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
(121 - 140 of 267)
Pages
- Title
- Justus E. Gale to Father
- Description
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Writing to his father from Brattleboro topics include the duties of an orderly for a Colonel, the improved health of Justus Gale, and the expected journey to New York.
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- Justus E. Gale to Father
- Description
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Two letters one dated March 28th and one April 6th.Topics include a description of the journey to Ship Island, Mississippi, being seasick, about the food and hard bread, poor quality water and little of it, writes of his faith in God and his sighting of the island.
- Title
- Justus E. Gale to Sister and Mother
- Description
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Topics include a summary of the health of Justus Gale’s family, makes references to his faith, the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, a scene in camp as soldiers go about various activities, and the warm weather.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to [Family]
- Description
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Writing from Brattleboro topics include drilling, a few companies being sworn into the United States service, Justus Gale’s health improving from a brief cold, mentions "rag" hash soup, boiled beef & potatoes, news of family members and the snow at camp.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Two letters, dated April 5th and 6th he writes from aboard the Ship Wallace heading for Ship Island. Mentions the "sugar place" back home in Elmore, Vt. Topics also include making a little bit of money buying and selling tobacco, the displeasure at having to remain on the ship, and the capture of...
Show moreTwo letters, dated April 5th and 6th he writes from aboard the Ship Wallace heading for Ship Island. Mentions the "sugar place" back home in Elmore, Vt. Topics also include making a little bit of money buying and selling tobacco, the displeasure at having to remain on the ship, and the capture of two rebel steamers up the Mississippi River.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Two letters in one dated Jan 24th and Jan 26th. Topics include the expectation that the war will end in a couple of months, waiting for military pay, anxious to hear from home, Sergeant U. A. Woodbury drilling the company, the stormy weather at camp, the bad food being served except for good...
Show moreTwo letters in one dated Jan 24th and Jan 26th. Topics include the expectation that the war will end in a couple of months, waiting for military pay, anxious to hear from home, Sergeant U. A. Woodbury drilling the company, the stormy weather at camp, the bad food being served except for good bread from a local bakery, the good health of Gale and of him sending a picture in this letter.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Topics include the 4th of July celebrations, guard duty of a bridge, diarrhea, accidental gun firing injuring a fellow soldier's hand, plenty of water but it is muddy river water, fresh local fruit and corn, and a brief account of Ship Island including mentioning how "black" the men were (either...
Show moreTopics include the 4th of July celebrations, guard duty of a bridge, diarrhea, accidental gun firing injuring a fellow soldier's hand, plenty of water but it is muddy river water, fresh local fruit and corn, and a brief account of Ship Island including mentioning how "black" the men were (either referring to being unclean or to mood).
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Writing to his brother from Brattleboro topics include Justus Gale’s journey and arrival back at Camp Holbrook after having gone home to Elmore, Vermont for a visit, the expectation of receiving pay, and the possibility of leaving for Ship Island, Mississippi soon.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Writing from Brattleboro, Vermont, topics include news of bombardment of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (February 6, 1862) by Commodore Andrew Hull Foote (officer of the U.S. Navy) and General Ulysses S. Grant, a skirmish that resulted in finding a barrel of rum, food sometimes good but not...
Show moreWriting from Brattleboro, Vermont, topics include news of bombardment of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (February 6, 1862) by Commodore Andrew Hull Foote (officer of the U.S. Navy) and General Ulysses S. Grant, a skirmish that resulted in finding a barrel of rum, food sometimes good but not the hash made in camp and the vaccination of the company for pox.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Family
- Description
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Writes from Brattleboro of the journey from Montpelier to Brattleboro, unit called Co. A, of other troops coming in, anticipates the regiment to be full in a few days, comfortable quarters, good food, Gov. Holbrook visited.
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- Justus F. Gale to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Hyde Park, Stowe, Montpelier, the company's Sunday Church experience, reference to various names of friends and family, anticipated destination Ship Island near the mouth of the Mississippi River.
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- Justus F. Gale to Father
- Description
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Topics include the medicating himself after seeing the doctor twice to rid his diarrhea, taking of Richmond and rebel prisoners, the weather in Algiers, high price of provisions, inquires about family and the plan to go visit friends 4 miles away.
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- Justus F. Gale to Mother
- Description
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Topics include getting ready to march with the 19th Corps against Fort Bisland and Colonel Thomas’ confidence in the 8th Vermont. He also writes that the regiment marched over 100 miles and captured 2,200 prisoners in an addendum to his letter, dated April 21.
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- Justus F. Gale to Mother
- Description
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Two letters dated April 4th and 6th. Writing after arriving at Ship Island, Mississippi topics include observing the Sabbath,his devotion for the Bible, arriving on shore, digging and finding plenty of fresh water, being treated with food from the Mass. 30th, thinking war may be over before he...
Show moreTwo letters dated April 4th and 6th. Writing after arriving at Ship Island, Mississippi topics include observing the Sabbath,his devotion for the Bible, arriving on shore, digging and finding plenty of fresh water, being treated with food from the Mass. 30th, thinking war may be over before he gets a chance to fight and the expectation of capturing New Orleans.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include reminiscences about attending church in Elmore and musings on the power of God to preserve him, a list of all the temptations available to soldiers in New Orleans, including swearing, playing cards, and drinking whiskey, and that liquor is as common as water in the city, with both...
Show moreTopics include reminiscences about attending church in Elmore and musings on the power of God to preserve him, a list of all the temptations available to soldiers in New Orleans, including swearing, playing cards, and drinking whiskey, and that liquor is as common as water in the city, with both men and women getting drunk.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include the movement of the company from Algiers to Lafourche, a description of the living situation at Algiers, the good food at camp including fresh fruit berries, water quality not good.
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- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include the snow at Camp Holbrook, St. Albans, the living arrangements, the 25 men sick with the measles, and the move to Ship Island in 2 or 3 weeks.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include the improvement in Justus Gale's health, the cost of food items in camp, the death of three men in the regiment, the attempted suicide of a man in Company F, mentions "sugar place" back home in Elmore and writes about the lack of information in camp about the rest of the Union Army.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include remaining at Camp Holbrook in Vermont for 4 weeks, grateful to hear from home, food not very good, a rumor of getting paid, and the visitors who watch dress parade.
- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include observing the Sabbath in camp by reading the Bible, a description of dress parade, gives his enlistment date at Sept 23, 1861, anticipates military pay of $20 a month from the date of enlistment and mentions again the bombardment of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River by Commodore A...
Show moreTopics include observing the Sabbath in camp by reading the Bible, a description of dress parade, gives his enlistment date at Sept 23, 1861, anticipates military pay of $20 a month from the date of enlistment and mentions again the bombardment of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River by Commodore A H Foote and General Grant.
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