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 51 - 60 of 141 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: 1862-10-13
Description: Expresses big disappointment about preparing for a raid by Confederate General Jeb Stuart that never happened due to a Union military blunder, a pontoon bridge at Edward's Ferry (between Virginia and Maryland), mentions the names of several men regarding sickness in the regiment's companies, sends kisses to his children.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford

Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford

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Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
Date Created: 1862-12-23
Description: Topics include a hard battle and defeat at Fredericksburg, the death of S. E. Connor from pneumonia, his opinion of how the war is conducted, the illness of two of the officers, of having the Commissary Sergeant among them with the result living conditions are good.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Edward P. Stone to Family

Edward P. Stone to Family

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Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
Date Created: 1862-07-08
Description: Chaplain Stone expresses sadness at leaving sick and wounded (perhaps from the Seven Days Battles fought June 26 to July 2), sending money, sickness among the men, Dr. Chandler, Dr. Henry Janes, the officers & the chaplains, requests a linen coat, sending home clothing, John working at the wharf (perhaps along the James River?).
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Edward P. Stone to Family

Edward P. Stone to Family

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Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
Date Created: 1862-12-28
Description: Writes of expecting letters from home, names several officers resigning, has a pass to go to Washington with a dead soldier, money, resigning his position as chaplain but wishes to work on some historical records of the regiment first, is well but is suffering from diarrhea.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry

Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry

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Creator: Marshall, Ira A., d. 1893.
Date Created: 1862-06-08
Description: Topics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high cost of food, and the slight sickness of Ira Marshall.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Lyman S. Williams to Caroline Williams

Lyman S. Williams to Caroline Williams

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Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
Date Created: 1861-11-16
Description: Topics include the comforts of camp life.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Papers of Lyman S. Williams

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

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Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison.
Date Created: 1861-?-29
Description: Henry writes from Camp Griffin, Va. of being in good health, of having gained ten pounds, of sleeping well, of having a comfortable bed and coverings, of the burial service of two men held by the Chaplain and of Fenton ill with the measles.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of George W. Quimby to Sister

George W. Quimby to Sister

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Creator: Quimby, George W.
Date Created: 1861-11-05
Description: Topics include family matters where George gives legal advice to his sister Emeline in regards to settling her estate after the death of her husband, of illness among the men particularly measles, of finally getting all their military clothing.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, George W. Quimby Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]

Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]

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Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
Date Created: 1863-01-20
Description: Writes of medical treatment for diphtheria if his children ever come down with the illness, a possible leave of absence for Dr. Willard Augustus Childe as he has been in service for 20 months without one, expresses his anger at criticism from folks back home about what the military ought to be doing and states the need for the Union to conquer the South.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford 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: 1863-01-21
Description: Topics include camping near Wolf Creek, Virginia, bunking with a fellow officer, no tents yet delivered, shelter not water tight, horses out unprotected, the terrible roads due to rain and mud, Paymaster Holway expected soon with military pay for the Vermont troops, advice to wife Mary, who is planning on visiting to bring only one trunk with only essentials and to wear her boots as there is a lot of mud, brief reference to Kinepox (which is another name for small pox vaccine).
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War