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.

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Showing 121 - 130 of 1339 Records

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1863-10-22
Description: Brief letter letting his wife know that he is camped near Catlett's Station, Virginia and the possibility of it being a winter camp for his regiment.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1863-10-31
Description: Letter discusses the movement of the troops towards the Rappahannock River on the repaired railroad, and his opinion of where winter quarters will be. He mentions his sister, Delia, who is married to a Southerner, and his desire for his wife to write her, since he feels it is imprudent for him to send her a letter at this time, will write her after he gets home.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Justin Carter to William Wirt Henry

Justin Carter to William Wirt Henry

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Creator: Carter, Justin, d. 1871.
Date Created: 1863-01-19
Description: 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.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to John Henry

William Wirt Henry to John Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1863-01-27
Description: Letter giving details some of camp life, and activities while at winter quarters. Discusses dinner with Mr. Trundell, a prominent Maryland family, news concerning friends, family and plans for Mary Jane to come visit.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Justus F. Gale to Sister

Justus F. Gale to Sister

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Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
Date Created: 1862-10-09
Description: Topics include the improved health of Justus Gale‚Äôs family, speaks of his religious faith, a discussion of deciding on Charley‚Äôs gravestone, and the separation of his Gale's parents.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Justus E. Gale to Sister

Justus E. Gale to Sister

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Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
Date Created: 1862-11-29
Description: 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 weather.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1863-08-05
Description: Letter expressing his surprise that Charles L. Beebe passed his physical examination, and his reaction to his father-in-law‚Äôs distress over paying for a substitute. As well he discusses the possibility of the his wife buying his father-in-law‚Äôs farm in order to raise the money. He then draws a word picture about the destruction faced by many farmers in Maryland, and Pennsylvania when large numbers of troops camp on their farms.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1862-08-15
Description: A very brief letter from Camp Washburn topics include inquiries after the well being of his baby boy and the anticipated promotion to Major.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Justus F. Gale to Mother

Justus F. Gale to Mother

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Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
Date Created: 1863-08-21
Description: In this letter Gale writes to his mother from the Church Hospital in Baton Rouge that he has been ill but is getting better. He has been eating a little. He and his unit had been "beseigeing" Port Hudson just before he was taken ill. He also writes that he never really suffered while soldiering, and that he is sorry his brother, Lyman, has been drafted, since he doesn‚Äôt think he could stand army life. Some time after this, Gale was sent to the U.S. General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he died of chronic diarrhea on September 19, 1863.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

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Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
Date Created: 1862-10-19
Description: Two letters included (Oct 19 and Oct 21). Writes of the possibility of the officers bring their wives to visit when the regiment goes into winter camp, being part of a new brigade, his name being submitted to fill the vacant Lieutenant Colonel‚Äôs position, glad to receive the daily journal from home.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War