Vermonters in the Civil War
Collection Overview
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...
Show moreVermont 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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Sub-collections
- Daniel S. White Correspondence
- Edward P. Stone Correspondence
- George W. Quimby Correspondence
- Henry A. Smith Correspondence
- Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence
- Horace Barlow Diary
- John Lester Barstow Correspondence
- John W. Campbell Correspondence
- John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
- Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
- Joseph L. Perkins Correspondence
- Joseph Spafford Correspondence
- Justus F. Gale Correspondence
- Lyman S. Williams Correspondence
- Orlando S. Turner Correspondence
- Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
- Roswell Farnham Correspondence
- Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
- Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
- Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
- William C. Holbrook Correspondence
- William Wirt Henry Correspondence
Lesson Plans
(1 - 20 of 52)
Pages
- Title
- ? to Father
- Description
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Unsigned letter to his father with topics including Col Farnham's horses being sick but getting better ; the variable weather, how people can make do with few conveniences, Mr. Peach the cook, the food that is available in camp ; the dark looks the southerners give the soldiers, his negative...
Show moreUnsigned letter to his father with topics including Col Farnham's horses being sick but getting better ; the variable weather, how people can make do with few conveniences, Mr. Peach the cook, the food that is available in camp ; the dark looks the southerners give the soldiers, his negative opinion of the white southerners, mentioning writing to Henry, Laura and hoping to see Zeke.
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- Title
- Daniel S. White to Maria E. Howe
- Description
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He writes of the return to Vermont of his wife’s 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.
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- Edward P. Stone to John F. Stone
- Description
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Writing from Camp Griffin, Va., Stone writes of sending money to his father in payment for a horse from Mr. Parmelee, refers again to John (perhaps his brother?), of many duties as chaplain including preparing for the funerals of the men who died from sickness and of his carpet bag being stolen...
Show moreWriting from Camp Griffin, Va., Stone writes of sending money to his father in payment for a horse from Mr. Parmelee, refers again to John (perhaps his brother?), of many duties as chaplain including preparing for the funerals of the men who died from sickness and of his carpet bag being stolen on the way to camp.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include the refusal of a leave of absence, Col. Jewett praise of Rutherford, Col concern for well being of hospital care and sanitation, expresses his anger and indignation of the Copper Heads, his bond and deep affection for his horse Lady Lightfoot, the very snowy weather, religious...
Show moreTopics include the refusal of a leave of absence, Col. Jewett praise of Rutherford, Col concern for well being of hospital care and sanitation, expresses his anger and indignation of the Copper Heads, his bond and deep affection for his horse Lady Lightfoot, the very snowy weather, religious services to be observed indoors, the hardships in camp that are worth the cause, and the great deal of singing among the officers including the song "There is music in the air."
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Writes of including a drawing made by him for his daughter Helen of his beloved horse Lady Lightfoot, Rutherford’s relationship with his horse, and discussion of a newspaper article about Grant’s unsuccessful advances and his veiled opinion of the article's Copperhead leaning viewpoint.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Topics include additional sending more pay home to Hannah, an imminent march, enduring low spirits, sending a photograph of Lt. Tabor, instructions on where to send letters, of the sudden death of a fellow soldier's horse, and other stories of soldiers in the war.
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- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Rutherford writes of his low opinion of Southerns, of their ignorance, their misguided values of who can own the most slaves and land, their intermarrying, of his applying discipline to those he feels deserve it in order to preserve order in his hospital, praise for his horse, Lady Lightfoot, who...
Show moreRutherford writes of his low opinion of Southerns, of their ignorance, their misguided values of who can own the most slaves and land, their intermarrying, of his applying discipline to those he feels deserve it in order to preserve order in his hospital, praise for his horse, Lady Lightfoot, who is still with him and his acquisition of another horse and mule.
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- Title
- Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
- Description
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Rutherford suffering from the mumps, Rebel deserters including officers arriving in his camp, guns captured from Willmington and fall of Charleston, conjecture of how Gen. Grant plans to deal with attack by General Lee, his child Jacob being ill, reference to Gen. Grierson & photo of Grierson to...
Show moreRutherford suffering from the mumps, Rebel deserters including officers arriving in his camp, guns captured from Willmington and fall of Charleston, conjecture of how Gen. Grant plans to deal with attack by General Lee, his child Jacob being ill, reference to Gen. Grierson & photo of Grierson to be sent to Rutherford and being offered $300 dollars for his horse (Lady Lightfoot)
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- Title
- Justus E. Gale to Family
- Description
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Topics include a train crash, confiscating rebel property including horses, cattle, sheep and mules. Writes of having plenty of food on their travel back to camp including dining on lamb. Provided a meal at an old planters house. Mentions Negroes (slaves) and 1500 Blacks at camp, sending troops...
Show moreTopics include a train crash, confiscating rebel property including horses, cattle, sheep and mules. Writes of having plenty of food on their travel back to camp including dining on lamb. Provided a meal at an old planters house. Mentions Negroes (slaves) and 1500 Blacks at camp, sending troops to Gen. Phelps, the expectation of getting paid, rebels killed in an encounter with the enemy.
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- Title
- Lyman Barton to Hiram Barton
- Description
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Lyman Barton describes a turntable built for a Confederate railway gun which was captured before it was operational. He also writes of an attack of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry led by Colonel Spear near Hanover Court House, during which General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was captured.
