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 - 20 of 45)
Pages
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- Benjamin F. Butler to John Wolcott Phelps
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Topics include the summoning of Roys Nicholas Colbert and Charles Stepheny to Command General Benjamin F. Butler.
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include Benjamin F. Parmenter's negative opinion of an attack ( the first battle of Bull Run--see letter 3).
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include the policy of the war department to not allow anyone to go home regardless of their circumstances,enquiries about home, Parmenter's growing disillusion with the Army, and a discussion about "the Southern confederacy is a fixed fact."
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- Benjamin F. Parmenter to Brother
- Description
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Topics include Benjamin F. Parmenter's hospital stay and him enlisting his brother to take care of things at home.
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- E. T. Johnson to Mary [Farnham]
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Topics include several companies camping on the riverbank in Maryland, Jackson’s army assembling in Leasburg, and preparing to march most likely to Edwards Ferry.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Washington to Anapolis, Maryland and an account of a runaway slave.
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- John W. Campbell to Family
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Topics include an account of the journey from Bethel to Washington.
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- Joseph L. Perkins to Brother
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Topics include a discussion of Liberty and the Constitution and one of women's equality with men.
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- Joseph Legar to John Wolcott Phelps
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Topics include trying to save Isaac Jones' property.
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- Justus E. Gale to Father
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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 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.
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- 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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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.
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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 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.
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- 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.
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- Orlando S. Turner to Joseph and Louisa A. Turner
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Turner writes from Washington, D.C. to his parents of 80,000 Union men, of being given a "splendid flag" and of sending them $10.
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- Roswell Farnham to ?
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A special order for the Twelfth Regiments to report to Brattleboro.
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- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Farnham is writing from the SS Alabama after arriving safely off the coast of Virginia, at Fort Monroe. Some men are sea-sick, and another has measles. Company was greeted with three cheers by sailors passing by. Farnham called on again to be adjutant because of his demonstrated leadership skills...
Show moreFarnham is writing from the SS Alabama after arriving safely off the coast of Virginia, at Fort Monroe. Some men are sea-sick, and another has measles. Company was greeted with three cheers by sailors passing by. Farnham called on again to be adjutant because of his demonstrated leadership skills. A few words about friends and acquaintances seen in New York, one being a secessionist.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to C. H. Harding
- Description
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Farnham's regiment in Rutland gets the news that they are to leave for Fort Monroe, Va., via rail car and then boat. News of the deployment raises morale; the men are ready for a good fight (recurring theme in Farnham's letters).