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.
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Sub-collections
- Daniel S. White Correspondence
- Edward P. Stone Correspondence
- George W. Quimby Correspondence
- Henry A. Smith Correspondence
- Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence
- Horace Barlow Diary
- John Lester Barstow Correspondence
- John W. Campbell Correspondence
- John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
- Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
- Joseph L. Perkins Correspondence
- Joseph Spafford Correspondence
- Justus F. Gale Correspondence
- Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
- Orlando S. Turner Correspondence
- Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
- Roswell Farnham Correspondence
- Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
- Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
- Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
- William C. Holbrook Correspondence
- William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Lesson Plans
(141 - 160 of 1,212)
Pages
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- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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Topics include the President calling for 300,000 additional troops, the wish that the National Government will develop a decisive policy to "proclaim war to the knife," and a description of Frederick Holbrook's son Major Will. Holbrook continues to express his admiration for Phelps and offer him...
Show moreTopics include the President calling for 300,000 additional troops, the wish that the National Government will develop a decisive policy to "proclaim war to the knife," and a description of Frederick Holbrook's son Major Will. Holbrook continues to express his admiration for Phelps and offer him greater forces to command.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Upbeat letter delivered to Gen. Phelps by the writer's son, William C. Holbrook, who apparently turned down an offer to join Phelps's staff. The writer, Gov. Holbrook, lavishes praise on Vermont officers and soldiers (including his son), and sends warm wishes for success to Phelps, sharing his...
Show moreUpbeat letter delivered to Gen. Phelps by the writer's son, William C. Holbrook, who apparently turned down an offer to join Phelps's staff. The writer, Gov. Holbrook, lavishes praise on Vermont officers and soldiers (including his son), and sends warm wishes for success to Phelps, sharing his conviction that "the Union Cause must triumph." Holbrook concludes with some reflections on the difficulty of being a wartime governor.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include John Wolcott Phelps being promoted to Brigadier General by President Lincoln and the Senate, as well as a state election (held first Tuesday in September) for which Frederick Holbrook is running for governor. Holbrook mentions again his desire to have his son, William, be attached...
Show moreTopics include John Wolcott Phelps being promoted to Brigadier General by President Lincoln and the Senate, as well as a state election (held first Tuesday in September) for which Frederick Holbrook is running for governor. Holbrook mentions again his desire to have his son, William, be attached to Phelps.
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- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include organizing Companies or Batteries of Light Artillery for General B. F. Butler's "New England Division". Holbrook again writes of his desire to have his son, William, be attached to Phelps. Also writes of making Lt. Roberts of Rutland a Colonel of the 7th Regiment, of his...
Show moreTopics include organizing Companies or Batteries of Light Artillery for General B. F. Butler's "New England Division". Holbrook again writes of his desire to have his son, William, be attached to Phelps. Also writes of making Lt. Roberts of Rutland a Colonel of the 7th Regiment, of his disappointment of General Baxter not being elected Adjutant General. Col. Washburn got the post.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include the arrival of the 7th and 8th Vermont Regiments at Ship Island, off the coast of Miss., and arrangements with the War Department for wounded troops to be sent home. Holbrook mentions the Battle of Yorktown (April 5-May 4, 1862), esp. the "affair" on April 16 that left ca. 100...
Show moreTopics include the arrival of the 7th and 8th Vermont Regiments at Ship Island, off the coast of Miss., and arrangements with the War Department for wounded troops to be sent home. Holbrook mentions the Battle of Yorktown (April 5-May 4, 1862), esp. the "affair" on April 16 that left ca. 100 Vermont soldiers wounded. Holbrook is in charge of the U.S. Marine Hospital in Burlington, Vt.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to Roswell Farnham
- Description
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Farnham receives a brief letter from Governor Frederick Holbrook of Vermont writing from Montpelier of Farnham's concerns about soldier vacancies in the Vermont regiments and the method to fill them. Mentions Col. Proctor.
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- George F. Davis to Smiley Bancroft
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Topics include plans to return Charles Bancroft's possessions to his father. One senses that the quartermaster is defending the military's hospital care in response to a complaint from Bancroft's father.
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- George F. Davis to Smiley Bancroft
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Topics include the death of Charles Bancroft while on the "Propeller Richard Willing" and an account of his possessions. The quartermaster's tone is remarkably sympathetic even while addressing official business.
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- George J. Stannard to William Wirt Henry
- Description
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Topics include inquiring after William Henry's health, the sickness in the regiment, and a brief description of drills and picket duty and makes mention of not being promoted, states Capt Dillingham to be promoted.
