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
(61 - 80 of 239)
Pages
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Topics include having upset Hannah in an earlier letter regarding dangers Rutherford may face, his reassurance to her that a surgeon faces much less danger due to being a doctor, a terrible snow storm in camp, waiting for the weather to clear so the regiment can move to Poolesville, a maple sugar...
Show moreTopics include having upset Hannah in an earlier letter regarding dangers Rutherford may face, his reassurance to her that a surgeon faces much less danger due to being a doctor, a terrible snow storm in camp, waiting for the weather to clear so the regiment can move to Poolesville, a maple sugar party given by Col. Henry, the anticipation of getting military pay (due $600 but will only get $400) and the return of Captain Steele to duty and his being reprimanded by Rutherford, Jewett and Henry.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Writing in the field near Warrenton, Virginia topics include the importance of receiving letters from home, morale kept up by sharing bits of news from home with each other in spite of the hardships in camp, reference to several commanding officers including French, Elliot, Morris, General George...
Show moreWriting in the field near Warrenton, Virginia topics include the importance of receiving letters from home, morale kept up by sharing bits of news from home with each other in spite of the hardships in camp, reference to several commanding officers including French, Elliot, Morris, General George Meade, his hearsay knowledge of the drunkenness of Gen. Joseph Hooker, of receiving a home newspaper with one of his letters printed in it.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Topics include Christmas at Camp Jewett, southern hospitality, the enemy crossing the river to Harrisons Island, and the holding of a council of war.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Topics include reflections, his 45th birthday today, a reference to their first born son & if he was living how he would have liked to have the son with him, looking at photographs of his wife & of opening a letter with a lock of hair in it, Col. Jewett having talked with Gov. Holbrook about...
Show moreTopics include reflections, his 45th birthday today, a reference to their first born son & if he was living how he would have liked to have the son with him, looking at photographs of his wife & of opening a letter with a lock of hair in it, Col. Jewett having talked with Gov. Holbrook about Rutherford & him being worthy of a promotion, and his marked opinion of not wanting a woman as a camp follower as a laundress or as a seamstress as Mrs. Fields is wishing to go with the army.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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A down beat letter that includes the sickness of his children, reference to a newspaper article Rutherford wrote about an officer, rainy weather making him feel homesick and the death of Major Bartlett.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Topics include a long talk with Governor Smith, meeting and becoming acquainted with Major General Benjamin Henry Grierson (who lead Grierson's Raid ordered by Gen. Grant during the Vicksburg Campaign), and the entertaining manner in which they were introduced.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Visit from lady friends, Misses Baker Cutting and Rand, reference to a temperance meeting, a story about an officer being apprehended while transporting secret correspondence that he swallowed saving himself but losing the paper (hid the paper in his mouth), suspecting to march soon, and sending...
Show moreVisit from lady friends, Misses Baker Cutting and Rand, reference to a temperance meeting, a story about an officer being apprehended while transporting secret correspondence that he swallowed saving himself but losing the paper (hid the paper in his mouth), suspecting to march soon, and sending a song to Helen and papers to Jacob, his children.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writing in the field near White Sulphur Springs, Virginia topics include military pay received, sending $200 home, little going on, waiting for conscripts, diarrhea among the regiment, the desolation of the countryside, the commanders and the identifying symbols, badges, insignia for each regiment.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include Hannah not yet in the new house and Rutherford anxious for her comfort, having a very pleasant officer's life visiting with Dr. Childe, his wife and other officers, Mrs. Childe to entertain by singing, mentions they being stationed at the extreme outpost for the defense of...
Show moreTopics include Hannah not yet in the new house and Rutherford anxious for her comfort, having a very pleasant officer's life visiting with Dr. Childe, his wife and other officers, Mrs. Childe to entertain by singing, mentions they being stationed at the extreme outpost for the defense of Washington, D.C., description of a medical account to Mr. Coburn by Rutherford for neutering Coburn's cat, fresh beef and berries in the area for eating, and the health of the children.
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- Title
- Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
- Description
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Topics include winter quarters in a pine woods, officers to have log cabins, he using the Captain's tent with plenty of bed clothes, inquiries about home, seeks opinion of the war from home, sending hard crackers home, poor writing ink.
