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 31 - 40 of 66 Records
Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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- Creator: Holbrook, Frederick.
- Date Created: 1862-03-06
- Description: In his letter to General Phelps, Frederick Holbrook, Governor of Vermont (1861-1863), expresses his admiration for several Union officers from Vermont and his pride in the 8th Vt. Regiment. He informs the general that two infantry regiments and two artillery companies are ready to serve. (This is about one month before the Union attack on New Orleans, launched in part from Ship Island, just off the coast of Mississippi.) Holbrook explains that they would have been sent a month earlier "had Government been ready with funds." He looks forward to seeing Phelps again after the war.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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- Creator: Holbrook, Frederick.
- Date Created: 1861-08-10
- Description: Topics include Frederick Holbrook requesting that his son William be under General John Wolcott Phelps' command in the position of Aid, Secretary or of some type of assistant.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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- Creator: Holbrook, W. C.
- Date Created: 1861-11-25
- Description: Topics include Lt. Adjt. W. C. Holbrook of the 4th Vermont Regiment requesting from Captain Mundee an order to report to Brig. Gen. John Wolcott Phelps at Old Point, Virginia as Aid de Camp.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William C. Holbrook to Mother
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1862-07-22
- Description: Topics include a Rebel “Ram” passing the Union fleet and stopping at Vicksburg, the continued bombardment, and the sickness in the regiment and the request for more medical personnel (i.e. surgeon).
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William C. Holbrook to Mother
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1862-08-14
- Description: Topics include the number of men that were killed and wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge August 5th, lost of his "boy Jack" [does he refer to a Black man in his service or to a child?], the loss of Col. Roberts, the unpopularity of the current officer Col. Faillam, the men's request that Holbrook replace Faillam, Holbrook’s desire to go into a regiment located in Virginia, Gen. Phelps and his opinions on the slave question, Gen. Butler's compliments to the regiment for its brave conduct in the Baton Rouge battle, sending home of the Secessionist's flag retrieved from Fort Pike, desire for newspapers from Vt.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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- Creator: Holbrook, Frederick.
- Date Created: 1862-05-02
- Description: Topics include the arrival of the 7th and 8th Vermont Regiments at Ship Island, off the coast of Miss., and arrangements with the War Department for wounded troops to be sent home. Holbrook mentions the Battle of Yorktown (April 5-May 4, 1862), esp. the "affair" on April 16 that left ca. 100 Vermont soldiers wounded. Holbrook is in charge of the U.S. Marine Hospital in Burlington, Vt.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Francis C. Williams to Frederick Holbrook
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- Creator: Williams, Francis C.
- Date Created: 1862-04-25
- Description: Topics include the regiment being situated at Camp on Ship Island, the establishment of (religious?) services on Tuesdays, and the intellectual capacity of the men of the Vermont regiments.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
John Wolcott Phelps to Frederick Holbrook
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- Creator: Phelps, John Wolcott.
- Date Created: 1862-10-03
- Description: John W. Phelps writes to Gov. Holbrook with topics including the perceived mistake of the President Abraham Lincoln in regards to the bargain the President is making with the slave states and moral issues associated with the decision.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William C. Holbrook to Mother
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1861-10-16
- Description: Topics include the movement of the regiment from Camp Advance to Camp Griffin, an alarm caused by the Dutchmen mistaking a calf for the rebels, Union officers receive praise from Holbrook (McClellan) as does the unit he is in from officers Col Stoughton and Gen Smith and a description of the living situation at camp that include good food, sleeping on the ground and sending money back home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William C. Holbrook to Frank
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- Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
- Date Created: 1862-05-01
- Description: Writing from Ship Island to his brother Frank topics include the barbarian style of living, drills going well, good news about the Battle at Shiloh (April 6 & 7) and Yorktown (April 5 to May 4), gunboats and general good sanitary conditions of the Regiment.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War