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
(261 - 280 of 962)
Pages
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing a very brief letter from in the field near the Confederate Army topics include the anticipation of an attack, the high morale of the troops even in the face of danger and the proximity to the enemy.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of being at the division hospital, of about to move again, having received two letters from Hannah, having just heard of receiving a commission for the Vt Cavalry.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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From Catlett's Station, Virginia on the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road, Virginia topics include a description of a battle with Stuart's men near the Bull Run location in which the Union was victorious, many killed, wounded, artillery captured, wrote the newspapers were mistaken as to the outcome...
Show moreFrom Catlett's Station, Virginia on the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road, Virginia topics include a description of a battle with Stuart's men near the Bull Run location in which the Union was victorious, many killed, wounded, artillery captured, wrote the newspapers were mistaken as to the outcome of the battle, his cost of living, high cost of food, glad for the comfort of Rutherford’s family at home, and marching to continue.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include a long talk with Governor Smith, meeting and becoming acquainted with Major General Benjamin Henry Grierson (who lead Grierson's Raid ordered by Gen. Grant during the Vicksburg Campaign), and the entertaining manner in which they were introduced.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the safe return home of their deceased child’s picture, Lucien's refusal of the hand of peace and friendship from Rutherford, discomforts of camp life but making do as best he can, eating well, description of Rutherford’s current labors in the Division Hospital, and his discontent...
Show moreTopics include the safe return home of their deceased child’s picture, Lucien's refusal of the hand of peace and friendship from Rutherford, discomforts of camp life but making do as best he can, eating well, description of Rutherford’s current labors in the Division Hospital, and his discontent for those soldiers pretending to be ill.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of the saddened tone among the soldiers in camp as people suspect an advance to the front lines of battle; honors received by General Grant, and discussion of a newspaper's editor on predictions of the next presidential candidate.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Philosophical reflections on the origins and meanings of Thanksgiving from Rutherford’s perspective, and a breakdown of their intended feast with an explanation of the reasons they have to be thankful.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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From White Sulphur Spring, VA topics include continued conflict with military authorities, medical department, Dr. Childe returning to duty relieving him of a lot of work, pursuing ways to relieve the shortage of medicines, photos of his children, blacks scavenging salt, philosophical reflections...
Show moreFrom White Sulphur Spring, VA topics include continued conflict with military authorities, medical department, Dr. Childe returning to duty relieving him of a lot of work, pursuing ways to relieve the shortage of medicines, photos of his children, blacks scavenging salt, philosophical reflections and opinions of the country being laid waste, people's lives suffering as a result of the Civil War.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include getting paid so as to make payment on their new house, $500 sent home, wishing to have a photograph of the finished house sent to him, having a pleasant lifestyle in camp with visits with other officers, a trip to Washington to purchase medicine, how fat J. C. Rutherford has grown,...
Show moreTopics include getting paid so as to make payment on their new house, $500 sent home, wishing to have a photograph of the finished house sent to him, having a pleasant lifestyle in camp with visits with other officers, a trip to Washington to purchase medicine, how fat J. C. Rutherford has grown, suggestions for his wife to have a garden, and war news conflicting but evidence of a lot of fighting because of the number wounded arriving at City Hospitals .
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include an order to move with minimal rations.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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From White's Ford, MD topics include Rutherford in charge of hospital while Dr. Willard Augustus Childe returns home to get married, sickness among the men less than in other regiments, a visit from the Inspector General with excellent reports on how he runs his department, expresses his anger...
Show moreFrom White's Ford, MD topics include Rutherford in charge of hospital while Dr. Willard Augustus Childe returns home to get married, sickness among the men less than in other regiments, a visit from the Inspector General with excellent reports on how he runs his department, expresses his anger and outrage at the complaining of people back home about having to pay taxes because of the war.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include additional sending more pay home to Hannah, an imminent march, enduring low spirits, sending a photograph of Lt. Tabor, instructions on where to send letters, of the sudden death of a fellow soldier's horse, and other stories of soldiers in the war.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the tribulations of their recent march, Rutherford's opinions on the future of the nation after the war, expression of his hatred for people who have acted as traitors of the army & strong expression against giving leniency toward any traitor to the Union ; reference to Gen. Sherman.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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A brief letter from Frederick Junction, Maryland stating he has received a picture of his wife, that he and the troops are preparing to march, and he has been assigned to be the acting surgeon of the Regiment and Medical Director of the Brigade.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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A brief letter saying the regiment not being required to move quite yet, glad not to have been marching in foul weather, military pay expected in a day or two, his medical duties of visiting the right and left wings of the regiment.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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In camp near Culpeper, Virginia topics include an explanation of a drawing or sketch of views from camp beginning with the furthest object the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rolling plain, the shelter tents used in the field, a cherry tree in front of his tent and a reference to the thousands of...
Show moreIn camp near Culpeper, Virginia topics include an explanation of a drawing or sketch of views from camp beginning with the furthest object the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rolling plain, the shelter tents used in the field, a cherry tree in front of his tent and a reference to the thousands of troops camped in the area.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing in the field at Maryland Heights Rutherford writes of being surrounded by thousands of troops, writing his letter on a box looking down on Harpers Ferry, W. Va. and the view of the Shenandoah Valley and being in anticipation of some great event about to happen (perhaps part of the...
Show moreWriting in the field at Maryland Heights Rutherford writes of being surrounded by thousands of troops, writing his letter on a box looking down on Harpers Ferry, W. Va. and the view of the Shenandoah Valley and being in anticipation of some great event about to happen (perhaps part of the Maryland Campaign), mentions the damage to area houses and the ground laid waste.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include an account of a battle at Opequan Creek (3rd Winchester, Va battle, Sept 19th) lead by General Sheridan, an account of the battle at Fisher's Hill, and description of an included map of the battles.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of correspondence from home, the possibility that all letter writing may be banned by soldiers in the Army, of being restricted from the the battlefield & to stay at the hospital doing work there, and an explanation of the value of a surgeon’s service to the Army.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Camping in the field near Culpeper, Va. topics include writing articles for home newspapers, disliking the idea of being labeled a "newspaper correspondent", becomes poetic and philosophical reflecting on the current day's beautiful weather, of his deep feelings for receiving letters from home,...
Show moreCamping in the field near Culpeper, Va. topics include writing articles for home newspapers, disliking the idea of being labeled a "newspaper correspondent", becomes poetic and philosophical reflecting on the current day's beautiful weather, of his deep feelings for receiving letters from home, of his daughter Helen’s progress with writing composition, and Baker and Cuttings visit to camp.
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