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 - 13 of 13)
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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Rutherford outraged and writes of debts owed for services provided by Clough.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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A letter to Rutherford’s daughter comparing raw recruits with experienced soldiers he has fought alongside, description of the mood in camp, mentions the difference of his situation than 30 days ago when many battles have been fought, and the hope to try to visit home.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of special consideration for his medical care by Dr. Barr and Dr. Childe, of being having to go on a dangerous march, of the loss of his glasses, love of his family.
- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Rutherford reflects on his deep desires to be home with family, his health improves but not yet resumed duties, expresses his feelings of the war going on, of those at home in comfort not experiencing the hardships of the soldier, makes a reference to the Copperheads in political rhetoric, writes...
Show moreRutherford reflects on his deep desires to be home with family, his health improves but not yet resumed duties, expresses his feelings of the war going on, of those at home in comfort not experiencing the hardships of the soldier, makes a reference to the Copperheads in political rhetoric, writes of his mare, gives a description of his tent as living quarters with a drawing, and a requests for new glasses as his eyesight is getting bad.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the will and faith of soldiers and the enduring faith Rutherford has in meeting his deceased love ones in heaven, and the delayed march until the next morning.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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A brief letter from about 4 miles sought of Winchester, Va. about the difficulty of running the division hospital but the enjoyment it brings; had expected a big battle but it resulted in a skirmish, sick patients being sent out.
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- Lyman S. Williams to Carrie A. Williams
- Description
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Topics include moving camp towards Winchester, Virginia, a Confederate attack on the picket lines resulting in rebel prisoners, captured artillery & ammunition trains, receiving his commission as 1st Lieutenant of Company I, and his happiness that President Abraham Lincoln was re-elected.
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- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Topics include receiving a long letter from his sister, Lois, and apologizing for scolding her, complimenting her on her studies and wishing he could attend a Lyceum in which Lois is giving a paper. He also writes of the importance of getting letters from home and his promotion to 1st Lieutenant.
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- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include the duties of being the Officer of the Guard being in charge of overseeing men under watch, media misrepresentation of the regiments in the Northern newspapers, living conditions and costs in the South, death of Joseph La'Mondy (or Lamondy), the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the...
Show moreTopics include the duties of being the Officer of the Guard being in charge of overseeing men under watch, media misrepresentation of the regiments in the Northern newspapers, living conditions and costs in the South, death of Joseph La'Mondy (or Lamondy), the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the suicide of a man in Company I.
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- Title
- Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
- Description
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Topics include the arrival of a package from home that included much needed boots, hospital care by Southern women to southern soldiers far better than to the Union men hospitalized, the men of Virginia who are afraid to support the Union cause openly for fear it will fail, drunkenness among the...
Show moreTopics include the arrival of a package from home that included much needed boots, hospital care by Southern women to southern soldiers far better than to the Union men hospitalized, the men of Virginia who are afraid to support the Union cause openly for fear it will fail, drunkenness among the soldiers, reference to Lamondy (or La'Mondy) death, the deaths in the regiment since leaving Clouds Mills, receives newspapers.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes that he got wet and cold during a review of the Sixth Corps and so the beginning of the letter is rather curt. He continues the letter after having had supper, warmed up, and begun reading a good book, Alone by Mary Virginia Terhune. He feels that one of the characters talks like him...
Show moreHenry writes that he got wet and cold during a review of the Sixth Corps and so the beginning of the letter is rather curt. He continues the letter after having had supper, warmed up, and begun reading a good book, Alone by Mary Virginia Terhune. He feels that one of the characters talks like him and another like his wife, and will send it on to Mary Jane after he finished it. He also writes that while he is now in command of the Brigade, he hopes Colonel William S. Truax will be reinstated.
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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Henry writes that the regiment has moved to within 4 miles of Winchester and that it looks like “winter camp,” as they have built a fort and dug rifle pits, and even built a brick fireplace. They were attacked the day after they arrived, but drove the Rebels away, and the next day the cavalry...
Show moreHenry writes that the regiment has moved to within 4 miles of Winchester and that it looks like “winter camp,” as they have built a fort and dug rifle pits, and even built a brick fireplace. They were attacked the day after they arrived, but drove the Rebels away, and the next day the cavalry went out and captured a gun, an ammunition train, and 150 prisoners. Henry feels he can’t leave the regiment while Lieutenant Colonel Chandler is still in the service, as the “boys will make a big fuss.”
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- Title
- William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
- Description
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A short letter written to let his wife know he was arrived back in Virginia and giving news of some of his officers wounded at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill. [Battle of Opequon (Winchester) fought Sept 19th]