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 - 2 of 2 Records

Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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    • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
    • Date Created: 1865-04-29
    • Description: Topics include the tribulations of their recent march, Rutherford's opinions on the future of the nation after the war, expression of his hatred for people who have acted as traitors of the army & strong expression against giving leniency toward any traitor to the Union ; reference to Gen. Sherman.
    • 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: 1863-05-24
      • Description: Topics include guarding Barber‚Äôs Cross Roads while the railroad tracks being taken up and transported to Suffolk. While there, his staying at the house of a Mr. Ely, a known secessionist, had difficulty restraining his troops from damaging the property that included setting fire to the Ely barn and tarring their wagon even though Mr. Ely is respectful to the Union troops. Writes of being surprised at the resignation of Colonel [Dudley Kimball] Andross and being disturbed by the turnover in the Regiment‚Äôs leadership.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence