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 11 - 20 of 1339 Records
Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-04-14
- Description: Farnham writes of the unit preparing to leave Wolf Run Shoals, expresses his wishes to see his wife, Mary, again, feeling sad with his wife absent from camp but glad she is safe, sends a photo by way of Capt. Ormsbee that Mary is to take care of photo, Mr. Peach is ill, letter from Henry and his clothing business.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-05-15
- Description: Topics include remaining in Heintzleman’s corps and not joining Hooker’s Army & acting as a guard, inquiries about the house, Mary Farnham’s health and the little dog, Mac, states Mr. Batchelder can get money to Mary, and a description of Mr. Bowen who is pro Union but his wife and daughter are Confederate and he has a son in the Black Horse Cavalry (Army of Northern Virginia, 4th Virginia Calvary Confederate States of America).
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Roswell Farnham to W. H. Hill
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-05-31
- Description: Field officer of the day report from Farnham to Captain William H. Hill (Assistant Adjudant General) relating review of the pickets on May 29 and May 30, the event of throwing up of lights by pickets in Centreville by order of the General
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Diary of Horace Barlow
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- Creator: Barlow, Horace, 1842-1935.
- Date Created: 1862-08-18-1863-07-10
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Diary of Horace Barlow
Solomon G. Heaton to Father
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- Creator: Heaton, Solomon G.
- Date Created: 1862-10-30
- Description: As Heaton indicates, the Army of the Potomac crossed the river into Virginia at the time this letter was written (Gen. George McClellan would soon be removed, however, and succeeded by Gen. Ambrose Burnside). There is no record of a "very hard fight" at Gordonsville, Va. Gen. Wm. Buel Franklin was implicated in some intrigue against Burnside, and both were relieved of their command in Jan., 1863. Heaton complains about harsh treatment by his commanding officer and being denied a rubber blanket. Nevertheless, he claims to be in good spirits.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
Solomon G. Heaton to Father
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- Creator: Heaton, Solomon G.
- Date Created: 1863-11-24
- Description: Topics include the anticipated move of the army, the branding and branding of two soldiers, disapproves of this action by the army, requests food and clothing from home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1862-07-23
- Description: Writing to his father, Gov. Holbrook, topics include the need for medical aid because of the numerous men who are sick due to lack of sanitation, unhealthy environment (mentions miasma, vapor from swamp believed to cause disease) and lack of medicine because of some blunder, speaks of doctors doing what they can with what little they have to do with and praise for Dr. Blanchard; the rebel batteries firing upon a boat, and Adj. Parker going home on sick leave.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1862-08-17
- Description: Topics include William's recommendation for and praise of Ad. Brown being promoted to Major, mentions Brown's performance in the inconclusive battle at Savage's Station (June 29, 1862 in Va.), a bitter feeling against Colonel Faillam by the men of the regiment, and the belief a West Pointer should head the regiment.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
George W. Quimby to Emeline B. Masta
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- Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862.
- Date Created: 1862-01-26
- Description: Topics include a "miniature" (porttrait?) that Quimby wants to send home; instructions for his sister to collect on a debt owed by Captain Tucker; and expectation of the Regiment advancing. The order to advance would come from Lincoln himself on Jan. 27, 1862, and would be his first General War Order.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, George W. Quimby Correspondence
George W. Quimby to Emeline B. Masta
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- Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862.
- Date Created: 1862-05-11
- Description: Topics include the hardships George W. Quimby is enduring, a brief account of fighting on the 6th of May (Battle of Williamsburg, Va.). Quimby describes "the horrid scenes of war": dead and dying soldiers in the aftermath of battle. Mentions generals Smith, Hancock, Sumner, Hooker, and Magruder.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, George W. Quimby Correspondence