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 59 Records
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-12-12
- Description: Barney writes of gifts given to his wife, Maria, and daughter Carrie by his cousin, Silas L. Griffith of Danby, and also of his attempt to buy a horse in Vermont from George but $300 asking price too high. He also writes of a storm that blew down the Chaplain’s tent, how the officers’ winter quarters are progressing & eating well with food available.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-12-15
- Description: Topics include Barney’s apologies for how poorly he writes letters, making money by selling the Quarter Master’s horse at a profit, asking for photos of the children and an argument he is having with his wife about chores at home asking if a boy could not be taken in and have him pay for board by doing the chores.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Lyman Barton to Hiram Barton
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- Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
- Date Created: 1863-06-28
- Description: Lyman Barton describes a turntable built for a Confederate railway gun which was captured before it was operational. He also writes of an attack of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry led by Colonel Spear near Hanover Court House, during which General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was captured.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: [1864-02-19]
- Description: The last two pages of a letter written on February 19 containing more plans for Mary Jane Henry’s visit to the 10th Vermont camp near Brandy Station. Henry describes a horse he has bought for his wife’s visit that is a ladies horse and can do tricks. He bought it from Mr. Offutt of Offutt’s Cross Roads and it belonged to his daughter, who was upset that he sold it.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-07-05
- Description: From Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River topics include news from Richmond, rumor that Stonewall Jackson was killed, having enough to eat including local peaches & cherries found in Virginia, horses well fed, men on picket duty, newspaper report that General McClellan taken prisoner along with 40,000 of his men, and Henry Smith's homesickness.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1863-08-20
- Description: Rutherford writes of his low opinion of Southerns, of their ignorance, their misguided values of who can own the most slaves and land, their intermarrying, of his applying discipline to those he feels deserve it in order to preserve order in his hospital, praise for his horse, Lady Lightfoot, who is still with him and his acquisition of another horse and mule.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-08-31
- Description: Barney writes of falling ill after eating lobster, of getting paid off for three months which allow him to pay of debts including cost of his horse, and of buying books on military tactics. He also writes of how difficult it would be to get leave until next fall or the winter and of sending home some melon seeds for Maria to plant in the spring.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-11-12
- Description: In camp in North Carolina, topics include receiving letters from home that had been delayed due to the move from Yorktown, Virginia ; Maria upset because other soldiers getting to go home but not Barney, the dullness of camp life, going on buggy rides, his filly Madam and the wildlife that visits the camp, which the soldiers aren’t allowed to shoot and hearing Gen. Meade's advance and capture of about 2000 prisoners.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1862-09-24
- Description: Topics include the good health of the regiment, him having a good bay horse as he needs to ride 15 miles to visit all the pickets and the need for friends and family in a time of loss.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1862-09-28
- Description: Writing from his camp in the field topics include a brief account of William Henry's day that includes living quarters with Company B, morning hygiene, breakfast, riding his horse to visit a company and give a lecture picket duty, visiting another officer to discuss matters, a good dinner and ride back to his headquarters. Also inquiries about his family.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence