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 871 - 880 of 1338 Records
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1864-03-14
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Hiram H. Barton to Lyman Barton
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- Creator: Barton, Hiram H., 1836-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-04-05
- Description: Writing from Stanley General Hospital in New Bern, N.C. to his brother Lyman, Hiram Barton writes of all the rumors surrounding the Siege of Little Washington (Battle of Washington, March 30-April 18, 1863), including the supposed death of General Francis B. Spinola. He also writes of the arrival of a Lieutenant sent by General John G. Foster to New Bern to ask for reinforcements. As well, he writes of Rebel scouts that are in the area.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence
Lyman Barton to Hiram Barton
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- Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
- Date Created: 1863-07-29
- Description: Lyman Barton writes of his Regiment’s march from White House to near Hanover Junction and back, and then on to a camp near Portsmouth, Virginia. He then writes of his military unit being renumbered (from 9 A C to the 7 A C now 2nd Brigade 2nd Division 7 A C), of news from home, that his two other brothers, James and Henry were drafted, and continues with his views on how the war is progressing.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence
Lyman Barton to Melissa Barton
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- Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
- Date Created: 1864-07-07
- Description: Lyman Barton comments on the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 15 to 18, writing that though they were almost successful in taking Petersburg, the arrival of General Hancock slowed the assault until the defenses were fortified. He also writes of his sister mistaking shoulder scales, worn by privates, for an officer’s badge in a photograph she received, mentioning that the Colored Troops wore these shoulder scales but discarded them when in the field. He gives only a passing mention to the Battle of Cold Harbor.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Father
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-06-14
- Description: Topics include the living conditions and food in New Orleans, continues with cooking duty, the good weather, soldiers bringing back to camp chickens, eggs, an account of the poor treatment of slaves, two slave boys being rescued from ill treatment from their masters, and the observance of Sabbath in camp, wishing to know more news of the war than he can get in the South.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Brother
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-07-04
- Description: Topics include the 4th of July celebrations, guard duty of a bridge, diarrhea, accidental gun firing injuring a fellow soldier's hand, plenty of water but it is muddy river water, fresh local fruit and corn, and a brief account of Ship Island including mentioning how "black" the men were (either referring to being unclean or to mood).
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Father
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-08-08
- Description: Topics include the good health of Justus Gale, a description of the land in Algiers including deep mud, swamp and tall grasses, and the sickness in the regiment.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Sister & Friends
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-09-24
- Description: From Algiers, La topics include ill health of his mother and sister, the death of his brother Charley, how difficult it is to get a military discharge, Justus Gale’s negative opinion of the Blacks, his hope slavery is ended, and his hope that his sister and mother will become healthy again.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus F. Gale to Sister
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-11-18
- Description: Topics include the being saddened by the ill health of his family in Elmore, enjoying good health himself, troops living in an apparently abandoned house in Bayou Boeuf, La., the parole of the prisoners who are still alive (not clear but these may be Union soldiers taken prisoners as some were shot for running from their army and joining a Union regiment), the movement of the army on the Potomac and still unable to get a photograph of himself taken.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Justus E. Gale to Sister and Mother
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- Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
- Date Created: 1862-11-25
- Description: Topics include a summary of the health of Justus Gale’s family, makes references to his faith, the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, a scene in camp as soldiers go about various activities, and the warm weather.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence