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
(921 - 940 of 1,336)
Pages
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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Barney writes that his health has improved, there are 130 men on the sick list but little death. He also allays his wife’s fear that he is drinking, assures her that the officers of the 9th are not drinking men, that he is still in charge of the regiment as Col. Ripley is still on the examining...
Show moreBarney writes that his health has improved, there are 130 men on the sick list but little death. He also allays his wife’s fear that he is drinking, assures her that the officers of the 9th are not drinking men, that he is still in charge of the regiment as Col. Ripley is still on the examining board, of being hungry for milk & hopes Maria will get a barn.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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In camp in North Carolina, topics include receiving letters from home that had been delayed due to the move from Yorktown, Virginia ; Maria upset because other soldiers getting to go home but not Barney, the dullness of camp life, going on buggy rides, his filly Madam and the wildlife that visits...
Show moreIn camp in North Carolina, topics include receiving letters from home that had been delayed due to the move from Yorktown, Virginia ; Maria upset because other soldiers getting to go home but not Barney, the dullness of camp life, going on buggy rides, his filly Madam and the wildlife that visits the camp, which the soldiers aren’t allowed to shoot and hearing Gen. Meade's advance and capture of about 2000 prisoners.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Barney writes of the men repairing the barracks in preparation for the winter, and of having a photograph taken of his horse. He also writes of food for breakfast, getting a firkin (56 lbs.) of butter of acquiring a cow for the field and staff officers’ mess and of hearing from Major Jarvis who...
Show moreBarney writes of the men repairing the barracks in preparation for the winter, and of having a photograph taken of his horse. He also writes of food for breakfast, getting a firkin (56 lbs.) of butter of acquiring a cow for the field and staff officers’ mess and of hearing from Major Jarvis who will be traveling to Brattleboro shortly.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Barney writes that he could not join the planned hunt since at least one officer has to remain behind to command the regiment. He writes of selling his horse, named Old Frank, to a local man (Mr. Bell) for $250 and thinking that he will send for a horse from Vermont, as he wants one that is a...
Show moreBarney writes that he could not join the planned hunt since at least one officer has to remain behind to command the regiment. He writes of selling his horse, named Old Frank, to a local man (Mr. Bell) for $250 and thinking that he will send for a horse from Vermont, as he wants one that is a little better than any in the regiment.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Writes of moving camp again to along the Nansemond River (tributary of the James River), lack of sleep due to being on picket duty, coming under fire by enemy sharpshooters. He continues the letter by describing coming into the new camp after picket duty and being roused from sleep to prepare for...
Show moreWrites of moving camp again to along the Nansemond River (tributary of the James River), lack of sleep due to being on picket duty, coming under fire by enemy sharpshooters. He continues the letter by describing coming into the new camp after picket duty and being roused from sleep to prepare for another march because the enemy has crossed the river.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include working on building forts, his surprise at the resignation of Colonel Stowell, that he was finally able to send his box back to Vermont, and mentions photographs for his album at home. He also refers to the wedding of Silas L. Griffith and Libby M. Staples on May 20th in Danby,...
Show moreTopics include working on building forts, his surprise at the resignation of Colonel Stowell, that he was finally able to send his box back to Vermont, and mentions photographs for his album at home. He also refers to the wedding of Silas L. Griffith and Libby M. Staples on May 20th in Danby, Vermont.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Writes of his uncertainty of when he will head home, of the men being anxious to be out of the army and away from camp life, a visit from Sect. Cameron, of the family
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include a visit to Norfolk, Virginia, where he met his brother, Lester (Rufus Lester Barney), his return to the Regiment by boat, and an aborted movement of the Regiment to Portsmouth, Virginia. He also mentions the large number of sick in the Regiment, the arrival of a colored regiment to...
Show moreTopics include a visit to Norfolk, Virginia, where he met his brother, Lester (Rufus Lester Barney), his return to the Regiment by boat, and an aborted movement of the Regiment to Portsmouth, Virginia. He also mentions the large number of sick in the Regiment, the arrival of a colored regiment to help stand guard, though he doubts their capability, taking a horse back ride through the Negro regiment and Jewettville.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Writes from Newport News, Va of an account of the 4th of July celebrations among the troops, of the burning of the Steamer Cataline that was the company's mail boat, hopes of Congress being able to settle the war, his opinion of the war and of his improved health.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include the execution of many deserters via orders of Gen Hooker, small pox at Camp Douglas with Barney taking the vaccine against the disease, celebrating George Washington’s birthday, rebels taking the oath of allegiance, the passage of the draft bill with an expectation that many will...
Show moreTopics include the execution of many deserters via orders of Gen Hooker, small pox at Camp Douglas with Barney taking the vaccine against the disease, celebrating George Washington’s birthday, rebels taking the oath of allegiance, the passage of the draft bill with an expectation that many will leave for Canada.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include the conditions at Camp Tyler, the observation of the Sabbath not to his liking as the duty of dispensing clothing to the men, etc. took up much of it, recounts the past 3 weeks, of seeing Vermont marble on the floors of some buildings on his visit to the city of Chicago, the...
Show moreTopics include the conditions at Camp Tyler, the observation of the Sabbath not to his liking as the duty of dispensing clothing to the men, etc. took up much of it, recounts the past 3 weeks, of seeing Vermont marble on the floors of some buildings on his visit to the city of Chicago, the Chicago marble business using Vermont marble and of there being a lot of Vermonters in the area.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Brief letter notifying his wife, Maria, that the Regiment is moving to New Bern, North Carolina, and his brother, Lester, will be returning to Vermont, perhaps traveling as a nurse with the Vermont soldiers from the hospital at Fort Monroe.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Writes of excessive heat, mosquitoes, responds to his wife’s complaint that he doesn’t write enough letters to her ; mentions several individuals (Capt Reynolds of Gen Wistar's staff, Qr Master Sawyer and Gen. Stannard) ; writes about how being absent from his family has led him to appreciate...
Show moreWrites of excessive heat, mosquitoes, responds to his wife’s complaint that he doesn’t write enough letters to her ; mentions several individuals (Capt Reynolds of Gen Wistar's staff, Qr Master Sawyer and Gen. Stannard) ; writes about how being absent from his family has led him to appreciate family life more dearly, suggests the idea of bringing home a "contraband" (i.e. a young person about 12 to 15 years old), again asks for photographs of the children, Fred and Carrie.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Barney writes of continuing to gain strength, though not as quickly as he hoped; plans to buy a horse; excited at the news of his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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News that the Regiment is to be exchanged, size of Regiment reduced due to desertion, deaths and discharges, speculation about where the Reg. might be sent, men being readied with marching orders expected soon, still makes reference to the envelope in which money was lost with hope of being repaid.