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.

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Showing 1 - 6 of 6 Records

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Subject Topic Merge: Harpers Ferry (W. Va.).   Remove all  

6 text
Miniature of Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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    • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
    • Date Created: 1863-06-27
    • Description: Writing in the field at Maryland Heights Rutherford writes of being surrounded by thousands of troops, writing his letter on a box looking down on Harpers Ferry, W. Va. and the view of the Shenandoah Valley and being in anticipation of some great event about to happen (perhaps part of the Maryland Campaign), mentions the damage to area houses and the ground laid waste.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
    Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
    Miniature of Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
    Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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      • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
      • Date Created: 1862-09-06
      • Description: Topics include the regiment marching towards Harpers Ferry, the regiment disheartened to being ordered to retreat, loss of much equipment and people left behind in the hospital, the destruction of supplies left behind, their hard march to current location, the brief mention of a "heavy battles". (Maryland Campaign Sept 3-15, 1862). Reference to prisoners being paroled.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
      Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
      Miniature of Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
      Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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        • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
        • Date Created: 1862-09-22
        • Description: Writing from Camp Parole topics include a hard march to the camp near Annapolis, being paroled and possibly being sent out West to fight the Indians or sent to home state and a detailed description of an engagement at Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) that included heavy fire, skirmishing Rebels, Union soldiers abandoning their posts, troops falling back, white flag raised by the Union soldiers, men discarding their revolvers and swords, mingling of the Confederates with the Union men as comrades in arms.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
        Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
        Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
        William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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          • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
          • Date Created: 1864-07-09
          • Description: Henry writes that the Third Division of the Sixh Corps has unexpectedly been ordered to Harper‚Äôs Ferry to help defend Washington D.C. against Lieutenant General Jubal Early‚Äôs advance (though Henry writes that the general in command is General Ewell), and that the men are pleased to be moved away from Petersburg.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
          Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
          Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
          William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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            • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
            • Date Created: 1863-07-01
            • Description: Topics include receiving orders to abandon Harpers Ferry, the accidental explosion of a magazine while the 6th Maryland Regiment was trying to destroy it which resulted in 100 casualties, the movement of several Army Corps, and the replacement of General Hooker by General Meade.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
            Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
            Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
            William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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              • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
              • Date Created: 1863-06-28
              • Description: Topics include the regiment‚Äôs move to Harpers Ferry, his sorrow at leaving the friends he had made while stationed near Poolsville, a description of the terrain around Harpers Ferry, how it reminds him of Vermont, and his feeling of security because of the 100 pound cannons which would allow him to make a good fight.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
              Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War