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 901 - 910 of 1339 Records
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: [1864]-04-17
- Description: Henry writes that he was extremely happy getting a letter from his wife, and that he is glad her “little difficulties” were better. He mentions speaking with Captain Frost about Frost's visit to Waterbury, and that Colonel Jewett is talking about resigning again.
- 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: 1864-06-24
- Description: Henry writes that he has had to return to the hospital because he tore up the wound on his hand during a grand charge made by the 10th Vermont the day before. He complains that he and everyone else are very tired because of all the marching and charging they have had to do in such hot weather. He also writes that the 10th Vermont has been given a good position on the left side of the line and hasn’t seen as much hard fighting as the other regiments.
- 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: 1864-06-29
- Description: Henry writes that his hand is getting better and he hopes to return to his command in a couple of days. The army is currently resting, though there are rumors that the cavalry and gun boats will be going into action soon. He also writes that the army has confidence in Grant and Mead and that the loss of the railroad will hurt the Confederates, since they have a large army to feed and many civilians have fled to Richmond and Petersburg. As well, Henry writes of how much he misses his wife and how angry he is with Dr. Child for not authorizing leave. He also writes of having to put down the young horse he bought for his wife to ride because it caught glanders.
- 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: 1864-07-04
- Description: Henry writes that he has celebrated the Fourth of July by writing letters to his “sister” Katie Parker, and to Eli B. Johnson, and that he couldn’t go to bed without writing a short letter to his wife, though his wound still pains him.
- 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: 1864-07-11
- Description: Henry writes to reassure his wife that he is unhurt after the Battle of Monocacy on July 9th, and to let her know that he is now in command of a brigade guarding the approach to Washington D.C. at Relay House, Maryland. He also writes that none of the Waterbury men were wounded and that the 14th N.J. and the 106th N.Y. lost many of their officers, and that the Rebels outnumbered the Union troops three to one. [Confederate victory]
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Foster, Daniel T., 1841-1920; Dewey.
- Date Created: 1864-09-14
- Description: Letter written to Colonel Henry by two of his officers, Lieutenant Daniel Foster and Captain Henry H. Dewey, giving him news of the 10th Regiment while Henry is home on sick leave. Includes names of men sick, military drill daily schedules, 2nd Division out on reconnaissance with some fighting
- 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: 1864-10-19
- Description: Henry writes with news of the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson at the Battle of Cedar Creek. The letter was written after the morning fighting but before the counterattack in the afternoon. Henry hopes to recover Thompson’s body, if possible, after the next attack. He also mentions other officers who were wounded.
- 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: 1864-10-20
- Description: Henry writes of the Battle of Cedar Creek, that the Union army was able to successfully rout the enemy by evening after the reverses of the morning, and that they were able to recover Captain Lucian D. Thompson’s body, which has been sent to Martinsburg to be embalmed and sent back to Vermont. He also writes that he was hit four times but not hurt, and that Charlie Crossett (Edwin C. Crossett), also from Waterbury, was wounded in the jaw, but that he saw him in one of the charges helping to recapture a cannon. As well, he writes that his color sergeant, Billy Mahoney, was shot through the heart.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-05-16
- Description: Topics include General Banks' Division falling back to Strasburgh, the frequent skirmishes with Ashbys Cavalry, an account of a man in Company I who shot a rebel, Smith's hand wounded by a fellow soldier playing carelessly with a sabre, men eating well, mention of Oliver Cushman of Hartland who was promoted to second Lieutenant, reference to military pay.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Henry A. Smith to Family
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-07-28
- Description: From Culpeper Court House (Virginia) topics include a list of regiments in the area including the 1st Vt, the hope that Captain Rundlett submits his resignation, the resignation of Colonel Kellogg, the acquiring of double barrel shotguns taken from the citizens, brief reference to Gen. McClellan and Gen. John Pope and the prediction that the war will not last much longer.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence