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
(1 - 6 of 6)
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include description troop formations and breast work fortifications, of the ten-mile line of troops, desire to build shelter for winter but uncertain weather there will be another relocating march, his feelings about a cavalry promotion, and discussion over the location of a soldier's body...
Show moreTopics include description troop formations and breast work fortifications, of the ten-mile line of troops, desire to build shelter for winter but uncertain weather there will be another relocating march, his feelings about a cavalry promotion, and discussion over the location of a soldier's body and burial site; the visit from a wounded soldier's wife about her husband's health after Rutherford amputated his arm (Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct 19).
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing from camp near Cedar Creek, Va, topics include the difficulty with sending letters given their location in the Valley, an offer given to him to transfer to a hospital in Washington, his taking offense with Governor Smith and feeling disrespect from the Gov. for not giving Rutherford a...
Show moreWriting from camp near Cedar Creek, Va, topics include the difficulty with sending letters given their location in the Valley, an offer given to him to transfer to a hospital in Washington, his taking offense with Governor Smith and feeling disrespect from the Gov. for not giving Rutherford a commission, again writes of Lucien wishing to have him know of Rutherford's good feelings towards him.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes of the Battle of Cedar Creek, that the Union army was able to successfully rout the enemy by evening after the reverses of the morning, and that they were able to recover Captain Lucian D. Thompson’s body, which has been sent to Martinsburg to be embalmed and sent back to Vermont. He...
Show moreHenry writes of the Battle of Cedar Creek, that the Union army was able to successfully rout the enemy by evening after the reverses of the morning, and that they were able to recover Captain Lucian D. Thompson’s body, which has been sent to Martinsburg to be embalmed and sent back to Vermont. He also writes that he was hit four times but not hurt, and that Charlie Crossett (Edwin C. Crossett), also from Waterbury, was wounded in the jaw, but that he saw him in one of the charges helping to recapture a cannon. As well, he writes that his color sergeant, Billy Mahoney, was shot through the heart.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes with more details of the killed and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Cedar Creek. He repeats his feelings of loss at the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson and Color Sergeant Billy Mahoney. As well he mentions having dinner with Colonel William Wells, who he feels could be...
Show moreHenry writes with more details of the killed and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Cedar Creek. He repeats his feelings of loss at the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson and Color Sergeant Billy Mahoney. As well he mentions having dinner with Colonel William Wells, who he feels could be a brigadier general if he would put his name in. Finally, he writes confidentially to his wife that he is still not recovered from his bilious fever and will be putting in his resignation soon, probably in November.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes that he has returned to Cedar Creek with a supply train of 500 wagons and was complimented on not losing one. He also reports that Mosby raided another supply train about ½ hour before Henry got into the area. He has not made a decision about resigning yet but will wait until he...
Show moreHenry writes that he has returned to Cedar Creek with a supply train of 500 wagons and was complimented on not losing one. He also reports that Mosby raided another supply train about ½ hour before Henry got into the area. He has not made a decision about resigning yet but will wait until he finds out where the regiment will be camped for the winter, and feels that they may remain in the Shenandoah Valley.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes with news of the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson at the Battle of Cedar Creek. The letter was written after the morning fighting but before the counterattack in the afternoon. Henry hopes to recover Thompson’s body, if possible, after the next attack. He also mentions other...
Show moreHenry writes with news of the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson at the Battle of Cedar Creek. The letter was written after the morning fighting but before the counterattack in the afternoon. Henry hopes to recover Thompson’s body, if possible, after the next attack. He also mentions other officers who were wounded.
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