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 1 - 10 of 57 Records
Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1863-04-14
- Description: Farnham writes of the unit preparing to leave Wolf Run Shoals, expresses his wishes to see his wife, Mary, again, feeling sad with his wife absent from camp but glad she is safe, sends a photo by way of Capt. Ormsbee that Mary is to take care of photo, Mr. Peach is ill, letter from Henry and his clothing business.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1863-07-04
- Description: A brief letter from Frederick Junction, Maryland stating he has received a picture of his wife, that he and the troops are preparing to march, and he has been assigned to be the acting surgeon of the Regiment and Medical Director of the Brigade.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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- Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
- Date Created: 1863-08-16
- Description: From White Sulphur Spring, VA topics include continued conflict with military authorities, medical department, Dr. Childe returning to duty relieving him of a lot of work, pursuing ways to relieve the shortage of medicines, photos of his children, blacks scavenging salt, philosophical reflections and opinions of the country being laid waste, people's lives suffering as a result of the Civil War.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: [1862]-07-14
- Description: Topics include Barney sending photographs of himself home to his wife and family.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1862-12-16
- Description: From Camp Douglas topics include sending military pay of $480 home, request for needed items from home including boots, fur collar, pillow. etc., having a pleasant evening dinner and singing at Mrs. Snow's and arranging to have his photograph taken.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-01-01
- Description: Writing from Camp Douglas in Chicago, Ill. Barney reflects on and hopes for an end to the war, his loneliness, longing to be with his family, of money he owed being paid on J. P. Jewetts books, inquiring of family, of receiving letters from his children and requesting photographs of them so he can get them "painted and framed".
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-03-16
- Description: Topics include his confidence in her childrearing abilities, Colonel Stannard’s promotion, the gifts the Regiment wishes to give him including a horse, saddle and other equestrian equipment, his hope that the Regiment will be under his command in one of the Vermont Brigades. He also writes of giving photographs of Tom Thumb and his wife as gifts to his children.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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- Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
- Date Created: 1863-03-20
- Description: Writes of his feelings about being passed over for promotion in favor of Captain Edward H. Ripley being promoted to Major, since Ripley is friends with Major Stowell and is wealthy. Barney has seniority, is reassured he is well liked, respected and has the support of most of the line officers. He also writes of collecting photographs for his album.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
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
Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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- Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1863-03-16
- Description: Topics include resuming encampment after living indoors for a while. An early March skirmish in Aldie, Va. is mentioned, as is the capture of General E.H. Stoughton in bed, in a daring raid by CSA Capt. John S. Mosby at Fairfax County Court House. Mosby managed to capture dozens of union soldiers, learn the "Countersign," or password, and go wherever he wanted. (The embarrassment ended Stoughton's military career.) Smith mentions his wish for a photograph of his siblings, and his wish for news from home.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence