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 - 11 of 11)
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include money being sent home, references to Gen. Stoneman and Col. Mann, mentions hearing a piano being played by the daughter of Mr. Bowen playing a tune "Run, Yankees, Run or Jackson Will Catch You," rebel cavalry on the other side of the river, a scout by Colonel Mann and two companies...
Show moreTopics include money being sent home, references to Gen. Stoneman and Col. Mann, mentions hearing a piano being played by the daughter of Mr. Bowen playing a tune "Run, Yankees, Run or Jackson Will Catch You," rebel cavalry on the other side of the river, a scout by Colonel Mann and two companies, and the improvement in Nelson’s health, advises wife to dress well, look pretty, drink porter & get fat.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include his concern about anxiety at home after the Battle of Big Bethel; Farnham's desire to save his letters; domestic financial affairs; names of men in the hospital, and one death (Ph. Lougee); Maj. Worthen has a servant, a young black boy named Pompey Wind.
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- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include being field officer of the day on picket line, Freeman Keyes in camp, concerns for his horse Burnie's health, stern orders from General Abercrombie regarding drills, request for photographs of his wife be taken and sent to him.
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- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include the expectation to start for home in about twenty days, Hooker crossing to Fredericksburg, many men needed for the line from Blackburn's Ford to Woodyard's ; Col. Randall at Occoquan, Virginia ; troops remaining on the railroad in anticipation of Lee, and the Court of Inquiry...
Show moreTopics include the expectation to start for home in about twenty days, Hooker crossing to Fredericksburg, many men needed for the line from Blackburn's Ford to Woodyard's ; Col. Randall at Occoquan, Virginia ; troops remaining on the railroad in anticipation of Lee, and the Court of Inquiry taking place regarding the conduct of Lieut Hartshorn.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include an account of the sick, the return of Parker of the Woodstock Company from enemy prison, and asking Mrs. Farnham to save newspapers.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include sending his letter via another officer, the regiment not planning to move, Roswell Farnham feeling lonely without his wife and stating she may come to camp but then rethinks that suggestion, his horse Burnie is better, hopes General George J. Stannard (1820-1886) will make his...
Show moreTopics include sending his letter via another officer, the regiment not planning to move, Roswell Farnham feeling lonely without his wife and stating she may come to camp but then rethinks that suggestion, his horse Burnie is better, hopes General George J. Stannard (1820-1886) will make his headquarters in camp thus relieving Farnham of regiment responsibilities, the improvement in Roswell and William’s health and including a letter for Mr. Peach, directed to Mr. Butterworth for his wife to send on.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Farnham writes from Camp Phelps in Brattleboro to wife Mary about the possibility of mustering out, of the men getting paid, and Col. Phelps now General Phelps.
- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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In Virginia camp topics include the beautiful scenery at Rappahannock Bridge, good health of the men as well as himself, mentions his horses Burnie and White Face, General Stoneman with five thousand cavalry crossing at Kelly’s Ford following a successful cavalry expedition, the failure of Hooker...
Show moreIn Virginia camp topics include the beautiful scenery at Rappahannock Bridge, good health of the men as well as himself, mentions his horses Burnie and White Face, General Stoneman with five thousand cavalry crossing at Kelly’s Ford following a successful cavalry expedition, the failure of Hooker, and contrabands in camp.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include a group of officers and men going on a ride to the battle field of Bull Run, thoughts of wanting to stay in the military but home and family pull at him more, the expectation of leaving on July 4th for Brattleboro, a visit to and description of Mr. Buckley’s family (Confederate...
Show moreTopics include a group of officers and men going on a ride to the battle field of Bull Run, thoughts of wanting to stay in the military but home and family pull at him more, the expectation of leaving on July 4th for Brattleboro, a visit to and description of Mr. Buckley’s family (Confederate sympathizers), talk of drinking alcohol and of wife wishing for photographs.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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A brief letter stating again his unit's move to Warrenton Junction, the continued sickness of Nelson, Contrabands coming in and telling of victories by Gen. Joseph Hooker (nicknamed Fighting Joe) and the hearing of cannonade during the Second Battle of Fredericksburg (also known as the Second...
Show moreA brief letter stating again his unit's move to Warrenton Junction, the continued sickness of Nelson, Contrabands coming in and telling of victories by Gen. Joseph Hooker (nicknamed Fighting Joe) and the hearing of cannonade during the Second Battle of Fredericksburg (also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights May 3, 1863, part of the Chancellorsville Campaign).
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Mary [Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include camp life, food (lack of some items, abundance of others), daily routine, occasional discomforts. Farnham mentions rumors that the Regiment won't be sent to the South but more likely to New York, even though most of the men are looking forward to battle. Some discussion about...
Show moreTopics include camp life, food (lack of some items, abundance of others), daily routine, occasional discomforts. Farnham mentions rumors that the Regiment won't be sent to the South but more likely to New York, even though most of the men are looking forward to battle. Some discussion about postal service, i.e. how long a letter will take for sender and recipient. Col. Phelps is lauded as a good disciplinarian.
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