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 34)
Pages
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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Topics include receiving a letter from home, his hope to be released and return home, and news about others from his regiment who were killed or wounded at Hagerstown on July 6.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include resuming encampment after living indoors for a while. An early March skirmish in Aldie, Va. is mentioned, as is the capture of General E.H. Stoughton in bed, in a daring raid by CSA Capt. John S. Mosby at Fairfax County Court House. Mosby managed to capture dozens of union soldiers...
Show moreTopics include resuming encampment after living indoors for a while. An early March skirmish in Aldie, Va. is mentioned, as is the capture of General E.H. Stoughton in bed, in a daring raid by CSA Capt. John S. Mosby at Fairfax County Court House. Mosby managed to capture dozens of union soldiers, learn the "Countersign," or password, and go wherever he wanted. (The embarrassment ended Stoughton's military career.) Smith mentions his wish for a photograph of his siblings, and his wish for news from home.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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A short letter thanking his mother for the box she sent. Although generally satisfied with the food, he wishes the requested socks had arrived as well. He adds a brief correction: "We do not belong to Burnsides Army but belong to the defences of Washington." Weather in February has been bad, and...
Show moreA short letter thanking his mother for the box she sent. Although generally satisfied with the food, he wishes the requested socks had arrived as well. He adds a brief correction: "We do not belong to Burnsides Army but belong to the defences of Washington." Weather in February has been bad, and March will probably be just as bad.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include rebel raids on the pickets, how comfortable their camp is, what he wants in a box his family will be sending him, including a baked chicken and maple sugar. He also mentions his views about the war and whether France will come in on the Confederate side. Mentions CSA Gen. Jeb...
Show moreTopics include rebel raids on the pickets, how comfortable their camp is, what he wants in a box his family will be sending him, including a baked chicken and maple sugar. He also mentions his views about the war and whether France will come in on the Confederate side. Mentions CSA Gen. Jeb Stuart and his cavalry raids.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include the weather, the capture of some Confederate officers by a scouting party, his advice to his mother about the farm, and the lack of specie in the area due to the war. Still needs a pair of socks.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include his praise of the work being done at home on the farm by his brothers, a description of Mosby’s attack on the train at Catlett’s Station (May 31st), and his wish that his mother use his money to purchase more pasture land in Royalton.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
- Description
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Topics include the leafing out of fruit trees, another skirmish with Mosby’s raiders, and his skepticism about news of the war.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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A short letter informing his mother that the regiment was under marching orders and that he had his picture taken.
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- Henry A. Smith to Clarissa A. Smith
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A short letter written from Belle Isle Prison to reassure his mother after his capture on July 6 at Hagerstown, Maryland.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include General Banks' Division falling back to Strasburgh, the frequent skirmishes with Ashbys Cavalry, an account of a man in Company I who shot a rebel, Smith's hand wounded by a fellow soldier playing carelessly with a sabre, men eating well, mention of Oliver Cushman of Hartland who...
Show moreTopics include General Banks' Division falling back to Strasburgh, the frequent skirmishes with Ashbys Cavalry, an account of a man in Company I who shot a rebel, Smith's hand wounded by a fellow soldier playing carelessly with a sabre, men eating well, mention of Oliver Cushman of Hartland who was promoted to second Lieutenant, reference to military pay.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Williamsport to Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River, mentions by name men missing from the Company, mentions horses in battle, of his horse having had very little to eat, the rumor that General Pope is going to take control of the army, Gen. Fremont resigning,...
Show moreTopics include the journey from Williamsport to Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River, mentions by name men missing from the Company, mentions horses in battle, of his horse having had very little to eat, the rumor that General Pope is going to take control of the army, Gen. Fremont resigning, Gen. Banks to be Assistant Sec. of War, and the Quarter Master Old Jones & Lieutenant Grover's waiter being taken prisoners.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
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Topics include Henry Smith losing his horse, camp punishment of John H. Willard for disobeying an order, and the numerous men who were wounded and killed.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
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From Annapolis, Maryland topics include the welcoming in New York City, pay soon and to be in Treasury notes, description and conditions at the camp in Annapolis, 21 horses of the regiment's that died in transport or in the mud since leaving Burlington and a list of items wanted and what type of...
Show moreFrom Annapolis, Maryland topics include the welcoming in New York City, pay soon and to be in Treasury notes, description and conditions at the camp in Annapolis, 21 horses of the regiment's that died in transport or in the mud since leaving Burlington and a list of items wanted and what type of box they are to be put in.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include his hope to be released soon and his wish for news about the farm and the fall harvest.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
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From camp near Alexandria, Va topics include the bad weather, the continuous firing of shots from the Washington Navy Yard, enjoys watching the new recruits, the prediction that Lant Blake will not live, still requesting boots and apples.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include how he is the only one left of his company that has not been exchanged and a list of the items he wants sent to him in a box.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the defeat and retreat of the regiment to Williamsport (Battle of Harrisonburg?? June 6), telling of southern woman firing upon union soldiers, of the shooting death of a drummer boy by a southern woman, description of a rebel regiment's clothing recognized as the Louisiana Tigers,...
Show moreTopics include the defeat and retreat of the regiment to Williamsport (Battle of Harrisonburg?? June 6), telling of southern woman firing upon union soldiers, of the shooting death of a drummer boy by a southern woman, description of a rebel regiment's clothing recognized as the Louisiana Tigers, transporting the sick and wounded by wagon to hospitals, a summary of the men who were lost or wounded.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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Topics include the journey from Annapolis to Harpers Ferry, Henry Smith's good health, liking the hand made shirt he received from home very much, keeps his brandy with him, burning of the post office by the Confederates, requests more postage stamps.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
- Description
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From Alexandria, Virginia topics include transporting the sick, injured and "used up horses", the expectation of new horses, the extensive fortifications between Alexandria and Centerville, the horrors of war, the restriction of letter writing until 10 days following a battle, reference to men...
Show moreFrom Alexandria, Virginia topics include transporting the sick, injured and "used up horses", the expectation of new horses, the extensive fortifications between Alexandria and Centerville, the horrors of war, the restriction of letter writing until 10 days following a battle, reference to men having fought in a battle but does not say which one (Pope's Campaign??) and Henry Smith's wish to return home.
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- Title
- Henry A. Smith to Family
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From Culpeper Court House (Virginia) topics include a list of regiments in the area including the 1st Vt, the hope that Captain Rundlett submits his resignation, the resignation of Colonel Kellogg, the acquiring of double barrel shotguns taken from the citizens, brief reference to Gen. McClellan...
Show moreFrom Culpeper Court House (Virginia) topics include a list of regiments in the area including the 1st Vt, the hope that Captain Rundlett submits his resignation, the resignation of Colonel Kellogg, the acquiring of double barrel shotguns taken from the citizens, brief reference to Gen. McClellan and Gen. John Pope and the prediction that the war will not last much longer.
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