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
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
(1,061 - 1,080 of 1,368)
Pages
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Barney writes while on board the steamer “Maple Leaf” and describes the trip, including a singalong with Captain Seligson and his guitar. Officers' wives aboard but seasick, confined to their rooms thus he deprived "the pleasure of looking at a white woman." He also writes of wishing his father...
Show moreBarney writes while on board the steamer “Maple Leaf” and describes the trip, including a singalong with Captain Seligson and his guitar. Officers' wives aboard but seasick, confined to their rooms thus he deprived "the pleasure of looking at a white woman." He also writes of wishing his father had sent a box with winter clothing that he had requested earlier, since the men need winter clothing.
Show less
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Topics include moving to a camp near the east corner of the fort, a description of the fort including how many guns and what types of guns, and the appointment of Eaton as the major of the 10th regiment.
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Topics include sitting on a court martial board for a Capt of the 65th Illinois for cowardice, reference to Union officer Maj. Gen William S. Rosecran's battle at Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Stones River Campaign, December 1862 against Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg) and the battle at Vicksburg (Dec...
Show moreTopics include sitting on a court martial board for a Capt of the 65th Illinois for cowardice, reference to Union officer Maj. Gen William S. Rosecran's battle at Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Stones River Campaign, December 1862 against Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg) and the battle at Vicksburg (Dec 1862), having photographs taken, visiting acquaintances in Chicago, and a description of Camp Douglas, including a map.
Show less
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Topics include attending a spiritualist lecture by Cora L. V. Hatch, of the importance of getting letters from Maria, his distress at receiving a letter from his wife in which she appears to doubt his love for her, and the shooting of a rebel prisoner by a member of the 65th.
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Topics include his confidence in her childrearing abilities, Colonel Stannard’s promotion, the gifts the Regiment wishes to give him including a horse, saddle and other equestrian equipment, his hope that the Regiment will be under his command in one of the Vermont Brigades. He also writes of...
Show moreTopics include his confidence in her childrearing abilities, Colonel Stannard’s promotion, the gifts the Regiment wishes to give him including a horse, saddle and other equestrian equipment, his hope that the Regiment will be under his command in one of the Vermont Brigades. He also writes of giving photographs of Tom Thumb and his wife as gifts to his children.
Show less
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Topics include Barney and other men being taken prisoner at Harpers Ferry while on picket guard duty, being paroled and walking towards Annapolis, sleeping with no gear or equipment, little to eat but hard bread and raw pork, and the promise to give a detailed account of the events when Barney...
Show moreTopics include Barney and other men being taken prisoner at Harpers Ferry while on picket guard duty, being paroled and walking towards Annapolis, sleeping with no gear or equipment, little to eat but hard bread and raw pork, and the promise to give a detailed account of the events when Barney has more time to write. Maryland Campaign Sept 3-15, 1862.
Show less
- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
-
Barney writes of how soldiers incarcerated in the guard house organize life while there, mimicking the rules of a regiment, including a “Colonel” (the Bully) who gets his position by fighting other soldiers, of extortion committed, of brutal beatings with one soldier not expected to live. He also...
Show moreBarney writes of how soldiers incarcerated in the guard house organize life while there, mimicking the rules of a regiment, including a “Colonel” (the Bully) who gets his position by fighting other soldiers, of extortion committed, of brutal beatings with one soldier not expected to live. He also describes how a soldier from his company (the 9th) deposed the "Colonel" and himself rose to the rank of “Major General” before escaping from camp, of Barney going to church worship, of Gen. Hooker granting furloughs and writes of family members.
Show less
- Title
- Volney S. Fullam to B. F. Butler
- Description
-
Topics include vacancies in the regiment caused by the death and sickness of some officers, the resignation and guilt of misconduct by Lt. G. W. Sheldon, and the intention to send a list of promotions.
- Title
- Volney S. Fullam to Frederick Holbrook
- Description
-
Topics include recommendations for promotions to fill the vacant positions.
- Title
- W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
-
Topics include investigation of the 7th Vermont Regiment's role in the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the suggestion to bring charges against General Butler. The writer, Col. Holbrook, apologizes for not representing the regiment as well as he could have, were he more experienced in the Courts of...
Show moreTopics include investigation of the 7th Vermont Regiment's role in the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the suggestion to bring charges against General Butler. The writer, Col. Holbrook, apologizes for not representing the regiment as well as he could have, were he more experienced in the Courts of Inquiry. Holbrook mentions "a good deal of marching and counter marching" in the Baton Rouge area.
Show less
- Title
- W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
-
Topics include Lt. Adjt. W. C. Holbrook of the 4th Vermont Regiment requesting from Captain Mundee an order to report to Brig. Gen. John Wolcott Phelps at Old Point, Virginia as Aid de Camp.
- Title
- W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
-
Topics include the Command General denying Lt. Adjt. W. C. Holbrook's request and W. C. Holbrook asking Brig. Gen. John Wolcott Phelps to order W. C. Holbrook to report to him.
- Title
- W. C. Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
-
Topics include Lt. W. C. Holbrook of the 4th Vermont Regiment planning to meet Brig. Gen. John Wolcott Phelps at Old Point but must wait for orders from Gen. McClellan first.
- Title
- Warren E. Bliss to Smiley Bancroft
- Description
-
Topics include moving to camp near the Chickahominy, anticipation of a battle at Richmond, the capture of Fort Darling, a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the death of Charles Bancroft. Use of hot air balloons in reconnaissance is mentioned, as is the observation that many plantations...
Show moreTopics include moving to camp near the Chickahominy, anticipation of a battle at Richmond, the capture of Fort Darling, a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the death of Charles Bancroft. Use of hot air balloons in reconnaissance is mentioned, as is the observation that many plantations are deserted by their owners and run by slaves, Gen. McClellan threatened to turn every "White House" (plantation) into a hospital.
Show less
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard
- Description
-
Topics include the cleanliness of the camp and the arrival of Wheelock G. Veazey’s horse.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard, Albin Beard to Wheelock G. Veazey
- Description
-
Topics include the assignment of Wheelock G. Veazey’s regiment to the post of honor within their division of the army.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
-
From headquarters 5th Vt Vols, Smith's Division topics include the sickness of the field officers of the 5th Vermont Regiment and the temporary promotion of Wheelock Veazey to head the regiment until the others return to health.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
-
Has received a photograph of Julia, his wife, in her furs, he inquires about her growing size due to her pregnancy, hearing good things about the city of Rutland, Vt, the expectation of moving there after the war and set up an office with a partner named Proctor, and the move of the regiment to...
Show moreHas received a photograph of Julia, his wife, in her furs, he inquires about her growing size due to her pregnancy, hearing good things about the city of Rutland, Vt, the expectation of moving there after the war and set up an office with a partner named Proctor, and the move of the regiment to Union Mills.
Show less
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
-
From Harrison's Landing to Julia still in Boston topics include the improved health of Wheelock Veazey, Major Seaver’s resignation denied, wishing to be home, the possibility of the war ending in the autumn if more troops are raised but fears it will not be enough or soon enough and of having...
Show moreFrom Harrison's Landing to Julia still in Boston topics include the improved health of Wheelock Veazey, Major Seaver’s resignation denied, wishing to be home, the possibility of the war ending in the autumn if more troops are raised but fears it will not be enough or soon enough and of having been sent some two dozen bottles of whiskey but does not know who sent them.
Show less