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 118 Records
Justus F. Gale to Sister
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-06-14
- Description: Topics include the movement of the company from Algiers to Lafourche, a description of the living situation at Algiers, the good food at camp including fresh fruit berries, water quality not good.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Sister
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-07-18
- Description: Topics include the good health of Justus Gale, the food available at Algiers including confiscated beef from the locals, standing guard for 12 hour shifts, killing alligators, writes of some of his comrades, the sickness of Sargent 2nd Class.Chas. C. Martin with inflammation of the bowels, the capture of Richmond and Vicksburg, mentions Confederate Gen. G. T. Beauregard, receiving a copy of the Green Mountain Freeman and refers to his religious faith.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus E. Gale to Sister
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-11-29
- Description: Topics include the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, of city purchases by Justus Gale of barrels of apples which he resold by the piece, of buying tobacco, postage stamps, writing supplies, local terms for cash money, of commanding officers of 3rd Louisiana colored regiment and the dry weather.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Mother
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1863-08-21
- Description: In this letter Gale writes to his mother from the Church Hospital in Baton Rouge that he has been ill but is getting better. He has been eating a little. He and his unit had been "beseigeing" Port Hudson just before he was taken ill. He also writes that he never really suffered while soldiering, and that he is sorry his brother, Lyman, has been drafted, since he doesn’t think he could stand army life. Some time after this, Gale was sent to the U.S. General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he died of chronic diarrhea on September 19, 1863.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale 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
Lyman S. Williams to Family
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- Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
- Date Created: 1863-12-04
- Description: Writes of receiving a box from home with food and much needed clothing. He hears of fighting in Tennessee and Kentucky.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe
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- Creator: White, Daniel S., 1837-1912.
- Date Created: 1864-03-31
- Description: He writes of the return to Vermont of his wife’s brother, Oramel G. Howe, of sending her a can of milk, as well as other items, going to Brandy Station on business, having drill practice and of witnessing a horse race in which $1000 was the prize.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Daniel S. White Correspondence
Edward P. Stone to Family
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- Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
- Date Created: 1862-07-30
- Description: Inquires about ladies in the family, requesting letters from them, states there is good water contrary to what the newspapers report, vegetables to eat, building brick ovens, prayer meetings being held in brick church, death of son of Judge Swift of Middlebury.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence
Edward P. Stone to Family
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- Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
- Date Created: [1862]-09-[23]
- Description: A very brief letter stating he was in Burkittsville with the wounded (casualties from the Battle of Burkittsville or called the Battle of Crampton's Gap, Maryland, September 14, 1862), then set out to find the regiment but was unsuccessful so he stopped at Pleasant Valley and stayed with a family there ; preached at United Bretheren ; mentions fruits of all kinds available.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence
John Lester Barstow to Laura
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- Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913.
- Date Created: 1863-10-25
- Description: Two letters dated Oct 25 and Oct 27 with topics including marching, waiting, more marching, more waiting, lack of food due to road conditions, unable to forage for food, hot days, cold nights, the importance of picket duty, the unpopularity of General William B. Franklin, and the army returning to New Iberia, fear that mail may be lost due to capture of wagons by Rebels and fear to send any money by mail.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Lester Barstow Correspondence