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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Miniature of William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
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    • Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904.
    • Date Created: 1862-07-29
    • Description: Topics include returning to Baton Rouge and the comforts that came with this move, expresses his decided opinion on the ramifications of releasing ‚Äúunlettered Negroes‚Äù (i.e. slaves), feels the blacks are well enough cared for in general, speaks against blacks as a possible fighting force, the treatment of the slaves who enter Union lines by the Union soldiers, feels politicians need to experience first hand the habits of black slaves of the south and not hold such lofty ideals, the attempted ‚Äúcut off‚Äù of the Mississippi River by the Union, and the death of W. C. Holbrook‚Äôs grandfather.
    • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, William C. Holbrook Correspondence
    Miniature of Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
    Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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      • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
      • Date Created: 1863-10-03
      • Description: Topics include a visit to Norfolk, Virginia, where he met his brother, Lester (Rufus Lester Barney), his return to the Regiment by boat, and an aborted movement of the Regiment to Portsmouth, Virginia. He also mentions the large number of sick in the Regiment, the arrival of a colored regiment to help stand guard, though he doubts their capability, taking a horse back ride through the Negro regiment and Jewettville.
      • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
      Miniature of Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
      Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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        • Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889.
        • Date Created: 1863-09-28
        • Description: Barney writes of sickness in the Regiment, and of six deaths, one of whom was shot by a negro soldier. He also writes of hiring a new negro servant, as his old servant had ‚Äútoo much white blood in him.‚Äù
        • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
        Miniature of Justus F. Gale to Sister & Friends
        Justus F. Gale to Sister & Friends
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          • Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863.
          • Date Created: 1862-09-24
          • Description: From Algiers, La topics include ill health of his mother and sister, the death of his brother Charley, how difficult it is to get a military discharge, Justus Gale‚Äôs negative opinion of the Blacks, his hope slavery is ended, and his hope that his sister and mother will become healthy again.
          • Parent Collections: Vermonters in the Civil War, Justus F. Gale Correspondence