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 561 - 570 of 1338 Records
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1861-09-29
- Description: September 29, 1861 from Camp Advance, Virginia. Writes of Second Vermont ordered out, casualties due to troop confusion and friendly fire, Munsons Hill, picket duty.
- 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: 1862-01-19
- Description: Topics include William Henry's arrival at Camp Griffin, Virginia ; the men petitioning for Lt. Henry to be their captain ; mentions not yet receiving Elixir yet but has high hopes of sell a lot of it.
- 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: 1862-08-24
- Description: Topics include being put in charge of the 10th Regiment for a few days, William Henry's wish to go home to see his family, the duties of being a Major, feeling very proud of his military promotion, Dress Parade well attended by some 400 to 500 people including Mr. Cummings who was Speaker of the House.
- 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: 1862-10-13
- Description: Expresses big disappointment about preparing for a raid by Confederate General Jeb Stuart that never happened due to a Union military blunder, a pontoon bridge at Edward's Ferry (between Virginia and Maryland), mentions the names of several men regarding sickness in the regiment's companies, sends kisses to his children.
- 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: 1862-11-30
- Description: Heart broken he not with wife for Thanksgiving, Capt. Dillingham rounding up Marylanders for the draft, a report on the health of several members or the regiment, anxious for letters from home.
- 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: 1862-12-19
- Description: Family matters, acknowledging the battle of Fredericksburg was a Union loss, health of several members of the regiment, and the possibility of an encounter with rebel cavalry, General McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac, soldiers happy about that, reference to Confederate Elijah V. White's calvary.
- 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: 1863-04-12
- Description: Discusses the possibility of moving towards the front, and encourages his wife to seek comfort in her religious beliefs. Lack of pay from the Army, as well as the need for money for the family as well as himself is mentioned. The feelings that the troops have towards the inhabitants of the town where they are staying, and the feelings of the town towards the troops, are also discussed. Mentions Mr. Trundle (correct spelling?)not expected to live. (The Trundel family befriended the Union officers despite being southern sympathizers. Mr. Trundel was given medical care by Dr. Joseph Chase Rutherford).
- 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: 1863-06-14
- Description: Writes of rumors & the possibility of raids by the Rebels, a wedding between a corporal in the 10th Vermont and a Maryland woman, General Milroy’s retreat from Winchester by Ewell, the massing of Confederate troops across the river ; Mosby mentioned to have 500 men with him, challenges the accuracy of newspaper reporting compared to his account of military action.
- 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: 1863-07-03
- Description: Letter discusses guarding a railroad bridge, while the Second Brigade is heading for a big battle (the Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3 part of the Gettysburg Campaign). He also mentions that all the officers’ wives were returning home to Vermont.
- 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: 1863-07-07
- Description: Written in camp in the field, letter discusses local politics back home, warning that they shouldn’t nominate any Democrats. Reports of a fight involving the First Vermont Cavalry Regiment near Williamsport, casualties, as well as the death of fellow Vermonters. He mentions that Major Wells fought like a “tiger”, men is good spirits, reflects on Gen. Lee is being defeated.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence