Vermonters in the Civil War
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 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.
Showing 1101 - 1110 of 1339 Records
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-06-20
- Description: Henry writes that he has returned to command the 10th Regiment and that many officers are unhappy with the way Lieutenant Colonel Chandler manages the regiment. He also writes that the regiment is being held in reserve at the moment near Petersburgh where the Union troops hold half the city and the Rebels the other half and that it came under fire the previous day, with seven soldiers wounded. Reference to Lt. Col. Chandler & his command & to the loss of Frost & Stetso
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-07-21
- Description: Letter discusses the movement of his Regiment and the First Vermont Cavalry Regiment. As well he comments on the draft in Vermont and his hope that his wife’s brother, Charles L. Beebe will not pass his physical examination, and how odd it was that none of the “boys from the shop” were drafted. Henry refers to the $300 fee one could pay to either not be drafted or to get a substitute, a loophole in the draft law that favored the wealthy.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1863-09-01
- Description: Misses his children, worries that his son Ferdie’s fits (Ferdinand Sherman Henry, born 1862) might have affected his intellect. Glad Mary Jane is horseback riding, reflects on losing precious time with family, wants his father-in-law (Lyman Beebe) to purchase sheep for him, since he feels they are a good speculation.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-10-22
- Description: Henry writes with more details of the killed and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Cedar Creek. He repeats his feelings of loss at the death of Captain Lucian D. Thompson and Color Sergeant Billy Mahoney. As well he mentions having dinner with Colonel William Wells, who he feels could be a brigadier general if he would put his name in. Finally, he writes confidentially to his wife that he is still not recovered from his bilious fever and will be putting in his resignation soon, probably in November.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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- Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
- Date Created: 1864-11-30
- Description: Henry has put in his resignation under a surgeon’s certificate and that it has passed Division Head Quarters, and he is sure it will pass the Corps Head Quarters. He has preferred charges against Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Chandler, as that was a condition of his officers before they would let him resign. The rest of the letter contains details of arrangements Henry is making to meet his wife at Astor House in New York City.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Joseph Spafford to Homer White
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1863-07-17
- Description: Brief letter to friend Homer White (of New York City) informing him of Spafford's soon discharge from the army, heading to New York, the heavy losses at Gettysburg with those killed & wounded, opinions of newspaper editors.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1861-07-21
- Description: Topics include a description of a riot Wheelock G. Veazey was in charge of dissipating because of the absence of Colonel Hyde.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1861-08-09
- Description: Topics include the measures taken by the camp to secure their safety.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1861-08-14
- Description: Topics include the cold weather in camp and one of the corporals cutting off his thumb.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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- Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
- Date Created: 1861-08-18
- Description: Topics include plans to capture a company in Virginia, the danger the Capitol is in according to General Smith, and the preventative steps being taken to protect it.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War