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 51 - 60 of 120 Records

Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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    • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
    • Date Created: 1862-01-09
    • Description: Topics include military matters (court martial, foraging, picket duty) and disgust with the Congress, administration, government and fears the nation's downfall.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


    Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard, Albin Beard to Wheelock G. Veazey
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      • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898., Beard, Albin.
      • Date Created: [1861]-09-08
      • Description: Topics include the assignment of Wheelock G. Veazey‚Äôs regiment to the post of honor within their division of the army.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


      Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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        • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
        • Date Created: [1861]-09-14
        • Description: Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey‚Äôs position as field officer of the day, the lack of sleep the soldiers are experiencing, and the ease with which the Rebels could attack the Regiment.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


        Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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          • Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898.
          • Date Created: [1861]-12-[23]
          • Description: Topics include Captain Atherton recruiting for the 4th Vermont Regiment and General Phelps making a ‚Äúfool‚Äù out of himself.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence


          Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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            • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
            • Date Created: 1864-04-10
            • Description: Camping in the field near Culpeper, Va. topics include writing articles for home newspapers, disliking the idea of being labeled a "newspaper correspondent", becomes poetic and philosophical reflecting on the current day's beautiful weather, of his deep feelings for receiving letters from home, of his daughter Helen‚Äôs progress with writing composition, and Baker and Cuttings visit to camp.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence


            Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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              • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
              • Date Created: 1863-07-29
              • Description: Writing in the field near Warrenton, Virginia topics include the importance of receiving letters from home, morale kept up by sharing bits of news from home with each other in spite of the hardships in camp, reference to several commanding officers including French, Elliot, Morris, General George Meade, his hearsay knowledge of the drunkenness of Gen. Joseph Hooker, of receiving a home newspaper with one of his letters printed in it.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence


              Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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                • Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902.
                • Date Created: 1863-10-13
                • Description: In the field writing on a drum in the hot sun, topics include having completed a long march to his position near Washington, the proximity to the enemy, the expectation of a battle, the men prepared and eager seemingly having become desensitized to danger and death as they chat with one another and even sleep.
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence


                Charles F. Bancroft to Parents
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                  • Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862.
                  • Date Created: 1861-12-20
                  • Description: Topics include items received from home and events surrounding a bottle of brandy that was stolen.
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Civil War Correspondence of Charles F. Bancroft


                  William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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                    • Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915.
                    • Date Created: 1863-07-07
                    • Description: Written in camp in the field, letter discusses local politics back home, warning that they shouldn‚Äôt nominate any Democrats. Reports of a fight involving the First Vermont Cavalry Regiment near Williamsport, casualties, as well as the death of fellow Vermonters. He mentions that Major Wells fought like a ‚Äútiger‚Äù, men is good spirits, reflects on Gen. Lee is being defeated.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence


                    Edward P. Stone to Family
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                      • Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
                      • Date Created: 1862-11-15
                      • Description: Writes how he and other chaplains are discouraged as their duties as ministers often can not be done as the men are often marching ; difficult to constantly hear profanity ; seeks prayers from folks at home, a caution at the end of the letter to not print this but perhaps convey his sentiments in other ways.
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence