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
(381 - 400 of 1,351)
Pages
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include not receiving any letters from home, wishing to know if the $25 sent has been received, dealing with the camp cooks drinking too much whiskey and getting drunk, needing to confront the Quartermaster for interfering with his teams and ambulances again, Colonel Jewett's wife visiting...
Show moreTopics include not receiving any letters from home, wishing to know if the $25 sent has been received, dealing with the camp cooks drinking too much whiskey and getting drunk, needing to confront the Quartermaster for interfering with his teams and ambulances again, Colonel Jewett's wife visiting which makes four wives in camp which relieves coarseness among the men and relieves monotony in camp.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of special consideration for his medical care by Dr. Barr and Dr. Childe, of being having to go on a dangerous march, of the loss of his glasses, love of his family.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing in a wheat field near Williams Port, MD topics include a description of where the regiment is in Maryland, rain, mud, heavy cannon drawn by horses and the difficulty of transporting weaponry, the men being ready for battle
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing from in the field up in the mountains near Snickers Gap, Virginia topics include marching to catch Gen. Robert E. Lee, pillage of livestock for food by some of the soldiers that include chickens and hogs from nearby farms as well as having fresh blackberries, sleeping on the wet ground,...
Show moreWriting from in the field up in the mountains near Snickers Gap, Virginia topics include marching to catch Gen. Robert E. Lee, pillage of livestock for food by some of the soldiers that include chickens and hogs from nearby farms as well as having fresh blackberries, sleeping on the wet ground, spending time looking at photographs of loved ones and poking fun at themselves in harsh living conditions.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Dr. Rutherford writes of a battle near Leesburgh some 14 miles from the camp near Seneca Creek (Maryland?) the outcome of which is not known, of the filthy condition of some of the soldiers, of an epidemic of Typhoid fever with the loss of over a dozen men to the illness. He writes of his winter...
Show moreDr. Rutherford writes of a battle near Leesburgh some 14 miles from the camp near Seneca Creek (Maryland?) the outcome of which is not known, of the filthy condition of some of the soldiers, of an epidemic of Typhoid fever with the loss of over a dozen men to the illness. He writes of his winter living accommodations of which he is very happy and mentions "Mose the Moor", the runaway black slave boy who tends to him. Also writes of a review from the Brigadier General, and the health of Rutherford’s family.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include learning of Lucien, his brother-in-law's death (Hannah's brother) via the newspaper, a artillery shell passing just over his cabin, nighttime gunfire, description of the line of battle south of Richmond, cold and discomfort of his new camping location and the inflated price of...
Show moreTopics include learning of Lucien, his brother-in-law's death (Hannah's brother) via the newspaper, a artillery shell passing just over his cabin, nighttime gunfire, description of the line of battle south of Richmond, cold and discomfort of his new camping location and the inflated price of getting new boots.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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From Brandy Station, Virginia topics include Rutherford contracting a condition through a cut in his thumb by dressing a man's arm who had Erycipelas (an infectious disease evidenced by a deep red inflammation of the skin). Rutherford acknowledges his carelessness and was aware of how germs and...
Show moreFrom Brandy Station, Virginia topics include Rutherford contracting a condition through a cut in his thumb by dressing a man's arm who had Erycipelas (an infectious disease evidenced by a deep red inflammation of the skin). Rutherford acknowledges his carelessness and was aware of how germs and bacteria can spread from person to person, of his near misses of being wounded in battle, of standing ready to march and of receiving letters from daughter Helen.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include his disputing the severity of disease in camp in the 10th Regiment, how disease claims more lives than bullets, reference to a fight at Boonsborough, the death of George Chase from illness, reference to a Mr. Joseph Calhoun and "Young Spafford" and a request for postage stamps as...
Show moreTopics include his disputing the severity of disease in camp in the 10th Regiment, how disease claims more lives than bullets, reference to a fight at Boonsborough, the death of George Chase from illness, reference to a Mr. Joseph Calhoun and "Young Spafford" and a request for postage stamps as they are difficult to get.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Rutherford writes of his low opinion of Southerns, of their ignorance, their misguided values of who can own the most slaves and land, their intermarrying, of his applying discipline to those he feels deserve it in order to preserve order in his hospital, praise for his horse, Lady Lightfoot, who...
Show moreRutherford writes of his low opinion of Southerns, of their ignorance, their misguided values of who can own the most slaves and land, their intermarrying, of his applying discipline to those he feels deserve it in order to preserve order in his hospital, praise for his horse, Lady Lightfoot, who is still with him and his acquisition of another horse and mule.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the sadness felt in needing to leave the 10th Vermont Regiment as a result of a promotion, Rutherford's assistant surgeon's lack of experience, the pleasant soldiers in his new regiment,the rapid downfall of the rebellion, Sheridan with 15,000 cavalry troops, Sherman at City Point,...
