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 51 - 60 of 1338 Records

Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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    • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
    • Date Created: 1862-12-14
    • Description: From Camp Douglas topics include Barney receiving military pay (back from Nov 1 of $580), how Maria is to distribute it to pay off money owed by Barney, reaffirms his devotion to Maria, his ability to not be tempted to stray and his delight in receiving letters from his young children Carrie and Fred (even if not quite intelligible).
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


    Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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      • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
      • Date Created: 1862-12-16
      • Description: From Camp Douglas topics include sending military pay of $480 home, request for needed items from home including boots, fur collar, pillow. etc., having a pleasant evening dinner and singing at Mrs. Snow's and arranging to have his photograph taken.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


      Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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        • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
        • Date Created: 1863-01-01
        • Description: Writing from Camp Douglas in Chicago, Ill. Barney reflects on and hopes for an end to the war, his loneliness, longing to be with his family, of money he owed being paid on J. P. Jewetts books, inquiring of family, of receiving letters from his children and requesting photographs of them so he can get them "painted and framed".
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


        Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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          • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
          • Date Created: 1863-01-11
          • Description: Barney still at Camp Douglas in Chicago and still hopes to be exchanged, writes of his loneliness and how the officers amuse themselves, the health of the Regiment, of light cases of small pox among the men, of hopes of being able to regain the money lost and inquires about family members.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


          Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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            • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
            • Date Created: 1863-01-14
            • Description: News that the Regiment is to be exchanged, size of Regiment reduced due to desertion, deaths and discharges, speculation about where the Reg. might be sent, men being readied with marching orders expected soon, still makes reference to the envelope in which money was lost with hope of being repaid.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


            Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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              • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
              • Date Created: 1863-02-22
              • Description: His medicinal use of alcohol, the bitter weather, a practical joke he played on Lieutenant Erastus W. Jewett and the uses of humor, singing (Brave Boys are they) and other entertainments, his conversation with a Rebel prisoner about allegiance to the U.S., his worries about the news of small pox back home in Swanton.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


              Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                • Date Created: 1863-03-16
                • Description: Topics include his confidence in her childrearing abilities, Colonel Stannard‚Äôs promotion, the gifts the Regiment wishes to give him including a horse, saddle and other equestrian equipment, his hope that the Regiment will be under his command in one of the Vermont Brigades. He also writes of giving photographs of Tom Thumb and his wife as gifts to his children.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


                Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                  • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                  • Date Created: 1863-03-20
                  • Description: Writes of his feelings about being passed over for promotion in favor of Captain Edward H. Ripley being promoted to Major, since Ripley is friends with Major Stowell and is wealthy. Barney has seniority, is reassured he is well liked, respected and has the support of most of the line officers. He also writes of collecting photographs for his album.
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


                  Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                    • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                    • Date Created: 1863-03-22
                    • Description: Topics include the rainy weather and the monotony of camp life, comfortable living, the shortage of men in the regiment, of hopes of conscription act will fill the ranks and plans for home improvements including building a barn and cistern.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


                    Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                      • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                      • Date Created: 1863-04-02
                      • Description: A brief letter telling of traveling by railroad from Chicago to Baltimore with 451 Confederate prisoners captured at Murfreesboro and Arkansas Post, speculation about where the 9th Vermont will be stationed and mentions Col. Stowell
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence