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 71 - 80 of 1338 Records
Justus F. Gale to Sister
-
Image nop
- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-06-14
- Description: Topics include the movement of the company from Algiers to Lafourche, a description of the living situation at Algiers, the good food at camp including fresh fruit berries, water quality not good.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Sister
-
Image nop
- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-07-18
- Description: Topics include the good health of Justus Gale, the food available at Algiers including confiscated beef from the locals, standing guard for 12 hour shifts, killing alligators, writes of some of his comrades, the sickness of Sargent 2nd Class.Chas. C. Martin with inflammation of the bowels, the capture of Richmond and Vicksburg, mentions Confederate Gen. G. T. Beauregard, receiving a copy of the Green Mountain Freeman and refers to his religious faith.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Sister
-
Image nop
- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-10-09
- Description: Topics include the improved health of Justus Gale’s family, speaks of his religious faith, a discussion of deciding on Charley’s gravestone, and the separation of his Gale's parents.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus E. Gale to Sister
-
Image nop
- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-11-29
- Description: Topics include the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, of city purchases by Justus Gale of barrels of apples which he resold by the piece, of buying tobacco, postage stamps, writing supplies, local terms for cash money, of commanding officers of 3rd Louisiana colored regiment and the dry weather.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Mother
-
Image nop
- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1863-08-21
- Description: In this letter Gale writes to his mother from the Church Hospital in Baton Rouge that he has been ill but is getting better. He has been eating a little. He and his unit had been "beseigeing" Port Hudson just before he was taken ill. He also writes that he never really suffered while soldiering, and that he is sorry his brother, Lyman, has been drafted, since he doesn’t think he could stand army life. Some time after this, Gale was sent to the U.S. General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he died of chronic diarrhea on September 19, 1863.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1862-08-15
- Description: A very brief letter from Camp Washburn topics include inquiries after the well being of his baby boy and the anticipated promotion to Major.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1862-10-19
- Description: Two letters included (Oct 19 and Oct 21). Writes of the possibility of the officers bring their wives to visit when the regiment goes into winter camp, being part of a new brigade, his name being submitted to fill the vacant Lieutenant Colonel’s position, glad to receive the daily journal from home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Justin Carter to William Wirt Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Carter, Justin, d. 1871.
- Date Created: 1863-01-19
- Description: List of amounts given by non-commissioned officers of Company B for a sabre for Lieutenant Colonel William Wirt Henry of the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment including Foster, the drummer boy.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to John Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-01-27
- Description: Letter giving details some of camp life, and activities while at winter quarters. Discusses dinner with Mr. Trundell, a prominent Maryland family, news concerning friends, family and plans for Mary Jane to come visit.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
-
Image nop
- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-07-06
- Description: Letter discusses the Regiment’s position guarding the pass on South Mountain from the retreating Confederate army. As well he mentions the signs left by the battle that occurred there in 1862. Gettysburg is also mentioned, as well as hope that the war will end soon. Union general William Henry French mentioned a few times.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence