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 - 8 of 8 Records
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-06-21
- Description: A short letter informing his mother that the regiment was under marching orders and that he had his picture taken.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
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- Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
- Date Created: 1863-12-06
- Description: Letter to sister Lois about his great appreciation of receiving letters from home and their importance to him ; relates the men's hard march, camping in the the field, hardships endured including having little food to eat, of no complaints from the men regardless ; a bit of home gossip.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
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- Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
- Date Created: 1865-04-16
- Description: A poem entitled "Battle of Cedar Creek" and a letter to his sister, Lois, that includes a description of the fighting the 6th Vt Vols. was involved with starting April 1st and leading to the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
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- Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
- Date Created: 1864-07-17
- Description: Topics include a detailed description of the Battle of Fort Stevens [July 11-12, 1864], specifically the movements of the 6th Corps. Williams also writes of the mustering out of some of the 6th Regiment, as their time had expired.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Roswell Farnham to Laura
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-04-12
- Description: Topics include the good times the officers' wives are having in camp, the watching of the Guard Mounting, Picket Guard Mounting, battery practice and regiment drill, ladies sent to Alexandria as orders received that the whole brigade is to move and information about Cyrus’ death and belongings.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-07-05
- Description: Letter written on his knee in an open field it discusses movement of the Brigade to South Mountain and the anticipation of the arrival of more troops. The lack of letters received from family members is also discussed.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
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
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’s 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