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- George Prichard, C. C. P. Baldwin, and R. C. Johnson to Roswell Farnham
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Topics include the presentation of a horse to Roswell Farnham because of his patriotism.
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- George W. Quimby Correspondence
- Description
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George W. Quimby was an 1859 graduate of Dartmouth College before becoming a teacher and law student. Quimby was commissioned from Barton on September 4, 1861 as 1st lieutenant in Co. D, 4th Vt. He was promoted to captain on February 20, 1862. Quimby was killed in action at Fredericksburg,...
Show moreGeorge W. Quimby was an 1859 graduate of Dartmouth College before becoming a teacher and law student. Quimby was commissioned from Barton on September 4, 1861 as 1st lieutenant in Co. D, 4th Vt. He was promoted to captain on February 20, 1862. Quimby was killed in action at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Captain George Quimby's letters contain good descriptions of camp duties, observations on the Peninsula Campaign, and a brief description of the Antietam battlefield after the Confederate withdrawal. Two letters from Lieutenant Charles C. Kinsman and one letter from Chaplain John L. Roberts concern Quimby's death at Fredericksburg on December 13th, 1862.
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- Title
- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Topics include family matters where George gives legal advice to his sister Emeline in regards to settling her estate after the death of her husband, of illness among the men particularly measles, of finally getting all their military clothing.
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- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes to his sister Emeline about setting up camp for the winter in the woods that is proving to be a comfortable place, of being in good health, the leaving of Sargent Barney Robinson due to lameness.
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- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes to sister Emeline B. Masta from Camp Griffin, Va of a description of a Grand Review by Gen. McClellan and staff with Pres. Abraham Lincoln in attendance, marching to Bailey's Cross Roads, expedition to Fairfax Court House for grain, receipt of quilt and pillow, death of two men from...
Show moreWrites to sister Emeline B. Masta from Camp Griffin, Va of a description of a Grand Review by Gen. McClellan and staff with Pres. Abraham Lincoln in attendance, marching to Bailey's Cross Roads, expedition to Fairfax Court House for grain, receipt of quilt and pillow, death of two men from disease, reference to Thanksgiving Day
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- Title
- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes from Camp Griffin, Va, Smith's Division of camp life in general, of good food, of having been in several military advances since he last wrote, marching from Chain Bridge towards Lewinsville, "Sesesh" soldiers brought in with one having been said to have preached teh funeral service of...
Show moreWrites from Camp Griffin, Va, Smith's Division of camp life in general, of good food, of having been in several military advances since he last wrote, marching from Chain Bridge towards Lewinsville, "Sesesh" soldiers brought in with one having been said to have preached teh funeral service of Jackson and worth a lot of money, Picket Guard, Brigade Guard and sister's husband's health.
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- Title
- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes from Camp Griffin, Va. Smith's Division of consoling his sister Emeline on the death of her husband and how she should start taking care of the estate cautioning her about who she may trust and those town folks she should not be influenced by.
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- Henry A. Smith Correspondence
- Description
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Henry A. Smith of Royalton, Vt., enlisted in Co. E, 1st Vermont Cavalry, on September 23, 1861. He was taken prisoner on July 6, 1863, at Hagerstown, Md., and died at Richmond, Va., on Februrary 29, 1864. Smith's letters are written to his family and friends. He describes the regiment's trip to...
Show moreHenry A. Smith of Royalton, Vt., enlisted in Co. E, 1st Vermont Cavalry, on September 23, 1861. He was taken prisoner on July 6, 1863, at Hagerstown, Md., and died at Richmond, Va., on Februrary 29, 1864. Smith's letters are written to his family and friends. He describes the regiment's trip to Washington, D.C., and in 1863 writes from Belle Island where he is being held prisoner. The last letter is to Smith's mother from H. W. Spafford, May 16, 1864, and announces Smith's death.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include receiving a letter from home, his hope to be released and return home, and news about others from his regiment who were killed or wounded at Hagerstown on July 6.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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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...
Show moreTopics 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.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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A short letter thanking his mother for the box she sent. Although generally satisfied with the food, he wishes the requested socks had arrived as well. He adds a brief correction: "We do not belong to Burnsides Army but belong to the defences of Washington." Weather in February has been bad, and...
Show moreA short letter thanking his mother for the box she sent. Although generally satisfied with the food, he wishes the requested socks had arrived as well. He adds a brief correction: "We do not belong to Burnsides Army but belong to the defences of Washington." Weather in February has been bad, and March will probably be just as bad.
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