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
(21 - 40 of 121)
Pages
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- Edward P. Stone to Family
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Appreciation for letters from home, glad to know money sent arrived safely, the improving health of the men in the regiment and officers being ordered home to recruit for the brigade.
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- Edward P. Stone to Family
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Chaplain Stone writes of worship service, evening tent prayer meetings, having comfortable living conditions in his tent, the regiments having moved three times since reaching Washington, D.C. but seemingly not in any danger.
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- Edward P. Stone to Family
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Writes of the first death in the regiment, that of William Fallon of Royalton from the measles, of his good health, refers to John (perhaps his brother?), comfortable living conditions and of having to prepare for the funeral.
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- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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In his letter to General Phelps, Frederick Holbrook, Governor of Vermont (1861-1863), expresses his admiration for several Union officers from Vermont and his pride in the 8th Vt. Regiment. He informs the general that two infantry regiments and two artillery companies are ready to serve. (This is...
Show moreIn his letter to General Phelps, Frederick Holbrook, Governor of Vermont (1861-1863), expresses his admiration for several Union officers from Vermont and his pride in the 8th Vt. Regiment. He informs the general that two infantry regiments and two artillery companies are ready to serve. (This is about one month before the Union attack on New Orleans, launched in part from Ship Island, just off the coast of Mississippi.) Holbrook explains that they would have been sent a month earlier "had Government been ready with funds." He looks forward to seeing Phelps again after the war.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include the President calling for 300,000 additional troops, the wish that the National Government will develop a decisive policy to "proclaim war to the knife," and a description of Frederick Holbrook's son Major Will. Holbrook continues to express his admiration for Phelps and offer him...
Show moreTopics include the President calling for 300,000 additional troops, the wish that the National Government will develop a decisive policy to "proclaim war to the knife," and a description of Frederick Holbrook's son Major Will. Holbrook continues to express his admiration for Phelps and offer him greater forces to command.
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- Title
- Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
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Upbeat letter delivered to Gen. Phelps by the writer's son, William C. Holbrook, who apparently turned down an offer to join Phelps's staff. The writer, Gov. Holbrook, lavishes praise on Vermont officers and soldiers (including his son), and sends warm wishes for success to Phelps, sharing his...
Show moreUpbeat letter delivered to Gen. Phelps by the writer's son, William C. Holbrook, who apparently turned down an offer to join Phelps's staff. The writer, Gov. Holbrook, lavishes praise on Vermont officers and soldiers (including his son), and sends warm wishes for success to Phelps, sharing his conviction that "the Union Cause must triumph." Holbrook concludes with some reflections on the difficulty of being a wartime governor.
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- Title
- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes to sister Emeline B. Masta from Camp Griffin, Va of a description of a Grand Review by Gen. McClellan and staff with Pres. Abraham Lincoln in attendance, marching to Bailey's Cross Roads, expedition to Fairfax Court House for grain, receipt of quilt and pillow, death of two men from...
Show moreWrites to sister Emeline B. Masta from Camp Griffin, Va of a description of a Grand Review by Gen. McClellan and staff with Pres. Abraham Lincoln in attendance, marching to Bailey's Cross Roads, expedition to Fairfax Court House for grain, receipt of quilt and pillow, death of two men from disease, reference to Thanksgiving Day
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- Title
- George W. Quimby to Sister
- Description
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Writes from Camp Griffin, Va. Smith's Division of consoling his sister Emeline on the death of her husband and how she should start taking care of the estate cautioning her about who she may trust and those town folks she should not be influenced by.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
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Topics include the journey to Washington and rations.
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- Henry A. Smith to Family
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Topics include the journey from Washington to Anapolis, Maryland and an account of a runaway slave.
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- Henry A. Smith to Friends
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Topics include the snow in Burlington and the difficulties caused by the weather.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
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Topics include a request for Wilder's mother to send him papers, envelopes, butter, cheese, sausage, and any other essential items.
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- Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
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Topics include Captain E. S. Stowell heading for Vermont to become a Major in the 9th Regiment, the death of Wilder's Aunt, and Wilder receiving his pay the next day. June 25 marks the beginning of the failed campaign against Richmond known as The Seven Days.
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- Henry L. Terry to John W. Campbell
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Topics include encamping at Lee's Mill, twelve miles from Washington, close to the Rebels.
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- John M. Stone to Family
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Stone writes of being thankful over Thanksgiving as a number of deaths in the regiment have occurred from sickness, of having suffered from neuralgia and having had a tooth extracted, of the need for caps, gloves and flannel strips of cloth for those suffering from sore throats, mentions his...
Show moreStone writes of being thankful over Thanksgiving as a number of deaths in the regiment have occurred from sickness, of having suffered from neuralgia and having had a tooth extracted, of the need for caps, gloves and flannel strips of cloth for those suffering from sore throats, mentions his brother and cousins in the service with him, inquires of the family and requests newspaper clippings be enclosed in letters to insure delivery.
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- Title
- John W. Campbell to Family
- Description
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Topics include an account of the journey from Bethel to Washington.
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- Joseph L. Perkins to Brother
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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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- Joseph Legar to John Wolcott Phelps
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Topics include trying to save Isaac Jones' property.
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
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Topics include Joseph Spafford not going to Washington as planned because he did not have a pass, mentions women's sewing circle at home, of being a member of a reading circle and of "being deprived of female society".
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- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
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Spafford writes of possible leave from Brattleboro on September 21, 1861, of giving George all his things except his overcoat that he will keep with him, of his desire to see his sister.