillam, Holbrook‚Äôs desire to go into a regiment located in Virginia, Gen. Phelps and his opinions on the slave question, Gen. Butler's compliments to the regiment for its brave conduct in the Baton Rouge battle, sending home of the Secessionist's flag retrieved from Fort Pike, desire for newspapers from Vt.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence