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.
Show less
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 50)
Pages
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
- Description
-
Writing from Greenbush topics include a description of the regiments being formed and the position assignments of Joseph Spafford’s friends.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
- Description
-
Now in Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. topics include military discharge, plans to meet Homer White in New York City and the wounding of Captain Atherton.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
- Description
-
Brief letter to friend Homer White (of New York City) informing him of Spafford's soon discharge from the army, heading to New York, the heavy losses at Gettysburg with those killed & wounded, opinions of newspaper editors.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
- Description
-
Writing from Windham, Vt to his friend Homer White topics include Joseph Spafford deciding to enlist and reference to others who have decided to enlist.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Homer White
- Description
-
Still writing from Carver Hospital in Washington D.C. topics include hoping to get his papers to go home to surprise his family, plans to meet Homer White in New York City and hopes that his friend Homer will come to Vermont with him.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford
- Description
-
Writing to his mother from the Mansion House Hospital topics include being left behind by the Regiment due to his illness, impossibility of getting a furlough, number of men from the 4th Vermont in the hospital, Ellsworth’s house, and possibility of being sent to another hospital.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford
- Description
-
Very brief letter about military pay in "scripts" being sent home to sister Mary Jane.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford
- Description
-
Topics include sending $350 home after being paid $426, a trip into Washington to purchase needed clothing, release date July 23rd, the distribution of the regiment, military pay in "scripts" and the pleasant weather.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Still in Brattleboro but anticipating the company moving out, topics include the men who are going home, George declining the assistant surgeon position, and the expectation of being paid.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Topics include preparations to take the field for up to seven days, reflections on what living conditions might be light, what items are being taken, sending music home (Sitting on the Style & Dear Mother, I’ll come home again)
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Unit has marched to Berlin, Maryland near Harper's Ferry, military duty ends July 23rd, most likely not see any more action before leaving the army, returning to Brattleboro by the 1st of August, asks about those pants he requested made, expresses his opinion on the New York City draft riot (July...
Show moreUnit has marched to Berlin, Maryland near Harper's Ferry, military duty ends July 23rd, most likely not see any more action before leaving the army, returning to Brattleboro by the 1st of August, asks about those pants he requested made, expresses his opinion on the New York City draft riot (July 13 - 16, 1863), mentions a eating warm biscuit & blackberry pie for dinner.
Show less
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Writing from Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. topics include the probability of a military discharge, hospital nurses, unhealthiness of hospitals, liking his living situation in the barracks, and fiddle playing and dancing heard coming from a nearby house.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Writing from Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. topics include waiting for his military discharge papers and sightseeing in Washington.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Brief letter about moving to Union Mills, where 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th regiments are, the resignation of the Lieutenant, Kit Haskins of 1st Lieut Co I has left camp, Adin Whitmore resigned.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
A very brief letter tells his sister not to write as he will be leaving the Mansion House Hospital for Washington.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Topics include trying to figure out where a family acquaintance (Nels Craigue) is by asking a sutler, the rebels firing on and burning of a train just beyond Kettle Run Bridge and photographs of sister.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Spafford continues to write from the Mansion House Hospital on topics that include worrying about his mother’s health, difficulty of getting a furlough, commenting on his preference to be a 2nd lieutenant and not a captain, detailed description of a day in the hospital, rules posted in the...
Show moreSpafford continues to write from the Mansion House Hospital on topics that include worrying about his mother’s health, difficulty of getting a furlough, commenting on his preference to be a 2nd lieutenant and not a captain, detailed description of a day in the hospital, rules posted in the hospital, a dialogue he had with a drunken soldier from a California regiment, and description of a visit by a Vermonter from Windsor.
Show less
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Writing from the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia a very brief note to his sister of leaving for Washington and not for her to write to him again at this address.
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Topics include that letter writing the only activity going on, it raining at last, the possibility of Lee’s Army being at Vicksburg, the expectation of not being able to go to Washington again, wishing for a new pair of pants made from nice dark blue cloth, a piece of battle worn Union flag from...
Show moreTopics include that letter writing the only activity going on, it raining at last, the possibility of Lee’s Army being at Vicksburg, the expectation of not being able to go to Washington again, wishing for a new pair of pants made from nice dark blue cloth, a piece of battle worn Union flag from the 4th Regiment.
Show less
- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
-
Stationed in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill topics include a brief description of the items Joseph Spafford has in his possession, the living situation at camp, and the good health of the regiment.