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 91 - 100 of 1339 Records
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-12-04
- Description: On board steamboat, Matilda, writes that he has had to move with the Sixth Corps but does not know destination, did not get his papers in quickly enough and the Sixth Corps surgeon wanted to examine his personally, but he hopes to have his discharge soon.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-12-07
- Description: Still has no news about his discharge. The regiment has moved again, but though they are fixing up winter quarters, they are unsure of whether they will be allowed to stay. Henry has had a number of visitors of Waterbury men, including his brother, J. Edwin Henry.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-12-10
- Description: Henry writes he is still waiting for his discharge papers, and that though the regiment has been sent out to support the Fifth Corps, he has been excused by the surgeon and remains in camp “with all the sick lame and lazy ones as a camp guard.” The regiment had a hard time, as it began raining and then hailing all night while they were out in the field, heavy firing heard but the 10th returned to camp without having to fight ; will be moving out toward Fort Durham
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
-
Image nop
- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1861-12-29
- Description: Topics include the journey from Washington to Anapolis, Maryland and an account of a runaway slave.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Correspondence of Henry A. Smith
Henry A. Smith to Family
-
Image nop
- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-06-27
- Description: Topics include the journey from Williamsport to Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River, mentions by name men missing from the Company, mentions horses in battle, of his horse having had very little to eat, the rumor that General Pope is going to take control of the army, Gen. Fremont resigning, Gen. Banks to be Assistant Sec. of War, and the Quarter Master Old Jones & Lieutenant Grover's waiter being taken prisoners.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
-
Image nop
- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-03-16
- Description: Topics include resuming encampment after living indoors for a while. An early March skirmish in Aldie, Va. is mentioned, as is the capture of General E.H. Stoughton in bed, in a daring raid by CSA Capt. John S. Mosby at Fairfax County Court House. Mosby managed to capture dozens of union soldiers, learn the "Countersign," or password, and go wherever he wanted. (The embarrassment ended Stoughton's military career.) Smith mentions his wish for a photograph of his siblings, and his wish for news from home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
-
Image nop
- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-08-11
- Description: A short letter written from Belle Isle Prison to reassure his mother after his capture on July 6 at Hagerstown, Maryland.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
-
Image nop
- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-11-20
- Description: Topics include receiving a letter from home, his hope to be released and return home, and news about others from his regiment who were killed or wounded at Hagerstown on July 6.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
-
Image nop
- Creator: Parmenter, Benjamin F., 1832-1896.
- Date Created: 1861-10-29
- Description: Topics include the policy of the war department to not allow anyone to go home regardless of their circumstances,enquiries about home, Parmenter's growing disillusion with the Army, and a discussion about "the Southern confederacy is a fixed fact."
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Correspondence of Benjamin F. Parmenter
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
-
Image nop
- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1861-10-8
- Description: Writes of good postal service on letter delivery, of Sargent Charley Reed, of Captain Altherton, of wanting a photograph of Homer, general good health of the men, a heavy rain storm that flooded his tent, of going out on Battalion drill.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford papers