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 1,321)
Pages
- 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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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include the health of the Essex boys, the size of the chapel built in camp, which can hold three hundred soldiers, the friendly banter between the pickets and the number of Confederate soldiers deserting to the Union side, his optimism about the end of the war coming soon, and how many...
Show moreTopics include the health of the Essex boys, the size of the chapel built in camp, which can hold three hundred soldiers, the friendly banter between the pickets and the number of Confederate soldiers deserting to the Union side, his optimism about the end of the war coming soon, and how many fights he has been in.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writing to his father topics include receiving the $50.00 he asked for from him, a list of the expenses incurred buying equipment needed as 2nd Lieutenant, his hope that his brother Nathan will recover his health now that he has left the Service, and the confidence of the Army in Ulysses S. Grant...
Show moreWriting to his father topics include receiving the $50.00 he asked for from him, a list of the expenses incurred buying equipment needed as 2nd Lieutenant, his hope that his brother Nathan will recover his health now that he has left the Service, and the confidence of the Army in Ulysses S. Grant and their hope that hard fighting is done now.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes of family back home, that there is no military activity at present and of being asked if he might like to meet a young lady, Miss M. M. G. (i.e. Mary Gorton who later becomes his wife)
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writing from New York City, Williams recounts trip via train and steamboat from Warrenton, Va to the city. Purpose of the trip is thought to be to enforce the draft. Accident involving the steamboat and a schooner en route resulted in two men killed and one lost overboard. Military pay received...
Show moreWriting from New York City, Williams recounts trip via train and steamboat from Warrenton, Va to the city. Purpose of the trip is thought to be to enforce the draft. Accident involving the steamboat and a schooner en route resulted in two men killed and one lost overboard. Military pay received spent partly on weapons to give to the officers out of respect.
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes of going & coming back from Washington, D.C. via horseback to purchase clothes and other articles needed, mustering out the men whose time is up in October, and his decision to remain in the Army for the extra money, since he feels everyone will be mustered out in August.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Alexandria to Newport News.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Parents
- Description
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Topics include a retreat to the James River (known later as a "great skedaddle," a word that Williams uses here but in the context of not being paid), a fight at Savage's Station, a review by General McClellan, and the men killed and wounded in the fight.
- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Warren Williams
- Description
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Topics include Lyman Williams coming down with a fever, an encounter with the rebels that left four men wounded, and the rebels' description of the Vermont regiment as dare devils. Stationery has an illustration of a "Vermont Boy," plus two verses of a song with the title "Vermont Soldier." The...
Show moreTopics include Lyman Williams coming down with a fever, an encounter with the rebels that left four men wounded, and the rebels' description of the Vermont regiment as dare devils. Stationery has an illustration of a "Vermont Boy," plus two verses of a song with the title "Vermont Soldier." The refrain, "Away down in Dixie," suggests an attempt to compete with the immortal southern song "Dixie."
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- Title
- Lyman S. Williams to Warren Williams
- Description
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Topics include the election of officers.
- Title
- Lyman S.Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include the improving health of the regiment, the deaths of John Roland and Walter Osburn, and a scouting expedition.
- Title
- Martha to Amanda Hayward
- Description
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Topics include condolences for Wilder's death.
- Title
- Mary [E. Farnham] to Henry
- Description
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Letter from Mary to brother Henry carries a demanding tone of an older sibling to a younger one ; topics include inquiring about Henry’s examinations, her plan to stay at camp until June, responding to Henry's remarks about her being in camp saying several of the officers' wives are also in camp,...
Show moreLetter from Mary to brother Henry carries a demanding tone of an older sibling to a younger one ; topics include inquiring about Henry’s examinations, her plan to stay at camp until June, responding to Henry's remarks about her being in camp saying several of the officers' wives are also in camp, the sick men in the regiment, and Mary demanding to know who thinks Mary should return home suggesting someone thinks it may not be appropriate for a woman (according the social norm of the day) to be in a military camp.
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- Title
- Mary E. Farnham to Henry
- Description
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Mary Farnham writes from Wolf Shoals Creek, Va. on the Occoquan River to brother Henry about desserts and other food the troops are enjoying eating, her instructions for food to be sent to brother Zeke in the 10th Regiment, terrible traveling conditions due to deep muddy roads, horses having to...
Show moreMary Farnham writes from Wolf Shoals Creek, Va. on the Occoquan River to brother Henry about desserts and other food the troops are enjoying eating, her instructions for food to be sent to brother Zeke in the 10th Regiment, terrible traveling conditions due to deep muddy roads, horses having to be walked, she riding with other officers' wives, and her feeling uncomfortable with the looks of the Southerns (Secesh)
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