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 59 Records
E. T. Johnson to Mary [Farnham]
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- Creator: Johnson, E. T.
- Date Created: 1862-10-03
- Description: Topics include several companies camping on the riverbank in Maryland, Jackson’s army assembling in Leasburg, and preparing to march most likely to Edwards Ferry.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
George W. Quimby to Mother
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- Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862.
- Date Created: 1862-10-28
- Description: Topics include the improvement of George W. Quimby’s health, the cold nights, and a request for his father to send him an overcoat.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, George W. Quimby Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-05-27
- Description: From Williams Post, Maryland Smith writes 2 letters one dated May 27 and one May 28. (First Battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862). Topics include a terrible battle in and near Winchester in which he escaped injury, of many men from the regiment being lost but many returning to camp the next day, rebels suffering great losses, mentions General Shields, General Fremont and General Banks, cautions given to his siblings at home regarding being in and near the water.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-01-25
- Description: Topics include Henry Smith receiving his payment, a request for some items from home, and the bad weather in Annapolis.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-01-10
- Description: From Annapolis, Maryland topics include the welcoming in New York City, pay soon and to be in Treasury notes, description and conditions at the camp in Annapolis, 21 horses of the regiment's that died in transport or in the mud since leaving Burlington and a list of items wanted and what type of box they are to be put in.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-03-30
- Description: Topics include the journey from Annapolis to Harpers Ferry, Henry Smith's good health, liking the hand made shirt he received from home very much, keeps his brandy with him, burning of the post office by the Confederates, requests more postage stamps.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Joseph Rutherford to Daughter
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1862-11-23
- Description: Rutherford writes from his Maryland camp to his daughter, Helen, of military life, about the fact that there is no day of worship in the military, food preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, description of the dress parade, Typhoid fever in the camp, and the proper care that the Vermont regiment is receiving from their surgeons.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1862-12-18
- Description: Topics include family money troubles, a description of his horse Lady Lightfoot, anticipation of a Rebel raid, and a description of the winter quarters and John tending to his comforts as his "nig" (Moses) has been sick, reference to the troublesome Murk.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1863-05-30
- Description: Topics include not receiving any letters from home, wishing to know if the $25 sent has been received, dealing with the camp cooks drinking too much whiskey and getting drunk, needing to confront the Quartermaster for interfering with his teams and ambulances again, Colonel Jewett's wife visiting which makes four wives in camp which relieves coarseness among the men and relieves monotony in camp.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
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