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 71 - 80 of 141 Records
Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
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- Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866.
- Date Created: 1862-03-25
- Description: Writing from the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria VA, topics include difficulty in getting a furlough at the present time, illness among others at the hospital from the Regiment, and the keeping and responsibility of using the Company's money for needed purchases for the men.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Letter to Rufus and Sebra Towle
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- Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1861-11-25
- Description: From Camp Griffen, Va. Topics include the health of the regiment (measles, Typhoid fever), requests for food, tea, clothing and the cold weather.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Civil War correspondence of Ransom W. Towle and Thomas N. Flanders
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
John M. Stone to Family
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- Creator: Stone, John M., 1835-1915.
- Date Created: 1861-12-[09]
- Description: Topics include the health of the regiment and numerous deaths.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Horatio P. Bruce to Smiley Bancroft
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- Creator: Bruce, Horatio P.
- Date Created: 1862-06-26
- Description: Topics include the death of Charles Bancroft from typhoid fever, the sickness of other men in the company, and that the fall of Richmond will bring the war to an end. Like many other writers, he refers to McClellan's reluctance to deploy his massive army.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Charles F. Bancroft Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
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- Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864.
- Date Created: 1862-06-10
- Description: Writing seven miles from Richmond topics include packing up camp and marching at 10pm, a terrible rain storm that soaked the men, of sick soldiers including Towle.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Charles Dillingham to William Wirt Henry
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- Creator: Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837.
- Date Created: 1861-08-07
- Description: August 7, 1861 from Clermont, Virginia. Writes Vermont 3rd located at the Chain Bridge Georgetown Heights, picket duty, illness among the men, sudden death of soldiers from sore throat.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1861-05-13
- Description: Farnham is writing from the SS Alabama after arriving safely off the coast of Virginia, at Fort Monroe. Some men are sea-sick, and another has measles. Company was greeted with three cheers by sailors passing by. Farnham called on again to be adjutant because of his demonstrated leadership skills. A few words about friends and acquaintances seen in New York, one being a secessionist.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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- Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
- Date Created: 1862-11-09
- Description: Farnham writes from nearby Hunting Creek, Virginia at the headquarters of the 12th Vermont Volunteers about the cold weather in the South, eleven sick in the hospital, two of which had shot themselves. Reference made to Gen. McClellan being superseded by Gen. Burnside.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
George W. Quimby to Emeline B. Masta
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- Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862.
- Date Created: 1862-01-20
- Description: Topics include the terrible weather at Camp Griffin, Va. and the numerous deaths from sicknesses such as Typhoid Fever. "Smith's Division" refers to the Vt. 5th Infantry Regiment under the command of Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, George W. Quimby Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War
Charles F. Bancroft to Parents
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- Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862.
- Date Created: 1862-02-02
- Description: Topics include reminiscences of church meetings in Vt., stimulated by his attendance of them at camp; how much he enjoys the supplies (footwear, clothing, food, brandy) from home; some medical treatment that was improved with brandy; his appreciation of family and home; a few words about postal delivery; and a map of the South he plans to give to his father. -- Because of winter, the war has slackened off a bit. Lincoln is still trying to force McClellan to act.
- Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Charles F. Bancroft Correspondence
Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War