Show moreTopics include the sadness felt in needing to leave the 10th Vermont Regiment as a result of a promotion, Rutherford's assistant surgeon's lack of experience, the pleasant soldiers in his new regiment,the rapid downfall of the rebellion, Sheridan with 15,000 cavalry troops, Sherman at City Point, Terry with the 25th Corps Colored Troops.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the 10th Regiment's continual advancing along the front lines, reference to Battle of Spotsylvania with thousands killed and wounded (May 12th), discussion about future battles, Rebel sharpshooters & Rutherford’s desire to shoot one, mentions his horse, Lady Lightfoot, suffers a...
Show moreTopics include the 10th Regiment's continual advancing along the front lines, reference to Battle of Spotsylvania with thousands killed and wounded (May 12th), discussion about future battles, Rebel sharpshooters & Rutherford’s desire to shoot one, mentions his horse, Lady Lightfoot, suffers a superficial wound.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the first battle the regiment with the Confederates, Rutherford's praise for the men attending to their duty, hospital boys volunteer to carry water to the troops in the ranks, the prospect that the regiment with remain stationed here, a trip to Washington to collect supplies and...
Show moreTopics include the first battle the regiment with the Confederates, Rutherford's praise for the men attending to their duty, hospital boys volunteer to carry water to the troops in the ranks, the prospect that the regiment with remain stationed here, a trip to Washington to collect supplies and visit the hospitals there.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of being on a 4 day picket duty, of his health improving, of bitterly cold days but comfortable in his living quarters, and the high price of cotton.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Brief letter telling of traveling all night, a headache caused from lack of sleep and promise of details of his trip once he gets to camp.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing a very brief letter from Warrenton, Virginia topics include the continuous marching, lack of food, the hardships the men are currently facing met with cheerfulness, moving on to Culpeper, then to Gordonsville and hopefully on to Richmond.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Rutherford suffering from the mumps, Rebel deserters including officers arriving in his camp, guns captured from Willmington and fall of Charleston, conjecture of how Gen. Grant plans to deal with attack by General Lee, his child Jacob being ill, reference to Gen. Grierson & photo of Grierson to...
Show moreRutherford suffering from the mumps, Rebel deserters including officers arriving in his camp, guns captured from Willmington and fall of Charleston, conjecture of how Gen. Grant plans to deal with attack by General Lee, his child Jacob being ill, reference to Gen. Grierson & photo of Grierson to be sent to Rutherford and being offered $300 dollars for his horse (Lady Lightfoot)
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the regiment moving to Culpeper, Virginia on high ground along the Blue Ridge, skirmishing nearby, going with Dr. Childe and Col. Henry to see deserters shot but they were not shot, no military pay because the regiment moved, glad daughter Helen taking an interest in domestic...
Show moreTopics include the regiment moving to Culpeper, Virginia on high ground along the Blue Ridge, skirmishing nearby, going with Dr. Childe and Col. Henry to see deserters shot but they were not shot, no military pay because the regiment moved, glad daughter Helen taking an interest in domestic duties, sadness over the desolate condition of the countryside and George moving to Washington permanently.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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From mud soaked camp near Warrenton Junction topics include repairing a railroad, dismay at the laying waste such beautiful countryside, his strong views on slavery, on the white men who partake in slavery, on the Southern values of trying to keep property in the family resulting in intermarriage...
Show moreFrom mud soaked camp near Warrenton Junction topics include repairing a railroad, dismay at the laying waste such beautiful countryside, his strong views on slavery, on the white men who partake in slavery, on the Southern values of trying to keep property in the family resulting in intermarriage, the results of that and his philosophy of why the war is so hard to put down due to the Southerners' mind set and the basis of what the Union is fighting for.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topic include spending time with General Grant, speculating about the war, interaction between the Union and Rebel pickets, story about a particular rebel deserter that brings hope to Rutherford about the nearing conclusion of the war, reference to Dr. Thayer & his complimentary opinion of...
Show moreTopic include spending time with General Grant, speculating about the war, interaction between the Union and Rebel pickets, story about a particular rebel deserter that brings hope to Rutherford about the nearing conclusion of the war, reference to Dr. Thayer & his complimentary opinion of Rutherford, telling to a long absence (absent with out leave?) of a doctor that may lead to an opening for advancement for Rutherford.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include J.C. Rutherford reassuring his wife that he is still alive, the men are on alert, he nervous at the prospect of a fight, sending her $20 and advising his wife to be economical with it as he does not know when he will be paid next.