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 61 - 70 of 1339 Records

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: 1861-10-8
Description: Writes of good postal service on letter delivery, of Sargent Charley Reed, of Captain Altherton, of wanting a photograph of Homer, general good health of the men, a heavy rain storm that flooded his tent, of going out on Battalion drill.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford papers

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford

Joseph Spafford to Marianne Spafford

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Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
Date Created: 1862-03-29
Description: Writing to his mother from the Mansion House Hospital topics include being left behind by the Regiment due to his illness, impossibility of getting a furlough, number of men from the 4th Vermont in the hospital, Ellsworth‚Äôs house, and possibility of being sent to another hospital.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Joseph Spafford to Homer White

Joseph Spafford to Homer White

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Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
Date Created: 1862-05-07
Description: Still writing from Carver Hospital in Washington D.C. topics include hoping to get his papers to go home to surprise his family, plans to meet Homer White in New York City and hopes that his friend Homer will come to Vermont with him.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford 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: 1863-01-08
Description: Letter head with color illustration of a camp scene written in the field. Topics include several diary entries detailing Joseph‚Äôs experiences from November 25th, 1862 to January 8th, 1863 that include camp life, soldiers marching music, viewing the Chantilly battlefield, desecration of the dead, discovery of coffin of Confederate officer in barn of area family, firing at Rebels with death of a horse resulting, burned and empty buildings in the area, activities of local people including assisting a southern woman regain her father who had been taken prisoner.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford 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: 1863-05-15
Description: Topics include being on detail with 30 men guarding bridge at Kettle Run, the Confederate rebel John Singleton Mosby and his guerrilla squads in the vicinity, and a cavalryman coming into camp to warn of squad of greybacks chasing him.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford 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: 1864-10-02
Description: Henry writes that he has returned to the regiment camped at Harrisonburgh, men cheered his returned and were in good spirits. Surgeon Willard A. Childe apologized to Henry for his behavior and spoke against Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Chandler, which pleased Henry. Reference to the death of Major Edwin Dillingham who died Sept 19th.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Henry A. Smith to Family

Henry A. Smith to Family

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Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864.
Date Created: 1862-06-27
Description: Topics include the journey from Williamsport to Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River, mentions by name men missing from the Company, mentions horses in battle, of his horse having had very little to eat, the rumor that General Pope is going to take control of the army, Gen. Fremont resigning, Gen. Banks to be Assistant Sec. of War, and the Quarter Master Old Jones & Lieutenant Grover's waiter being taken prisoners.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry A. Smith Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Ransom W. Towle to Sister and Friends

Ransom W. Towle to Sister and Friends

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Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864.
Date Created: 1862-06-22
Description: Camping in the field near Richmond topics include the weather in Virginia with food crops growing well in the hot temperatures, pickets conversing and trading papers, coffee, whiskey, fighting resulting in losses, reference to Rifle Pits, preparations for the Battle of Richmond, sickness among the soldiers.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Ransom W. Towle Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Ransom W. Towle to Friends

Ransom W. Towle to Friends

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Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864.
Date Created: 1862-06-26
Description: Towle writes of what he hears about the living conditions of the Rebels including forced service, some without enough food and about the Battle of Richmond having been going on for a month with artillery shelling and likely to continue.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Ransom W. Towle Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of [Henry Harrison Wilder] to ?

[Henry Harrison Wilder] to ?

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Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison.
Date Created: 1861-09-19
Description: Henry writes from Camp Holbrooke in St. Albans (5th Regiment Vt Volunteers Co. B) that he is taking a route on the east side of the mountain instead of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War