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- Justin Carter to William Wirt Henry
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List of amounts given by non-commissioned officers of Company B for a sabre for Lieutenant Colonel William Wirt Henry of the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment including Foster, the drummer boy.
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- Justin S. Morrill to John Wolcott Phelps
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House Representative Justin S. Morrill writes from Washington about Col. John Wolcott Phelps (at Fort Monroe, Va.) receiving an appointment.
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- Justus E. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, of city purchases by Justus Gale of barrels of apples which he resold by the piece, of buying tobacco, postage stamps, writing supplies, local terms for cash money, of commanding officers of 3rd Louisiana colored regiment and the dry...
Show moreTopics include the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, of city purchases by Justus Gale of barrels of apples which he resold by the piece, of buying tobacco, postage stamps, writing supplies, local terms for cash money, of commanding officers of 3rd Louisiana colored regiment and the dry weather.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Topics include a sore on his hand, getting photographs of the family made, his opinion of Captain Luman M. Grout and mention of Grout’s appreciation of Southern ladies, and rumors that Vicksburg has been taken.
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- Justus F. Gale to Brother
- Description
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Topics include the process of choosing new officers and police in New Orleans, Gen. Butler's orders to the N.O. police being refused, illness among some of the soldiers, fruit berries available, other provisions few and expensive, summary of all the letters that have been received by Justus Gale,...
Show moreTopics include the process of choosing new officers and police in New Orleans, Gen. Butler's orders to the N.O. police being refused, illness among some of the soldiers, fruit berries available, other provisions few and expensive, summary of all the letters that have been received by Justus Gale, and how welcome the Vermont regiment is in New Orleans.
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- Title
- Justus F. Gale to Mother
- Description
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Topics include a few deaths in the regiment, a description of the Battle at Baton Rouge (August 5, 1862) , and the resignation and promotions within the regiment.
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- Justus F. Gale to Sister
- Description
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Topics include his health and the condition of the sore on his hand, the rumors in Vermont about the 8th Vermont Regiment, news about the officers in Company A, and a comment about a private who transferred to the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard to become an officer. He also writes jokingly about...
Show moreTopics include his health and the condition of the sore on his hand, the rumors in Vermont about the 8th Vermont Regiment, news about the officers in Company A, and a comment about a private who transferred to the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard to become an officer. He also writes jokingly about coming home with a “yellow gal.”
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- Leavitt Hunt to John Wolcott Phelps
- Description
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Topics include Mr. Cutts of Brattleboro and Leavitt Hunt asking Gen. John Wolcott Phelps to write a recommendation for a friend who was hoping to receive a Colonelcy position so as to raise a regiment in Vermont. Writer mentions the Army in the Potomac with 80,000 men on the other side of the...
Show moreTopics include Mr. Cutts of Brattleboro and Leavitt Hunt asking Gen. John Wolcott Phelps to write a recommendation for a friend who was hoping to receive a Colonelcy position so as to raise a regiment in Vermont. Writer mentions the Army in the Potomac with 80,000 men on the other side of the river. Written from the Willard Hotel, Washington, D.C.
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- Lyman Barton to Melissa Barton
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Lyman Barton writes of how disgusted he is with the outcome of the Battle of the Crater (i.e. Battle of Petersburg Cater, Va.) ,and how he feels it was the “shamefullest thing that I have seen or herd of since I have been out” blaming generals of jealousy of one another resulting in great loss of...
Show moreLyman Barton writes of how disgusted he is with the outcome of the Battle of the Crater (i.e. Battle of Petersburg Cater, Va.) ,and how he feels it was the “shamefullest thing that I have seen or herd of since I have been out” blaming generals of jealousy of one another resulting in great loss of men. He also writes of having been in 12 or 13 battles and not gotten hurt yet plus gives news of two of his brothers, Henry and Hiram, who are both in the hospital.
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- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writing from New York City, Williams recounts trip via train and steamboat from Warrenton, Va to the city. Purpose of the trip is thought to be to enforce the draft. Accident involving the steamboat and a schooner en route resulted in two men killed and one lost overboard. Military pay received...
Show moreWriting from New York City, Williams recounts trip via train and steamboat from Warrenton, Va to the city. Purpose of the trip is thought to be to enforce the draft. Accident involving the steamboat and a schooner en route resulted in two men killed and one lost overboard. Military pay received spent partly on weapons to give to the officers out of respect.
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