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
(241 - 260 of 1,355)
Pages
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- Horace Barlow Diary
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Horace Barlow was born on May 30, 1842. Barlow graduated from the University of Vermont in 1862 and was a member of the Sigma Phi Society. On August 18th, 1862, Barlow enlisted in Company C of the 12th Regiment of the Vermont Volunteer Militia. While in Burlington, Vermont, he enlisted and then...
Show moreHorace Barlow was born on May 30, 1842. Barlow graduated from the University of Vermont in 1862 and was a member of the Sigma Phi Society. On August 18th, 1862, Barlow enlisted in Company C of the 12th Regiment of the Vermont Volunteer Militia. While in Burlington, Vermont, he enlisted and then travelled south through Brattleboro, New Haven, Jersey City, Philidelphia, and Baltimore before arriving in Washington, D.C. Barlow's diary includes entries from his journey as well as his time spent at: Camp Seward; Hunting Creek Bridge; Camp Vermont; Fairfax, Virginia; W.R. Shoals; Rappahannock Station; Bristow Station; Union Mills; Wolf Run Shoals; as well as his return journey to Vermont. Barlow died on December 31, 1935 in Hudson, Wisconsin.
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- Horace Henry Baxter to John Wolcott Phelps
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Topics include potentially offering Colonel Phelps command of a three year regiment and inquiring how many horses are needed for his Regiment.
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- Horatio P. Bruce to Smiley Bancroft
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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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- Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry
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Topics include recent battles in Yorktown and Williamsburg, which had significant casualties; the destruction of the C.S.S. Merrimack off the coast of Norfolk, Va., now under Union occupation. McClellan will likely send Vt. troops home once Richmond is taken. Ill soldier Tilton Sleeper mentioned...
Show moreTopics include recent battles in Yorktown and Williamsburg, which had significant casualties; the destruction of the C.S.S. Merrimack off the coast of Norfolk, Va., now under Union occupation. McClellan will likely send Vt. troops home once Richmond is taken. Ill soldier Tilton Sleeper mentioned again.
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- Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry
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Topics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high...
Show moreTopics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high cost of food, and the slight sickness of Ira Marshall.
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- J. Gregory Smith to William C. Holbrook
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Topics include a proposal to brigade the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Vermont Regiments and the decision from the War Department in Washington to set a definitive date for the end of the regiments’ term.
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- John L. T. Jones to William Wirt Henry
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Invitation to Colonel Henry to a dance & a glass of apple toddy, made by a Union supporter, John L. T. Jones. He also requests the presence of Dr. Joesph Chase Rutherford.
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- John Lester Barstow Correspondence
- Description
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John L. Barstow’s letters, most written to his wife Laura, describe camp life at Ship Island, New Orleans, and various locations in the Louisiana countryside, and include comments on the attitudes and conduct of white and black civilians, as well as the leadership of Generals Nathaniel P. Banks,...
Show moreJohn L. Barstow’s letters, most written to his wife Laura, describe camp life at Ship Island, New Orleans, and various locations in the Louisiana countryside, and include comments on the attitudes and conduct of white and black civilians, as well as the leadership of Generals Nathaniel P. Banks, Benjamin F. Butler, and William B. Franklin. Barstow served as brigadier general of Provisional Forces in St. Albans, Vermont, after he left the Eighth Vermont in June 1864. He was elected Governor of Vermont in 1882.
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- John Lester Barstow to Father
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Topics include the fleeing of Rebels to Texas, the destruction and loss of property near New Orleans, and Barstow’s belief that the war must not end until the Union is restored.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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Topics include the battle of Natchitoches and Barstow’s determination to keep his troops prepared for battle, keeping his camp clean, the touching goodbyes of parting regiments.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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Topics include anticipation for the wars end, and requesting photos of wife and son.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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Writing laying on the ground from Opelousas La. topics include the regiment moving and having an exchange of fire with the rebels, at last receiving letters dated Feb 28th and Mar. 10th, he being a Captain must walk (not ride according to regulations), his feet now sore and blistered, the men who...
Show moreWriting laying on the ground from Opelousas La. topics include the regiment moving and having an exchange of fire with the rebels, at last receiving letters dated Feb 28th and Mar. 10th, he being a Captain must walk (not ride according to regulations), his feet now sore and blistered, the men who were wounded in this exchange, and the regiment's plan to go to the Red River to attack Port Hudson or Vicksburg, regrets the lack of writing paper and pen.
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- Title
- John Lester Barstow to Laura
- Description
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Topics include increasing numbers of sickly soldiers in camp, conditions of the hospital seized by Barstow for the injured, projections for future marching orders.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
- Description
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Topics include taking the railroad to report to Col. Day, preparing to lead forces unsupervised by higher command, false lead on expected fight with two enemy cavalry, village of 3000 set afire by small rebel force, concern for safe return if not given time to rest.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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General Banks supersedes General Butler, the capture of one of the rebel officers, and the dishonorable discharge of Lieutenant Day.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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Two letters dated Oct 25 and Oct 27 with topics including marching, waiting, more marching, more waiting, lack of food due to road conditions, unable to forage for food, hot days, cold nights, the importance of picket duty, the unpopularity of General William B. Franklin, and the army returning...
Show moreTwo letters dated Oct 25 and Oct 27 with topics including marching, waiting, more marching, more waiting, lack of food due to road conditions, unable to forage for food, hot days, cold nights, the importance of picket duty, the unpopularity of General William B. Franklin, and the army returning to New Iberia, fear that mail may be lost due to capture of wagons by Rebels and fear to send any money by mail.
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- Title
- John Lester Barstow to Laura
- Description
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Topics include Barstow's sickness, of him sent to New Orleans for rest but ordered back to his regiment as Heitzel's Brigade was to retreat, a very hard rain that flooded the camp, Admiral David Farragut at the siege of Port Hudson (on March 14), the retreat of General Banks and his army to Baton...
Show moreTopics include Barstow's sickness, of him sent to New Orleans for rest but ordered back to his regiment as Heitzel's Brigade was to retreat, a very hard rain that flooded the camp, Admiral David Farragut at the siege of Port Hudson (on March 14), the retreat of General Banks and his army to Baton Rouge, his feelings other southern cities will soon fall and he will be going home, burning of the steamer, BioBio and perhaps the burning and loss of the mail with it and requests for photographs.
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- Title
- John Lester Barstow to Laura
- Description
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Topics include the reenlisting of 361 men, news from Washington about enlistment dates, Col. Thomas in command of regiment but no longer in command of brigade, the death of two in New Orleans from illness.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
- Description
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Topics include the warming of days but continued nightly chills and fever, and the suspense in camp over replacement soldiers, talk of regimen reenlisting.
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- John Lester Barstow to Laura
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Written in the field he writes of idleness of the Regiment since its arrival on the banks of the Bayon and the help the Negroes are receiving from the government, the lack of coffee, poor quality flour, no salt, spoiled meat causing disease, exorbitant prices for food.