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 191 - 200 of 1338 Records

Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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    • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
    • Date Created: 1863-05-30
    • Description: Topics include not receiving any letters from home, wishing to know if the $25 sent has been received, dealing with the camp cooks drinking too much whiskey and getting drunk, needing to confront the Quartermaster for interfering with his teams and ambulances again, Colonel Jewett's wife visiting which makes four wives in camp which relieves coarseness among the men and relieves monotony in camp.
    • 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: 1863-06-27
      • Description: Writing in the field at Maryland Heights Rutherford writes of being surrounded by thousands of troops, writing his letter on a box looking down on Harpers Ferry, W. Va. and the view of the Shenandoah Valley and being in anticipation of some great event about to happen (perhaps part of the Maryland Campaign), mentions the damage to area houses and the ground laid waste.
      • 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: 1863-08-02
        • Description: Writing in the field in camp near Rappahannock Station, Warrenton and the Rappahannock River topics include thinking of his family, soldiers dealing with body lice and the hardships 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: 1863-08-25
          • Description: Three letters included here. Rutherford tells his wife about the raising of two new Vermont Regiments, his anxious feelings and desire for the possibility of a promotion to lead a Regiment, Dr. Willard Augustus Childe's letter and a letter from Lieut. Col. William Writ Henry to Vermont Governor Frederick Holbrook. Both letters recommending Rutherford for promotion.
          • 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: 1863-10-03
            • Description: In camp near Culpeper, Virginia topics include an explanation of a drawing or sketch of views from camp beginning with the furthest object the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rolling plain, the shelter tents used in the field, a cherry tree in front of his tent and a reference to the thousands of troops camped in the area.
            • 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: 1863-11-05
              • Description: Still under marching orders topics include a request for some winter shirts, the possibility of letting (renting) the land at home, and a description of the type of man who would not fight for his country.
              • 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: 1864-02-04
                • Description: Brief letter telling of traveling all night, a headache caused from lack of sleep and promise of details of his trip once he gets to camp.
                • 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: 1864-02-06
                  • Description: Brief letter telling of delay of an expected early morning march, of hearing and being disrupted by the blasts from heavy gunfire about five miles away.
                  • 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: 1864-05-03
                    • Description: Topics include instructions should he be taken as a prisoner, preparing to pack camp and march.
                    • 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: 1864-11-15
                      • Description: Topics include description troop formations and breast work fortifications, of the ten-mile line of troops, desire to build shelter for winter but uncertain weather there will be another relocating march, his feelings about a cavalry promotion, and discussion over the location of a soldier's body and burial site; the visit from a wounded soldier's wife about her husband's health after Rutherford amputated his arm (Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct 19).
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence