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.

List

Gallery

Information

Showing 81 - 90 of 1339 Records

Miniature of Edward P. Stone to Family

Edward P. Stone to Family

Image

Creator: Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920.
Date Created: [1862]-09-[23]
Description: A very brief letter stating he was in Burkittsville with the wounded (casualties from the Battle of Burkittsville or called the Battle of Crampton's Gap, Maryland, September 14, 1862), then set out to find the regiment but was unsuccessful so he stopped at Pleasant Valley and stayed with a family there ; preached at United Bretheren ; mentions fruits of all kinds available.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Edward P. Stone Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

Image

Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison.
Date Created: 1862-03-?
Description: Topics include the preparations to march and then the order was countermanded. Mentions "the box" of supplies from home.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother

Image

Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison.
Date Created: 1862-06-11
Description: Topics include clarifying things that were written home about Merrill, what Wilder will do once he leaves the army alive, and a man named Damon Hunter returning home after having his leg amputated. One Civil War chronology notes on this date "little or no action on the main front in Virginia along the Chickahominy."
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Henry Harrison Wilder to ?

Henry Harrison Wilder to ?

Image

Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison.
Date Created: ?-?-?
Description: Topics include Wilder's uncertainties regarding if he shall ever see his family again and if the regiment is going to advance, as well as sending items home.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe

Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe

Image

Creator: White, Daniel S., 1837-1912.
Date Created: 1861-08-03
Description: Topics include the witnessing of a hanging execution of a man from the New Hampshire 2nd Regiment who had killed an innocent woman (wife of a rebel soldier), his reaction to the hanging, of military tactics to deter the rebels advance, of breakfast awaiting consisting of fried pork bread and coffee.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Daniel S. White Civil War letters

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe

Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe

Image

Creator: White, Daniel S., 1837-1912.
Date Created: 1864-03-31
Description: He writes of the return to Vermont of his wife‚Äôs brother, Oramel G. Howe, of sending her a can of milk, as well as other items, going to Brandy Station on business, having drill practice and of witnessing a horse race in which $1000 was the prize.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Daniel S. White Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams

Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams

Image

Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
Date Created: 1864-10-23
Description: Detailed description of the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, including his account of the arrival of General Sheridan that was much welcomed by the men, its effect on the Union Army on how the lines were reformed and much captured by the Union soldiers.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams

Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams

Image

Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
Date Created: 1865-02-19
Description: Topics include the health of the Essex boys, the size of the chapel built in camp, which can hold three hundred soldiers, the friendly banter between the pickets and the number of Confederate soldiers deserting to the Union side, his optimism about the end of the war coming soon, and how many fights he has been in.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Lyman S. Williams to Warren Williams

Lyman S. Williams to Warren Williams

Image

Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905.
Date Created: 1862-04-20
Description: Topics include Lyman Williams coming down with a fever, an encounter with the rebels that left four men wounded, and the rebels' description of the Vermont regiment as dare devils. Stationery has an illustration of a "Vermont Boy," plus two verses of a song with the title "Vermont Soldier." The refrain, "Away down in Dixie," suggests an attempt to compete with the immortal southern song "Dixie."
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Lyman S. Williams Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War

Miniature of Albert A. May to Friend

Albert A. May to Friend

Image

Creator: May, Albert A.
Date Created: 1861-10-08
Description: Writes from Marcy Camp Advanced in Northeastern Virginia of injuries and death sustained in a "Skermisher" due to confusion among the men and friendly fire, mentions 4th and 5th regiments also camped in the area.
Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Albert A. May Correspondence

Part of: Vermonters in the Civil War