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 261 - 270 of 1339 Records
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-11-02
- Description: Henry writes that he has been detailed to guard a supply train going to Martinsburg, Virginia, which also had 16 paymasters returning from paying off troops at the front. He was able to get two months pay from one of them, who he was acquainted with, and he sent the money home in a previous letter. He is not sure he will resign yet, as he is feeling a little better, and his resignation will depend on where the regiment is sent for winter quarters. He doesn’t think there will be any more fighting this fall, since the Rebels will have to send to Richmond for more cannons and he doesn’t think they can be resupplied before the rainy season.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Friends
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1861-11-16
- Description: Topics include the snow in Burlington and the difficulties caused by the weather.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Correspondence of Henry A. Smith
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1861-12-25
- Description: Topics include the journey to Washington and rations.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Correspondence of Henry A. Smith
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-01-25
- Description: Topics include Henry Smith receiving his payment, a request for some items from home, and the bad weather in Annapolis.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-05-27
- Description: From Williams Post, Maryland Smith writes 2 letters one dated May 27 and one May 28. (First Battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862). Topics include a terrible battle in and near Winchester in which he escaped injury, of many men from the regiment being lost but many returning to camp the next day, rebels suffering great losses, mentions General Shields, General Fremont and General Banks, cautions given to his siblings at home regarding being in and near the water.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith 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
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-08-14
- Description: Six miles south of Culpeper (Virginia) two letters included dated Aug 15 and Aug 15. Topics include an exchange of fire near the Orange Court House, the numerous rebel deaths, injuries, and prisoners, and another terrible battle at Culpeper with references to Jackson, Banks and John Pope.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1864-01-10
- Description: Topics include how he is the only one left of his company that has not been exchanged and a list of the items he wants sent to him in a box.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
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- Creator: Parmenter, Benjamin F., 1832-1896.
- Date Created: 1861-08-08
- Description: Topics include the regiment being located at Bush Hill Camp, rumors that they may join up with another brigade, more discussion of the 1st Battle of Bull Run, Parmenter's low opinions of the regiments officers,and his disappointment in the treatment of the soldiers.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Correspondence of Benjamin F. Parmenter
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1861-11-17
- Description: Topics include an expected package from home, lack of military pay, death of three men in the company from the fever, of a father retrieving his son's body..
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford papers