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 241 - 250 of 1338 Records

Justus F. Gale to Father
Image nop
    • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
    • Date Created: 1862-06-06
    • Description: Topics include the good living conditions in New Orleans, the Indiana regiment taking meat from the rebels, been on cooking duty, good meals, fresh beef, waiting for military pay and the possibility of leaving soon.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


    Justus F. Gale to Father
    Image nop
      • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
      • Date Created: 1862-07-10
      • Description: Topics include the medicating himself after seeing the doctor twice to rid his diarrhea, taking of Richmond and rebel prisoners, the weather in Algiers, high price of provisions, inquires about family and the plan to go visit friends 4 miles away.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


      Justus F. Gale to Brother
      Image nop
        • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
        • Date Created: 1862-01-24
        • Description: Two letters in one dated Jan 24th and Jan 26th. Topics include the expectation that the war will end in a couple of months, waiting for military pay, anxious to hear from home, Sergeant U. A. Woodbury drilling the company, the stormy weather at camp, the bad food being served except for good bread from a local bakery, the good health of Gale and of him sending a picture in this letter.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


        Justus F. Gale to Brother
        Image nop
          • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
          • Date Created: 1862-03-01
          • Description: Topics include the improvement of Justus Gale‚Äôs health, over $60 of military pay sent home, trading for a watch and the anticipated journey to New York and then on to Ship Island, Mississippi.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


          Justus F. Gale to [Family]
          Image nop
            • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
            • Date Created: [1862-04]
            • Description: Topics include lyrics to a song that is sung while marching.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


            Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
            Image nop
              • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
              • Date Created: 1864-03-19
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


              Lyman Barton to Hiram Barton
              Image nop
                • Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
                • Date Created: 1863-06-28
                • Description: Lyman Barton describes a turntable built for a Confederate railway gun which was captured before it was operational. He also writes of an attack of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry led by Colonel Spear near Hanover Court House, during which General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was captured.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence


                Justus F. Gale to Brother
                Image nop
                  • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
                  • Date Created: 1863-01-04
                  • Description: Topics include a sore on his hand, getting photographs of the family made, his opinion of Captain Luman M. Grout and mention of Grout‚Äôs appreciation of Southern ladies, and rumors that Vicksburg has been taken.
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


                  William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
                  Image nop
                    • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
                    • Date Created: 1862-11-02
                    • Description: Writes as cannon fire shakes the ground in camp, speculates that this a big battle (There was a naval assault on Fort McAllister), reflects on hoping this battle will help end the war, is acting Lt. Col., wonders who might replace him as major, sickness in camp, and family matters including receiving photographs of his wife.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence


                    William Wirt Henry to John Henry
                    Image nop
                      • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
                      • Date Created: 1862-09-11
                      • Description: Writing from Camp Chase, Va. topics include the death of Henry's sister Katie and the journey to Camp from Brattleboro, aboard the train to New Haven, on the steamer Continental to New York, on to Philadelphia and then to Baltimore and finally Washington, D.C. and on to his camp just beyond Fairfax, Va.under the command of Brig. Gen. Briggs of MA
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence