Vermonters in the Civil War

Vermonters in the Civil War

Collection Overview

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...
Show moreVermont 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.


Show less

Lesson Plans

Sort

Search

(1 - 3 of 3)
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Title
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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...
Show moreHenry 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.
Show less
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Title
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Description
Henry writes with more details of the killed and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Cedar Creek. He repeats his feelings of loss at the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson and Color Sergeant Billy Mahoney. As well he mentions having dinner with Colonel William Wells, who he feels could be...
Show moreHenry writes with more details of the killed and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Cedar Creek. He repeats his feelings of loss at the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson and Color Sergeant Billy Mahoney. As well he mentions having dinner with Colonel William Wells, who he feels could be a brigadier general if he would put his name in. Finally, he writes confidentially to his wife that he is still not recovered from his bilious fever and will be putting in his resignation soon, probably in November.
Show less
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Title
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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...
Show moreHenry 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.
Show less

Bookmark

Bookmarks: