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 21 - 30 of 77 Records
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1865-02-19
- Description: Topic include spending time with General Grant, speculating about the war, interaction between the Union and Rebel pickets, story about a particular rebel deserter that brings hope to Rutherford about the nearing conclusion of the war, reference to Dr. Thayer & his complimentary opinion of Rutherford, telling to a long absence (absent with out leave?) of a doctor that may lead to an opening for advancement for Rutherford.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Lyman Barton to Hiram Barton
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- Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
- Date Created: 1863-05-01
- Description: Lyman Barton writes a detailed description of the capture of the Confederate battery at Hill’s Point on May 19, 1863, when his company and six others from the 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment and eight companies of the 89th New York Infantry Regiment boarded the U.S.S. Stepping Stones and traveled up the Nansemond River to assault the rifle pits and fort.
- 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: 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
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-01-09
- Description: Topics include rebel raids on the pickets, how comfortable their camp is, what he wants in a box his family will be sending him, including a baked chicken and maple sugar. He also mentions his views about the war and whether France will come in on the Confederate side. Mentions CSA Gen. Jeb Stuart and his cavalry raids.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-02-25
- Description: Topics include the weather, the capture of some Confederate officers by a scouting party, his advice to his mother about the farm, and the lack of specie in the area due to the war. Still needs a pair of socks.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Warren E. Bliss to Smiley Bancroft
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- Creator: Bliss, Warren E., 1840-1930.
- Date Created: 1862-06-19
- Description: Topics include moving to camp near the Chickahominy, anticipation of a battle at Richmond, the capture of Fort Darling, a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the death of Charles Bancroft. Use of hot air balloons in reconnaissance is mentioned, as is the observation that many plantations are deserted by their owners and run by slaves, Gen. McClellan threatened to turn every "White House" (plantation) into a hospital.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Charles F. Bancroft Correspondence
Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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- Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
- Date Created: 1863-12-18
- Description: A long letter started on Dec 18th and begun again Dec 25th. Topics include Bradford recovering from sickness, receiving goods from home, boots and shirts, Mr. Bishop eating up some of the eatable food meant for Sparrow due to going so long without food, making strawberry preserves, requesting several hundred pounds of butter and cheese, various utilitarian items including a spider frying pan, a list of items Ira wants, mentions by name other men he has seen and talked to, acknowledges that a letter went missing and recaps what was written in that letter.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow Correspondence
Lyman Barton to Sister
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- Creator: Barton, Lyman.
- Date Created: 1862-11-25
- Description: Topics include an account of the Battle of Antetam [sic], the cold weather, the high prices of goods at camp, and reports on the health of other soldiers and family members.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, James Edwin, 1844-1865.
- Date Created: 1864-11-19
- Description: Letter written by J. Edwin Henry to Mary Jane Henry, describing life in camp. He mentions that the picket lines are so close together that the soldiers talk to one another, and that one rebel soldier asked what Vermonters thought of “Mosby’s raid into St. Albans.” He also writes that there are few officers yet in the 17th, making more work for those that are there, and that the only regret he has in enlisting is that he left his mother alone. As well, he enquires whether his sister, Delia Henry Anderson, is still visiting Vermont, or whether she has returned to North Carolina yet.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: [1861]-09-14
- Description: Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey’s position as field officer of the day, the lack of sleep the soldiers are experiencing, and the ease with which the Rebels could attack the Regiment.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence