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 101 - 110 of 1339 Records
Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-03-29
- Description: Writing to his mother from the Mansion House Hospital topics include being left behind by the Regiment due to his illness, impossibility of getting a furlough, number of men from the 4th Vermont in the hospital, Ellsworth’s house, and possibility of being sent to another hospital.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-05-07
- Description: Still writing from Carver Hospital in Washington D.C. topics include hoping to get his papers to go home to surprise his family, plans to meet Homer White in New York City and hopes that his friend Homer will come to Vermont with him.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-08-24
- Description: Writing from Windham, Vt to his friend Homer White topics include Joseph Spafford deciding to enlist and reference to others who have decided to enlist.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: [1862]-10-19
- Description: Writing from Brattleboro, topics include the inspection of the company by Dr. Phelps, the assignment of positions by various men including that of Dr. Parks as surgeon and assistant surgeon, and another request for a cap with a post note on compliments received on his vest.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: [1862]-10-22
- Description: Still in Brattleboro but anticipating the company moving out, topics include the men who are going home, George declining the assistant surgeon position, and the expectation of being paid.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-10-22
- Description: Spafford writes about being asked by Col Veazey to have Spafford go to Windham and ask George to accept the position of assistant surgeon.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1863-01-08
- Description: Letter head with color illustration of a camp scene written in the field. Topics include several diary entries detailing Joseph’s experiences from November 25th, 1862 to January 8th, 1863 that include camp life, soldiers marching music, viewing the Chantilly battlefield, desecration of the dead, discovery of coffin of Confederate officer in barn of area family, firing at Rebels with death of a horse resulting, burned and empty buildings in the area, activities of local people including assisting a southern woman regain her father who had been taken prisoner.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1863-05-15
- Description: Topics include being on detail with 30 men guarding bridge at Kettle Run, the Confederate rebel John Singleton Mosby and his guerrilla squads in the vicinity, and a cavalryman coming into camp to warn of squad of greybacks chasing him.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1863-07-15
- Description: A brief letter about the Potomac Army camping near Williamsport, Maryland, Lee crossing into Virginia, and the expectation to move very soon.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1863-07-16
- Description: Unit has marched to Berlin, Maryland near Harper's Ferry, military duty ends July 23rd, most likely not see any more action before leaving the army, returning to Brattleboro by the 1st of August, asks about those pants he requested made, expresses his opinion on the New York City draft riot (July 13 - 16, 1863), mentions a eating warm biscuit & blackberry pie for dinner.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence