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
(641 - 660 of 1,368)
Pages
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Detailed list of the marches made by the 6th Vermont from July 12th through August 3rd. He also writes of visiting the burial ground of some of the soldiers from Company I at Camp Griffin and of visiting former members of Company I when in Washington D.C. siting several by name, of receiving...
Show moreDetailed list of the marches made by the 6th Vermont from July 12th through August 3rd. He also writes of visiting the burial ground of some of the soldiers from Company I at Camp Griffin and of visiting former members of Company I when in Washington D.C. siting several by name, of receiving photographs of his family, and of receiving his back pay as Sergeant but not as Lieutenant.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Williams has left NYC via steamboat, Rip Van Winkle and thought to be on way to Albany, NY ; had a chance to visit with friends ; draft continued with no trouble but threats were made to burn the city if the draft was brought to NYC.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include taking part in a raid against guerrilla fighters, capturing a large quantity of cider brandy which was drunk by both officers and men and by their guide, so that they had to turn back, and a cavalry fight on October 2 (Battle of Saltville, Va.), near their camp. He also writes of...
Show moreTopics include taking part in a raid against guerrilla fighters, capturing a large quantity of cider brandy which was drunk by both officers and men and by their guide, so that they had to turn back, and a cavalry fight on October 2 (Battle of Saltville, Va.), near their camp. He also writes of being detached to the 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment temporarily and being in command of two companies, and asks when the Town of Essex will pay the bounty to soldiers who reenlisted.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes of a raid on the railroad line between Richmond, Virginia and Welden, North Carolina at Ream’s Station destroying tracks, his wish to be at home visiting with his brother, Nathan, the hot and dusty weather, and getting paid.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes his health is good, the weather is hot, the men have a good camp ground and good water close by. States he has received letters from home and tells of the different types of food crops grown in Virginia ; gives his opinion of some men folk at home, of men drafted but who run away and...
Show moreWrites his health is good, the weather is hot, the men have a good camp ground and good water close by. States he has received letters from home and tells of the different types of food crops grown in Virginia ; gives his opinion of some men folk at home, of men drafted but who run away and refuse to fight, and sends this letter with no postage stamp as his request for some has not yet been fulfilled.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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A poem entitled "Battle of Cedar Creek" and a letter to his sister, Lois, that includes a description of the fighting the 6th Vt Vols. was involved with starting April 1st and leading to the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes that the regiment has been on the move and has seen some fighting with the Rebels resulting in the capture of many Confederates, their officers and many weapons ; also reports Union losses at Rappahannock.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Williams describes the movement of the 6th Corps from Winchester to Petersburg, Virginia moving into the log houses built by the 2nd Corps, the neighborliness of the rebel pickets, names of people he has received letters from, news of Union General Thomas’ victory over Confederate General Hood at...
Show moreWilliams describes the movement of the 6th Corps from Winchester to Petersburg, Virginia moving into the log houses built by the 2nd Corps, the neighborliness of the rebel pickets, names of people he has received letters from, news of Union General Thomas’ victory over Confederate General Hood at the Battle of Nashville (Tenn.) December 15-16, 1864, receipt of leather gloves much needed by the men.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Letter to sister Lois about his great appreciation of receiving letters from home and their importance to him ; relates the men's hard march, camping in the the field, hardships endured including having little food to eat, of no complaints from the men regardless ; a bit of home gossip.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Recounts a long march to Gettysburg and of laying in wait for the enemy, engaged in a skirmish with the Rebels, one brigade left to deal with them and the rest of the men returned to camp where time was spent socializing. Writes some of the Vermont men sent home and states that he is sending...
Show moreRecounts a long march to Gettysburg and of laying in wait for the enemy, engaged in a skirmish with the Rebels, one brigade left to deal with them and the rest of the men returned to camp where time was spent socializing. Writes some of the Vermont men sent home and states that he is sending letters home via Alf. Olmstead for safekeeping.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include the warm, muddy weather, the success of the Burnsides Expedition, the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the possibility of either marching to Manassas and on to Richmond or back to Vermont.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include being on picket duty and receiving his letters through the kindness of Private Francis Phillips of Westford, who walked eight miles to bring them to him. He also writes of wishing to be home for sugaring season that he was chosen editor of the next paper the Sixth Regiment Debating...
Show moreTopics include being on picket duty and receiving his letters through the kindness of Private Francis Phillips of Westford, who walked eight miles to bring them to him. He also writes of wishing to be home for sugaring season that he was chosen editor of the next paper the Sixth Regiment Debating Society.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include a detailed description of the Battle of Fort Stevens [July 11-12, 1864], specifically the movements of the 6th Corps. Williams also writes of the mustering out of some of the 6th Regiment, as their time had expired.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include how busy he has been with monthly reports, the gloomy weather, news from his brother, Nathan, in Chicago, and the cheering war news. He also reports that Confederate deserters are still crossing the lines and that he thinks the war will be over in four months.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes of good news for the Union from various theaters of war including the fall of Savannah, Georgia with the capture of 15,000 rebel prisoners & taking of Fort Fisher, his hope to be home by next Christmas, receiving his commission as Captain of Company I and his pride in it, requests his...
Show moreWrites of good news for the Union from various theaters of war including the fall of Savannah, Georgia with the capture of 15,000 rebel prisoners & taking of Fort Fisher, his hope to be home by next Christmas, receiving his commission as Captain of Company I and his pride in it, requests his sister send him more kid gloves for the other officers in the regiment.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Detailed description of the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, including his account of the arrival of General Sheridan that was much welcomed by the men, its effect on the Union Army on how the lines were reformed and much captured by the Union soldiers.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Regiment engaged the Rebels, gives a good account of the skirmish across the Rappahannock River with heavy gunfire that forced the Confederates to retreat ; gives casualties and wounded ; reference to Gen. Hooker not planning to engage the enemy at this location at the present time.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include the hard marching to a camp owned by the rebel Colonel Lee and requests for items to be sent from home.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include Lyman’s promotion to 2nd Lieutenant of Company C, inquiries about his Canadian cousins, trying to keep cool, with a bucket of ice water to drink, needing money sent to him to pay for his new equipment as 2nd Lieutenant, a discussion about the officers in his new company, a report...
Show moreTopics include Lyman’s promotion to 2nd Lieutenant of Company C, inquiries about his Canadian cousins, trying to keep cool, with a bucket of ice water to drink, needing money sent to him to pay for his new equipment as 2nd Lieutenant, a discussion about the officers in his new company, a report about the loss of prisoners by the 4th and 11th Regiments, destruction of railroad tracks and bridges.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics including marching out to support a cavalry raid on February 27, 1864 and returning to camp exhausted by the march through mud. He also writes about his wife, Mary Gorton Williams, hopes that his room would be empty when he returns from the army, so that he and Mary might live there....
Show moreTopics including marching out to support a cavalry raid on February 27, 1864 and returning to camp exhausted by the march through mud. He also writes about his wife, Mary Gorton Williams, hopes that his room would be empty when he returns from the army, so that he and Mary might live there. Requests postage stamps.
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