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
(161 - 180 of 295)
Pages
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Laura
- Description
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Writing to sister Laura, topics include having to march to near Wolf Run Ford on the Occoquan River, Virginia, Farnham’s wife, Mary, staying at Mr. Whiley's, roads awful making the horses pull through fields and woods, troops carried their tents but the officers are waiting delivery of their...
Show moreWriting to sister Laura, topics include having to march to near Wolf Run Ford on the Occoquan River, Virginia, Farnham’s wife, Mary, staying at Mr. Whiley's, roads awful making the horses pull through fields and woods, troops carried their tents but the officers are waiting delivery of their tents, he now "at the front," rebel forces at Brentsville, explanation of what the pickets do and the death of Stratton of Fairlee of smallpox.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Laura
- Description
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Another mention of the death of Cyrus Farnham, family financial issue addressed, reporting the death of four men in camp, $400 sent home and wishing Charlie Harding to acknowledge receipt.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Laura
- Description
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About ambrotype photo well received by Laura, that is well be protected by glass, his letter having been read in Sunday School by Mr. McKeen, instructions regarding financial matters at home, greetings to folks at home, inquiry about financial and other issues regarding Cyrus including wishing to...
Show moreAbout ambrotype photo well received by Laura, that is well be protected by glass, his letter having been read in Sunday School by Mr. McKeen, instructions regarding financial matters at home, greetings to folks at home, inquiry about financial and other issues regarding Cyrus including wishing to have a "miniature" by Cyrus, and Roswell Farnham being put in charge of the detachment of Wolf Run Shoals, more details about the Kelly's Ford engagement on the 17th.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Laura
- Description
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Farnham writes to his sister, Laura, about the regiment moving to a new camp near Fairfax Courthouse (Fairfax, Virginia), the arrival of Mary Farnham and Mrs. Blunt, the movement of General Sigel and his 20 to 40,000 troops, and reference to the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia (Dec 11-15).
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include arranging for Mary Farnham and Colonel Blunt’s wife to travel to camp to visit and what they should bring.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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A brief letter from Farnham who writes of the unit moving out but not knowing where they are going, of being sad with wife gone but hopes she reached Scott House in Washington safely and is well ; urges her to write every day and he will also.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include him wishing to hear from his wife Mary and missing her, having Mr. Peach to cook for the soldiers, Mrs. Peach coming to visit, the probable move to the Rappahannock River in Va., the rainy weather, his horse Burnie is at Mills Union in a stable there and his horse White Face doing...
Show moreTopics include him wishing to hear from his wife Mary and missing her, having Mr. Peach to cook for the soldiers, Mrs. Peach coming to visit, the probable move to the Rappahannock River in Va., the rainy weather, his horse Burnie is at Mills Union in a stable there and his horse White Face doing well.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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From near Wolf Run Shoals, Virginia topics include instructions to wife, Mary, about what to bring with to her camp, how much to pay Mr. Whiley for room and board, Captain Ormsbee leaving camp and not for her to forget to bring her washing.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Farnham writes from Camp Phelps, in Brattleboro, to wife, Mary, and responses to her complaint about his letters being "cold", also of wet rainy conditions in camp.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Farnham writes of the unit preparing to leave Wolf Run Shoals, expresses his wishes to see his wife, Mary, again, feeling sad with his wife absent from camp but glad she is safe, sends a photo by way of Capt. Ormsbee that Mary is to take care of photo, Mr. Peach is ill, letter from Henry and his...
Show moreFarnham writes of the unit preparing to leave Wolf Run Shoals, expresses his wishes to see his wife, Mary, again, feeling sad with his wife absent from camp but glad she is safe, sends a photo by way of Capt. Ormsbee that Mary is to take care of photo, Mr. Peach is ill, letter from Henry and his clothing business.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include dropping a note to Mary Farnham to figure out logistics of her visit.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include camping near Wolf Creek, Virginia, bunking with a fellow officer, no tents yet delivered, shelter not water tight, horses out unprotected, the terrible roads due to rain and mud, Paymaster Holway expected soon with military pay for the Vermont troops, advice to wife Mary, who is...
Show moreTopics include camping near Wolf Creek, Virginia, bunking with a fellow officer, no tents yet delivered, shelter not water tight, horses out unprotected, the terrible roads due to rain and mud, Paymaster Holway expected soon with military pay for the Vermont troops, advice to wife Mary, who is planning on visiting to bring only one trunk with only essentials and to wear her boots as there is a lot of mud, brief reference to Kinepox (which is another name for small pox vaccine).
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include arranging for Mary Farnham to come visit camp with either Mrs. Blunt or Mrs. Vaughn and the necessary arrangements.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary Farnham
- Description
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Telegraph message via the Vermont & Boston Telegraph Company to Mrs. Roswell (Mary) Farnham in Bradford, Vt. from Roswell Farnham that he is in Brattleboro and that she is to come down to meet him.
- Title
- Solomon G. Heaton to Mother
- Description
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Topics include Heaton letting his mother know his health is good, the good weather, and the expectation to head to Washington soon.
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- Theodore Barton to Melissa Barton
- Description
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Theodore Lyman writes of seeing his brother Lyman, Company K, 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, who is camped only two miles away. He also writes of the attempt by General Burnside to cross the Rappahannock and how the Confederate soldiers jeered and set up a sign saying “Burnside stuck in the...
Show moreTheodore Lyman writes of seeing his brother Lyman, Company K, 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, who is camped only two miles away. He also writes of the attempt by General Burnside to cross the Rappahannock and how the Confederate soldiers jeered and set up a sign saying “Burnside stuck in the mud.”
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include his desire to return home to play with his children, his worry about hearing that the family home was nearly lost in a fire, and how visiting with acquaintances helps him keep from being homesick.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Barney writes that the Brigade will be doing garrison duty, and that he was Brigade officer of the day. He also writes that the field officers live very well but that it is costly, and that the bathing is good there. Writes of sending a book to Fred, & a souvenir, a percussion tube used to fire...
Show moreBarney writes that the Brigade will be doing garrison duty, and that he was Brigade officer of the day. He also writes that the field officers live very well but that it is costly, and that the bathing is good there. Writes of sending a book to Fred, & a souvenir, a percussion tube used to fire heavy guns, and warns his wife not to pull hard on the wire, in case it goes off. Hopes "to hear of Lee's destruction today."
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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From Camp Douglas topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health, being busy with issues with the company including low morale and discipline, the good weather in Chicago and having received a photo of Maria.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Barney writes that they are under marching orders and that the rumor is that the area is being evacuated. Writes of disciplining & reducing his orderly to fifth sergeant and of choosing a new orderly, a Sergt. Cleveland, Lieutenant Colonel [James Wolfe] Ripley and how his leadership style is...
Show moreBarney writes that they are under marching orders and that the rumor is that the area is being evacuated. Writes of disciplining & reducing his orderly to fifth sergeant and of choosing a new orderly, a Sergt. Cleveland, Lieutenant Colonel [James Wolfe] Ripley and how his leadership style is different from Barney’s and sending crude handmade wooden rings home for the children.
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