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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Showing 1 - 10 of 39 Records

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11 Families of military personnel. 7 Reporters and reporting. 6 Armed Forces -- Officers. 6 Military camps -- Virginia. 6 Photographs. 6 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865). 5 Confederate States of America Army. 5 Diseases. 4 GrantUlysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) 1822-1885. 3 Battle casualties. 3 Food. 3 Marching. 3 Military discharge. 3 Military hospitals. 3 Postal service. 3 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects. 2 Brandy Station (Va.). 2 Butler(Benjamin Franklin) Mr 1818-1893. 2 Camp Douglas (Ill.). 2 Copperhead movement. 2 Culpeper County (Va.). 2 Desertion, Military. 2 Draft -- United States. 2 Horses. 2 Military camps -- Louisiana. 2 Military camps -- Maryland. 2 Military pay. 2 Morale. 2 Newport (N.C.). 2 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 6th (1861-1864). 2 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865). 1 African American soldiers. 1 African Americans. 1 Amputation. 1 Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862. 1 Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862. 1 ChandlerCharles G. 1 Coal Harbor (Va.). 1 Cold Harbor (Va.). 1 DillinghamEdwin 1839-1864. 1 Executions and executioners. 1 FrostEdwin B. 1 Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863. 1 Grant Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) 1822-1885. 1 Guerrilla warfare. 1 Homesickness. 1 Hooker, Joseph 1814-1879. 1 Meade George Gordon 1815-1872. 1 Military camps -- Illinois. 1 Military maneuvers. 1 Mitchell, Maggie 1837-1918. 1 Operational rations (Military supplies). 1 Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Siege, 1864-1865. 1 Port Hudson (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1863. 1 Prisoner-of-war camps. 1 Prisoners of war. 1 Promotions, Military. 1 Skirmishing. 1 Slaves. 1 SmithJ. Gregory (John Gregory) 1818-1891. 1 Soldiers -- Alcohol use. 1 Spotsylvania (Va.). 1 Tents. 1 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns. 1 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care. 1 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Women. 1 United States Army -- Military life. 1 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 12th (1862-1863). 1 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866). 1 United States Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865). 1 War victims. 1 Washington (D.C.). 1 Winchester (Va.). 1 Yorktown (Va.).

39 text
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: 1863-12-24
    • Description: Topics include receiving a photograph of his children, reading in a St Albans newspaper that his brother, Colonel Elisha Barney, is making recruiting speeches and feeling that he would not be as eloquent as his brother. He also mentions that Colonel Ripley has left camp with 75 men to recapture a load of salt that was blown ashore.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney 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: 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‚Äôs position, glad to receive the daily journal from home.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
      Miniature of Edward P. Stone to Family
      Edward P. Stone to Family
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        • Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
        • Date Created: 1862-07-30
        • Description: Inquires about ladies in the family, requesting letters from them, states there is good water contrary to what the newspapers report, vegetables to eat, building brick ovens, prayer meetings being held in brick church, death of son of Judge Swift of Middlebury.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone 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: 1864-12-10
          • Description: Topics include learning of Lucien, his brother-in-law's death (Hannah's brother) via the newspaper, a artillery shell passing just over his cabin, nighttime gunfire, description of the line of battle south of Richmond, cold and discomfort of his new camping location and the inflated price of getting new boots.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford 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: 1863-09-18
            • Description: Topics include receiving news from home from Lieutenant Jewett, inquiring into what newspapers his wife is reading and whether she has had work done on building a barn. Writes winter barracks continue to be worked on. He also wishes to have photographs of his children sent to him, preferably in their every day clothing.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
            Miniature of Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
            Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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              • Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
              • Date Created: 1863-01-04
              • Description: From Centreville, Va., a brief letter to sister Mary Jane requesting copies of the Boston Daily Journal with information about the battles of Bull Run (August 1862) and Chantilly (September 1862), mention of skirmish of cavalry pickets with the rebels, of how desolate the area is with empty, burned buildings and Joseph‚Äôs good health.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
              Miniature of Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
              Bradford Sparrow to Parents and Brothers
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                • Creator: Sparrow, Bradford.
                • Date Created: 1865-06-06
                • Description: Writes of his current location in another hospital, this one in New York, hopes his military discharge will come soon, his need for money sent to him as he will not be paid until his discharge come through, requests the Vermont newspaper the Repository as he wants to know what is going on back home.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Bradford Sparrow 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: 1863-07-05
                  • Description: Letter written on his knee in an open field it discusses movement of the Brigade to South Mountain and the anticipation of the arrival of more troops. The lack of letters received from family members is also discussed.
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
                  Miniature of Edward P. Stone to Family
                  Edward P. Stone to Family
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                    • Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
                    • Date Created: 1862-11-20
                    • Description: Regiment several days marching before reaching camp near the Aquia Creek, names various commanders in charge of the corps, newspaper informed him of the death of General Israel Richardson (wounded in Battle of Antietam in Maryland, Sept. 17, 1862, died Nov. 3, 1862)
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence
                    Miniature of Roswell Farnham to Laura
                    Roswell Farnham to Laura
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                      • Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
                      • Date Created: 1863-02-10
                      • Description: Two letters dated Feb 10 and Feb. 15. Topics include the costs of newspapers and magazines, the chain of custody of Laura‚Äôs braids of hair, comfortable living conditions at the moment, Mary‚Äôs visit in camp, mention of a map sent to Charlie, news of friends seen, a trip to Washington where they saw actress Maggie Mitchell (she was a Confederate sympathizer and friend of John Wilkes Booth), an incident with their dog, suggestions on refurbishing the house and money sent home.
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence