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 - 10 of 11 Records

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    • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
    • Date Created: ?
    • Description: Letter No. 23 pages missing ; date & location known ; preserved here is him writing of news of health issues of folks at home, of wanting to hear the results of a town meeting regarding bounty (system used as an incentive to increase enlistments), of Heaton's auction, of his weight being 149 pounds.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


    Bradford Sparrow to Alner D. Sparrow
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      • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
      • Date Created: 1864-03-09
      • Description: Writes to his father of regulations required in reporting money sent through the mail not being received so that in case the situation arises a claim can be submitted ; of wanting to know what auction items were bought, of sugaring season soon in Vermont, of wet, rainy weather in Virginia.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


      Bradford Sparrow to Alner D. Sparrow
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        • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
        • Date Created: 1864-01-31
        • Description: Brief letter writes of returning from a three day picket, of the food and utensils in the recently received box from home, his good health, of witnessing an execution and of stories about the Rebels infiltrating the lines.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence


        Bradford Sparrow to Father, Mother and Brothers
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          • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
          • Date Created: 1864-01-01
          • Description: Topics include letters being delayed, the muddy camp in Virginia, winter quarters, inquiring after his brother Albert's schooling, requests a loaf of brown bread, a tin plate & other items, comments on news from home of folks health and passing away.
          • 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: 1864-02-18
            • Description: Writes of substitute soldiers deserting after being paid, of Mosby assisting the deserters, mentions the Confederate pirate sloop ship the Alabama (documented as being sunk in June 1864) and of photographs (ambrotype), of mail being robbed.
            • 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: 1864-03-27
              • Description: Snowball fights, reference to the bounty vote, mention of a shoemaker in Company E, of his boots, of wanting a pound of sugar sent and remarks on folks at 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: 1864-02-12
                    • 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


                    Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                      • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                      • Date Created: 1864-04-06
                      • Description: Writes of suffering from diarrhea, wanting to subscribe to the local newspaper call the Repository, commenting on the sugar orchard at home and mentions Gen. Grant.
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence