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 - 12 of 12)
- Title
- Asa P. Blunt to E. Mason
- Description
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Topics include the questioning of G. Mason’s loyalty to the United States government by Col. Blunt, denial of protection Mason has requested, the suggestion that Mason take the oath of allegiance to the U.S. or suffer the consequences of possible destruction of property.
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- Erastus Fairbanks to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include the conduct of the 7th Vermont Regiment and the lack of newspaper coverage of the Regiment's positive attributes. The battles in Maryland would include Antietam Creek, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Fairbanks also mentions a rumor of Phelps's resignation, which had indeed...
Show moreTopics include the conduct of the 7th Vermont Regiment and the lack of newspaper coverage of the Regiment's positive attributes. The battles in Maryland would include Antietam Creek, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Fairbanks also mentions a rumor of Phelps's resignation, which had indeed occurred in August, 1862. Some thoughts about slavery, government, and the Constitution.
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- Title
- Horatio P. Bruce to Smiley Bancroft
- Description
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Topics include the death of Charles Bancroft from typhoid fever, the sickness of other men in the company, and that the fall of Richmond will bring the war to an end. Like many other writers, he refers to McClellan's reluctance to deploy his massive army.
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- Joseph L. Perkins to Brother
- Description
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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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- Letter to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Holbrook waxes eloquent in his call for a "'Great Awakening' at Washington" and a greater awareness of how "our present severe training" will make the nation stronger; but the federal government needs to take the war seriously in order to have victory. Accordingly, Holbrook supports Lincoln's...
Show moreHolbrook waxes eloquent in his call for a "'Great Awakening' at Washington" and a greater awareness of how "our present severe training" will make the nation stronger; but the federal government needs to take the war seriously in order to have victory. Accordingly, Holbrook supports Lincoln's call for 300,000 additional troops, but suggests that a million men in arms would bring success. Intuits correctly that Phelps's "Dark Brigade" (black troops) would not be allowed to bear arms.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [C. H.] Harding
- Description
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Topics include preparing for a march with the 4th Massachusetts Regiment and a New York Regiment most likely to Sewells Point, Virginia. Farnham expresses pride in the Green Mountain Boys. Names mentioned: Officers Stearns, Andross, and Worthen.
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- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
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Topics include the warm weather, Chester’s resignation, opinions of the critics at home and Wheelock’s plan to go back to school after leaving the army.
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- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey’s dismay that some people from home believe the pay soldiers receive should be decreased.
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- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
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Topics include the sacrifice made by all the soldiers, the Vermont 2nd Regiment at Bull Run, and the fight but up by the Zouaves and the New York 69th Regiment.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
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Topics include the cold nights and the toll it takes and Wheelock G. Veazey’s responsibilities in camp.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
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Topics include a brief description of the Thanksgiving celebrations and a description of a trip to Washington.
- Title
- Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
- Description
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Topics include moving to camp near Fairfax Station, giving advice to others, threatening to leave the country if the Union does not succeed, expressing strong political opinions, a description of the governmental parties, stating President Lincoln being nervous about the next Congress, wishing...
Show moreTopics include moving to camp near Fairfax Station, giving advice to others, threatening to leave the country if the Union does not succeed, expressing strong political opinions, a description of the governmental parties, stating President Lincoln being nervous about the next Congress, wishing the President would be politically stronger.
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