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 111 - 120 of 120 Records
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1863-08-24
- Description: From in the field topics include Rutherford's friends at home worrying about him, the lack of opportunity for promotion in the regiment at this time, the position of "Salter" mentioned (procurer of salt, a maker of and dealer in salt, a drysalter?), and the method for treating typhoid fever, diarrhea among the sick men, looking on the bright side dealing with adversities of camp life.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1864-03-29
- Description: A down beat letter that includes the sickness of his children, reference to a newspaper article Rutherford wrote about an officer, rainy weather making him feel homesick and the death of Major Bartlett.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-01-04
- Description: Reflects on God's will regarding his children, Rebel cavalry movements, Union scouts were thought to be Rebels, a cow disturbing a picket guard and rousing the camp, the general despondency of the army and the worsening of the war if slaves enter the fighting turning on their masters. He also writes of his hopes of being promoted to colonel of the 10th Vermont.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-01-30
- Description: Spafford's brief letter has an underlying tone of being anxious to hear from home. The rainy and muddy weather continue.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: [1861]-11-17
- Description: Topics include the predicted end of secessionism and the anticipation of a “magnificent” battle.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1861-12-15
- Description: Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey’s dismay that some people from home believe the pay soldiers receive should be decreased.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1862-08-12
- Description: Writing from camp near Harrison's Landing, Veazey laments of life as a soldier, being tired of war, of feeling soldiers will not be fit for civilian life, of the waters of Saratoga will benefit his father-in-law's health, of high cost of living.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Ransom W. Towle to Family and Friends
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- Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-02-02
- Description: Towle writes of missing his newspaper and his wish to remain informed on both foreign and army news and of some of the men's morale writing home about the hardships of war and a desire to see it end. He writes of Col. Stoughton resignation, of officers' wives attending the camp's religious service and how the service differs from the traditional church worship.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
Lyman S. Willams to Lois L. Williams
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- Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
- Date Created: 1862-07-27
- Description: Topics include the quietness of camp near Harrisons Landing, a church service that Lyman Williams attended, and the food Lyman misses from home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
Henry L. Terry to John W. Campbell
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- Creator: Terry, Henry L., 1820-1885.
- Date Created: 1861-10-21
- Description: Topics include encamping at Lee's Mill, twelve miles from Washington, close to the Rebels.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John W. Campbell correspondence