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 701 - 710 of 1339 Records

Justus F. Gale to Mother
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    • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
    • Date Created: 1862-10-25
    • Description: Writing to his mother, topics include marching orders to go up the railroad, waiting for a regiment of contrabands from the other side of the river to lead the way on their march, receiving his military pay, and giving his best wishes to his mother.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


    Justus F. Gale to Father
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      • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
      • Date Created: 1863-01-05
      • Description: Topics include arrangements being made between Justus‚Äô father and brother to take care of his father, trying to stop his father from taking a premium heifer, and admonishing his father not to spend money on anything but his own care. He also writes of the weather in Louisiana in the winter and how pleasant it is, except when it rains and gets muddy.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


      Justus F. Gale to Sister
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        • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
        • Date Created: 1863-02-08
        • Description: Topics include the news that Gale has been sent to the General Hospital in New Orleans because of the sore on his hand, as he is unable endure a long march. He also writes that the hospital is quiet on the Sabboth and that the rooms are clean and the food is good, and includes a description what he sees in the hospital. As well he writes of the difference in New Orleans from the previous year and tries to express to his sister what a big city is like.
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


        Justus F. Gale to Sister
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          • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
          • Date Created: 1863-03-01
          • Description: Topics include his appreciation for receiving a box from his family, letters he has received from friends, information on his speculation in watches and apples, and his decision not to receive a photograph of his brother, Charlie, who died on August 30, 1862, since Charlie still seems alive to Justus.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


          Justus F. Gale to Sister
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            • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
            • Date Created: 1863-03-17
            • Description: Topics include the spring-like weather in New Orleans, his hospital work, particulary carrying ‚Äúgrub‚Äù up to 34 soldiers, and Admiral Farragut‚Äôs engagement with the rebel batteries at Port Hudson on March 14th. He also writes of how he would like to be home in Vermont eating maple sugar and drinking milk that hasn‚Äôt been adulterated with chalk and water.
            • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


            Justus F. Gale to Mother
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              • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
              • Date Created: 1863-04-11
              • Description: Topics include getting ready to march with the 19th Corps against Fort Bisland and Colonel Thomas‚Äô confidence in the 8th Vermont. He also writes that the regiment marched over 100 miles and captured 2,200 prisoners in an addendum to his letter, dated April 21.
              • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence


              Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                • Date Created: 1864-03-23
                • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


                Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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                  • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
                  • Date Created: 1864-03-26
                  • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence


                  Hiram H. Barton to Lyman Barton
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                    • Creator: Barton, Hiram H., 1836-1903.
                    • Date Created: 1863-07-16
                    • Description: Hiram Barton writes a detailed description of a misunderstanding between the 96th New York Regiment and a cavalry company that they were to rendezvous with. The two forces exchanged fire but no one was injured. He then describes his unit‚Äôs participation in a pincer movement against Williamston, North Carolina, in which his unit was supposed to engage the enemy from the front while the 101st and 103rd Pennsylvania Regiments were to attack from the rear.
                    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence


                    Lyman Barton to Melissa Barton
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                      • Creator: Barton, Lyman, 1839-1936.
                      • Date Created: 1863-03-15
                      • Description: Lyman Barton writes of his travels from Fredericksburg to Newport News via a steamer, and then on to Suffolk. While at Newport News he saw a monitor and the U.S.S. Galena, as well as the wrecks of the U.S.S. Merrimack (C.S.S. Virginia) and the U.S.S. Cumberland and U.S.S. Congress. He also comments on the lack of alcohol available to the troops and that while he is not a drinker, he is ‚Äúas bad can be‚Äù and that it is ‚Äúhard spoiling a rotten egg.‚Äù
                      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Barton Family Correspondence