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 - 2 of 2 Records

Justus F. Gale to Father
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    • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
    • Date Created: 1863-05-13
    • Description: Gale writes to his father a description of the land through which he is marching, as the Brigade travels up and down the Red River in pursuit of Confederate forces. He also gives a short description of the Battle of Fort Bisland, and then goes on to describe the fresh food available to the soldiers. He encloses with the letter a plate he used to eat lunch on that day, made of the bark of a Sweetgum tree, as most of his equipment had to be left at the camp at Brashear City.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


    Justus F. Gale to Sister
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      • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
      • Date Created: 1863-05-01
      • Description: Gale writes a long description of his company‚Äôs role in the Battle of Fort Bisland on April 12th and 13th, and is pleased by General Banks‚Äô praise of the performance of the 8th Vermont Regiment. He also writes of his pleasure at receiving a photograph of Emily Taft of Barre, and his wish that he could have photographs of all his family, though he would be unable to carry them all in his wallet. As well, he writes of picking up Confederate money from a house that was abandoned before the advance of the ‚Äúdamd yankees‚Äù and of seeing rich clothing that he wished he could send home.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence