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 591 - 600 of 1339 Records

Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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    • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
    • Date Created: 1862-12-23
    • Description: Topics include a hard battle and defeat at Fredericksburg, the death of S. E. Connor from pneumonia, his opinion of how the war is conducted, the illness of two of the officers, of having the Commissary Sergeant among them with the result living conditions are good.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence


    Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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      • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
      • Date Created: 1863-03-13
      • Description: Time doing battalion drills, the capture of Stoughts, Rebels capturing Brig. Gen without a gunshot, digging pits, inquiries about a letter that perhaps was inappropriate with questions about who wrote it & how disgruntled privates can give misconceptions, and a few officers in Company E becoming intoxicated.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence


      Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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        • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
        • Date Created: 1863-04-03
        • Description: Topics include several promotions in the regiment, a trip to Washington, to the theater to see performances (Werner, Still Waters Run Deep, My Aunt), book of poems to send home, music to send home (I'm sitting on the Stile Mary & The Vacant chair), the cold weather, and the expectation to be paid soon.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence


        Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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          • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
          • Date Created: 1863-05-11
          • Description: Reference to Gen. Joseph Hooker's withdrawal across the Rappahannock River at the Battle of Chancellorsville (April 1863), Hooker getting an additional 30,000 men from Hentzleman, where the various companies are stationed, sabotage and guerrilla tactics by "squads", the capture & release of Union soldiers, reference to Confederate forces under John Singleton Mosby and family photographs.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence


          Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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            • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
            • Date Created: 1863-06-19
            • Description: Topics include that letter writing the only activity going on, it raining at last, the possibility of Lee‚Äôs Army being at Vicksburg, the expectation of not being able to go to Washington again, wishing for a new pair of pants made from nice dark blue cloth, a piece of battle worn Union flag from the 4th Regiment.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence


            Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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              • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
              • Date Created: 1861-06-27
              • Description: Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


              Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard, Albin Beard to Wheelock G. Veazey
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                • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898., Beard, Albin.
                • Date Created: [1861]-09-08
                • Description: Topics include the assignment of Wheelock G. Veazey‚Äôs regiment to the post of honor within their division of the army.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey 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‚Äôs 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


                  Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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                    • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
                    • Date Created: [1861]-12-[23]
                    • Description: Topics include Captain Atherton recruiting for the 4th Vermont Regiment and General Phelps making a ‚Äúfool‚Äù out of himself.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


                    Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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                      • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
                      • Date Created: 1862-01-09
                      • Description: Topics include military matters (court martial, foraging, picket duty) and disgust with the Congress, administration, government and fears the nation's downfall.
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence