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.

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Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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    • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
    • Date Created: 1864-06-04
    • Description: Henry writes during a lull in the Battle of Cold Harbor that he has been wounded and a finger amputated, and that he will be in the Division Hospital for around three weeks, until he can wield a saber again. He then writes movingly about the death of Captain Edwin B. Frost, lists the names of some of the wounded and makes reference to Gen. Grant to lay siege to Richmond, Va. The letter was dictated to Lieutenant George P. Welch.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
    Miniature of Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
    Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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      • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
      • Date Created: 1864-11-15
      • Description: Topics include description troop formations and breast work fortifications, of the ten-mile line of troops, desire to build shelter for winter but uncertain weather there will be another relocating march, his feelings about a cavalry promotion, and discussion over the location of a soldier's body and burial site; the visit from a wounded soldier's wife about her husband's health after Rutherford amputated his arm (Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct 19).
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
      Miniature of Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
      Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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        • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
        • Date Created: 1863-11-03
        • Description: Topics include references to folks at home and their improved health, of not minding having his letters read to others, brief reference to a battle at Briston Station (Manassas plains), Dr. Childe's sister has a book for Rutherford's daughter Helen, a brief description of a battle and how the wounded men were treated including Rutherford's decisions to not amputate limbs and the recovered heath of those soldiers who were spared the surgery.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
        Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
        William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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          • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
          • Date Created: 1864-06-18
          • Description: Henry writes that he is sorry for not writing sooner, but the Hospital was moved and his hand was so bad he thought he might lose it. It is better now and he hopes to be back with the Regiment in a few days. He also writes that the best account of the Battle of Cold Harbor is in the ‚ÄúTribune‚Äù and to ignore the papers that reported his death or that he was wounded in the head.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
          Miniature of Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
          Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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            • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
            • Date Created: 1862-07-31
            • Description: Topics include order from General Pope that force the regiment to find their own meat which they do by confiscating cattle from the countryside, Union troops being flung insults from the Southern women, pickets firing at the rebels, a careless discharge of a revolver caused a fifer to have two injured fingers on his right hand amputated by Surgeon Hall, and the capture of the Confederate Lady Rebel Spy Belle Boyd.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence