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
(21 - 40 of 171)
Pages
- Title
- George W. Quimby to Tucker
- Description
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Topics include the location of the company and a brief account of the battle of Lee's Mill. Also a comment about one legislator "Morrels" (Justin Morrill?) stating that Gen. William Smith was drunk. A summary of promotions.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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From camp near Alexandria, Va topics include the bad weather, the continuous firing of shots from the Washington Navy Yard, enjoys watching the new recruits, the prediction that Lant Blake will not live, still requesting boots and apples.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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From Culpeper Court House (Virginia) topics include a list of regiments in the area including the 1st Vt, the hope that Captain Rundlett submits his resignation, the resignation of Colonel Kellogg, the acquiring of double barrel shotguns taken from the citizens, brief reference to Gen. McClellan...
Show moreFrom Culpeper Court House (Virginia) topics include a list of regiments in the area including the 1st Vt, the hope that Captain Rundlett submits his resignation, the resignation of Colonel Kellogg, the acquiring of double barrel shotguns taken from the citizens, brief reference to Gen. McClellan and Gen. John Pope and the prediction that the war will not last much longer.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Washington to Anapolis, Maryland and an account of a runaway slave.
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- Henry A. Smith to Mother
- Description
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Two letters one dated Dec 5th and one 6th. Topics include the snowy weather, Henry Smith's good health, and the difficult times the men who were drafted will face.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include clarifying things that were written home about Merrill, what Wilder will do once he leaves the army alive, and a man named Damon Hunter returning home after having his leg amputated. One Civil War chronology notes on this date "little or no action on the main front in Virginia...
Show moreTopics include clarifying things that were written home about Merrill, what Wilder will do once he leaves the army alive, and a man named Damon Hunter returning home after having his leg amputated. One Civil War chronology notes on this date "little or no action on the main front in Virginia along the Chickahominy."
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- Title
- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include the preparations to march and then the order was countermanded. Mentions "the box" of supplies from home.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include marching orders, the cold weather, and the way the regiment sets up their guns so they are always ready. The order to march probably refers to Lincoln's General War Order No. 1, an attempt to prod his generals to act. By "Chatilerz" Wilder may have meant "chattelers," or those...
Show moreTopics include marching orders, the cold weather, and the way the regiment sets up their guns so they are always ready. The order to march probably refers to Lincoln's General War Order No. 1, an attempt to prod his generals to act. By "Chatilerz" Wilder may have meant "chattelers," or those assigned the duty of moving war materiel.
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- Title
- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include a description of the Union Victory since that at Yorktown, which may include the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862).
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include the rebels being strongly fortified at Lee's Mill, the preparations for a hard battle (the month-long siege of Yorktown), and Merrill's sickness. Detailed description of some dead and wounded soldiers.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include two officers from the New York regiment joining the rebel army and a description of a rebel attack. Wilder is writing at the time of the Siege of Yorktown, Va.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include the regiment remaining at Camp Griffin and Wilder asking his mother's opinion on him and Merrion entering the regular scouts for five years.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include the route the regiment marched to arrive at camp near Newport News and a skirmish with the rebels coming down the river, firing at the coast.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include Wilder asking his mother to send the items he requested as soon as possible.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Henry Harrison Wilder writes to his mother about his sickness and the treatment he is receiving from Doctor Russel. Mentions Captain Stowell, also receiving a box of cheese and pickles, minor illness among the men, anticipated discipline (to be shot) for a soldier found asleep at his post.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
- Description
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Topics include marching from Camp Griffin to camp near Flint Hill and the news that the regiment will continue on to Washington. This is the beginning of the Peninsula Campaign.
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- Henry L. Terry to John W. Campbell
- Description
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Topics include encamping at Lee's Mill, twelve miles from Washington, close to the Rebels.
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- Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry
- Description
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Topics include recent battles in Yorktown and Williamsburg, which had significant casualties; the destruction of the C.S.S. Merrimack off the coast of Norfolk, Va., now under Union occupation. McClellan will likely send Vt. troops home once Richmond is taken. Ill soldier Tilton Sleeper mentioned...
Show moreTopics include recent battles in Yorktown and Williamsburg, which had significant casualties; the destruction of the C.S.S. Merrimack off the coast of Norfolk, Va., now under Union occupation. McClellan will likely send Vt. troops home once Richmond is taken. Ill soldier Tilton Sleeper mentioned again.
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- Title
- Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry
- Description
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Topics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high...
Show moreTopics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high cost of food, and the slight sickness of Ira Marshall.
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- Title
- John Lester Barstow to ?
- Description
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Comfortable lodgings of the regiment in New Orleans, the cost of food items, and the ruined state of New Orleans when the Vermont Regiment arrived, interaction with the Negroes.