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 471 - 480 of 1339 Records

Miniature of Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

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Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
Date Created: 1861-07-17
Description: Writes from Camp Butler, Fort Monroe, Va. of camp life including flea bites, of family matters, his sister Laura's earache, wife Mary's health, gives a detailed description of the soldiers experience going out at night with five other companies (Northfield of his regiment and four companies of the Scott Life Guard of New York 4th) under the command of Lt. Col. McGregor.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

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Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
Date Created: 1861-07-26
Description: July 26, 1861. Writes from Camp Butler in Newport News, Va. of contraband (seven children), of sending 12 Negroes (7 of them children) to the Fort, of a fight and march to Yorktown and the health of his wife Mary.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]

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Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
Date Created: 1861-06-09
Description: Topics include the duties of Provost Marshall, including the reception of runaway slaves. Mentions alerts for battle and false alarms; and illness within the regiment.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Unidentified Map

Unidentified Map

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Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
Description: Map that shows major landmarks such as Fortress Monroe, Hampton, and Camp Butler on the James River; and sites having to do with the Battle of Big Bethel, e.g. Big & Little Bethel (meeting houses), "Battlefield," and "Collision between U.S. forces," just south of Little Bethel.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of [Le Grand B. Cannon] to John Wolcott Phelps

[Le Grand B. Cannon] to John Wolcott Phelps

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Creator: Cannon, Le Grand B.
Date Created: 1862-10-15
Description: Topics include General Phelps returning to Vermont and addressing members of the Legislature. (Phelps resigned his commission Aug. 21, 1862 after Washington rejected his recruitment of African Americans to fight for the Union.) Cannon invites Phelps to visit him to talk about the war.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of E. V. N. Hitchcock to John Wolcott Phelps

E. V. N. Hitchcock to John Wolcott Phelps

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Creator: Hitchcock, E. V. N.
Date Created: 1863-03-02
Description: Topics include camping outside of Fort Pickens at Camp Stoughton, the good health of the regiment, the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac, and the ungentleman-like ways the officers act. Hitchcock's mood is fairly upbeat but realistic: predicting the end of the war is difficult; a long expected attack on the island never occurred (indicating a fault in intelligence?); army life is good, but he hopes Phelps can find a better situation for him. Hitchcock mentions the "negro regiment" in charge of Ship Island.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of John Lester Barstow to Laura

John Lester Barstow to Laura

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Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913.
Date Created: 1862-05-03
Description: Topics include an overview of the daily schedule in camp, firing on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philips by General Butler, General Phelps, and about 10,000 men that lasted for three days, and orders for the rest of the regiment to head for New Orleans.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Lester Barstow Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of John Lester Barstow to Laura

John Lester Barstow to Laura

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Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913.
Date Created: 1863-05-16
Description: Topics include moving up the Red River, on the march can not catch the Rebels on horseback, dealing with snakes, joining forces with General Grant and his campaign in regard to Port Hudson or Vicksburg, inquiries about the draft in Shelburne, wishing to be with family, the beauty of flower gardens at the residences, plenty of corn planted but folks in need of other goods, the murder of a soldier by another soldier (later confined as a lunatic), a surgeon administering medicine only to discover is was poisoned resulting in the death of five soldiers.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Lester Barstow Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of John Lester Barstow to Laura

John Lester Barstow to Laura

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Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913.
Date Created: 1864-04-12
Description: Topics include the battle of Natchitoches and Barstow‚Äôs determination to keep his troops prepared for battle, keeping his camp clean, the touching goodbyes of parting regiments.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, John Lester Barstow Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Roswell Farnham to Laura

Roswell Farnham to Laura

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Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
Date Created: 1862-10-13
Description: Topics include the accommodations in camp, Roswell Farnham‚Äôs health, and Roswell Farnham teaching the commissioned officers of the right wing.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War