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- Lyman S. Williams to Lois L. Williams
- Description
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Writes of going & coming back from Washington, D.C. via horseback to purchase clothes and other articles needed, mustering out the men whose time is up in October, and his decision to remain in the Army for the extra money, since he feels everyone will be mustered out in August.
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- Mary E. Farnham to Henry
- Description
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From Mary Farnham to Henry topics include letters received and responded to, military action among the men, pickets and taking of Rebel soldiers, fighting engagement at Kelly’s Ford, her thoughts on the unhealthy environment she is in, the varying degrees of health or illness of the men in camp,...
Show moreFrom Mary Farnham to Henry topics include letters received and responded to, military action among the men, pickets and taking of Rebel soldiers, fighting engagement at Kelly’s Ford, her thoughts on the unhealthy environment she is in, the varying degrees of health or illness of the men in camp, her horse ride even though the weather has been inclement, her comments on what the military trained horses will do, the ill health and death of some horses.
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- Title
- Mary E. Farnham to Laura
- Description
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From Mary Farnham to sister Laura with topics including a detailed description of Mary Farnham’s visit to camp, a visit to Washington visiting the Capitol & Senate buildings ; Farnham's horses sick with horse distemper, one of them being Burnie ; Mary's discomfort traveling in the ambulance ; her...
Show moreFrom Mary Farnham to sister Laura with topics including a detailed description of Mary Farnham’s visit to camp, a visit to Washington visiting the Capitol & Senate buildings ; Farnham's horses sick with horse distemper, one of them being Burnie ; Mary's discomfort traveling in the ambulance ; her embarrassing slip and fall in the ambulance ; her horse ride back ; the good health of the regiment ; weight gain of Lt. Herrick ; her affection for horse Jenny.
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- Moses W. Sawyer to William Wirt Henry
- Description
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Receipts for the purchase of two horses.
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- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Topics include a pleasant ride at Manassas Junction, stopping by a deserted house and picking bouquets of flowers from the over grown garden there, the danger of rebel guerrilla warfare, his horse Burnie improving in health but still with a cough, the plan to return to Union Mills tomorrow,...
Show moreTopics include a pleasant ride at Manassas Junction, stopping by a deserted house and picking bouquets of flowers from the over grown garden there, the danger of rebel guerrilla warfare, his horse Burnie improving in health but still with a cough, the plan to return to Union Mills tomorrow, hoping to receive the newspapers sooner than before, and much preparations by the soldiers in expectation of rebels in Alexandria.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Two letters dated the 25th and 27th of June telling of marching to Centreville, camping beyond there, sharing a tent with the Chaplain, heavy rain, the brigade now reporting to General Reynolds of the 1st Army Corps, his horse Burnie sick again and knows the horse must go along or be put down. In...
Show moreTwo letters dated the 25th and 27th of June telling of marching to Centreville, camping beyond there, sharing a tent with the Chaplain, heavy rain, the brigade now reporting to General Reynolds of the 1st Army Corps, his horse Burnie sick again and knows the horse must go along or be put down. In the letter of the 27th tells of moving to Poolesville, Maryland, of his horse, Burnie, feeling better & may do fine and the soldiers being kept in the field until very end of their military service.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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From camp at Westminster, MD topics include a description of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 12th ordered to guard the trains, supplies needed by the men in the field as they have none, the men of the 12th carrying out their duty and suffering much even though not engaged in the fighting, the...
Show moreFrom camp at Westminster, MD topics include a description of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 12th ordered to guard the trains, supplies needed by the men in the field as they have none, the men of the 12th carrying out their duty and suffering much even though not engaged in the fighting, the determination of the men to continue marching despite severe hardship, horses giving out but coming to camp the next morning, men may be needed to stay on duty even though their military duties are up.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
- Description
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Four days of marching have left the men foot sore and exhausted & he writes of the hardships and consequences of men not being able to keep up. Tells of a mishap with an officer and his horse, of the men picking up stray horses, of the men cooking for themselves, of butchered cattle for fresh...
Show moreFour days of marching have left the men foot sore and exhausted & he writes of the hardships and consequences of men not being able to keep up. Tells of a mishap with an officer and his horse, of the men picking up stray horses, of the men cooking for themselves, of butchered cattle for fresh beef, mention of Mrs. Capt. Williams and Mrs. Damon, moving towards Hagarstown and no expectation for a fight.
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- Title
- Roswell Farnham to Asa P. Blunt
- Description
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Report to Col Asa P. Blunt regarding an inspection of several items including saddles, horses and bugles in the Second Connecticut Battery stationed at Wolf Run Shoals, Virginia stating the unfitness of some horses for duty and the disrepair of two bugles.
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- Roswell Farnham to Laura
- Description
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Mentions an artist is taking some pictures of camp life (photos? or drawings?) promises to send sketches he has made of camp home, the sick in camp including Mary, William Wallace and his best horse, has purchased another horse and will fatten him up,marching orders having been given, Rebels at...
Show moreMentions an artist is taking some pictures of camp life (photos? or drawings?) promises to send sketches he has made of camp home, the sick in camp including Mary, William Wallace and his best horse, has purchased another horse and will fatten him up,marching orders having been given, Rebels at Leesburgh, Drainsville, Centreville & at Union Mills, brief references to Copperheads at home.
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