Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Collection Overview
Valentine G. Barney of Swanton, Vt., was commissioned sergeant on May 2, 1861 in Co. A of the 1st Vermont Regiment. He was mustered out August 15, 1861. He was then commissioned captain of the 9th Vermont Regiment, Co. A, June 14, 1862; and lieutenant colonel of the 9th Vermont Regiment, on May 24, 1863. He was mustered out June 13, 1865.
In his correspondence, Barney describes the capture of Belle Boyd, Camp Sigel, the surrender at Harper's Ferry, parole camps Tyler and Douglas at Chicago, Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas, the Army of the James, and the occupation of Richmond. Barney was in the 9th Vermont Regiment and led the first troops to enter Richmond.
Time Period Covered: May 5, 1861 - August 2, 1861
Parent Collections
Related Archival Collection(s)
Published: March 22, 2011, University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Center for Digital Initiatives
Rights: Requests to reproduce this item should be sent to Vermont Historical Society Library, vhs-library@state.vt.us. For more information, see http://cdi.uvm.edu/about/rights. More information.
Browse Options
Creator(s)
Recipient(s)
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [44]
- Barney, Maria [18]
Place(s)
- Military camps -- Virginia [21]
- Camp Douglas (Ill.) [9]
- Chicago (Ill.) [8]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [7]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons [7]
- Military camps -- Vermont [3]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns [3]
- Winchester (Va.) [3]
- Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [2]
Format(s)
- text [62]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [62]
Topic(s)
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [21]
- Armed Forces Officers [19]
- United StatesArmy Military life [17]
- Prisoners of war [16]
- Diseases [14]
- Battle casualties [6]
- Marching [4]
- Pillage [4]
- Postal service [4]
- Drill and minor tactics [3]
- War casualties [3]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [2]
- Fugitive slaves [2]
- Intrenchments [2]
- Military deserters [2]
- Newspapers [2]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [2]
- Prisoner-of-war camps [2]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [2]
- Soldiers Suicidal behavior [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865).Company B [2]
- Amputation [1]
- Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861 [1]
- Burnside, Ambrose Everett1824-1881 [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Desertion, Military [1]
- Friendly fire (Military science) [1]
- Guerrilla warfare [1]
- Hardtack [1]
- Homesickness [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Medicine, Military [1]
- Military chaplains [1]
- Military discipline [1]
- Military funerals [1]
- Military hospitals [1]
- Military leaves and furloughs [1]
- Picketing [1]
- Pope, John1822-1892 [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Skirmishing [1]
- Slavery [1]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [1]
- War Psychological aspects [1]
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Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-11-03
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health from jaundice though his appetite is low and his skin itches, of foods he regularly eats, the sickness of Sergeant Whitmore with typhoid fever, and the deaths in the regiment including Chas Crook.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-08
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Rutland on topics including the plan to start for Fort Monroe, Virginia, sends his love to his children, that he will make arrangements for Maria to stay with Uncle David, that all the men are well.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-06-11
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Newport News, Va. on a battle between General Butler's men and a camp of secessionists at Bethel, battle casualties due to confusion among the soldiers and friendly fire, of missing men, thanks Maria for the postage stamps.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-07-07
Resource type: correspondence
Writes of his uncertainty of when he will head home, of the men being anxious to be out of the army and away from camp life, a visit from Sect. Cameron, of the family
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the dates in which Valentine G. Barney will head home, the arrival of a telegraph wire from Newport News to the fort which will help the officers communicate quickly, the meeting of scouting party with Secessionists, the death of at least one of them, of 10 Union soldiers being taken prisoners and the news that the Fort is ready for use.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-06-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the march to camp in Brattleboro, having very good tents that helped keep the overnight rain from getting him wet and hopes to be home in about a week.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-06-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the food served in camp was plentiful and good, tent set up to be comfortable, health is good, the distribution of clothing among the men, Col. Stannard expected in camp, mentions plans to return home and the expected arrival of a few more companies at Brattleboro.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the Regiment is full and the expectation that the regiment will be mustererd (process of accounting for members in a military unit), mentions he is officer of the day and has many duties to attend to with recruits being new to army life.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-13
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Davis in Brattleboro, topics include Barney being made officer of the day tomorrow, feeling proud of that, and the plan to march to Washington.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include being in camp near Clouds Mills near Alexandria, Va., the journey there including a 14 mile march, the numerous regiments encamped together, not liking the Southern area or the dirty cities, feels the South may not be worth fighting for and having a good dinner received in camp.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-27
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Siegle, Virginia, topics include the journey to camp, their train cars running off the track with no injuries to the men, other men camping in the area being demoralized. He is in Gen. Piatts Brigade and Pope's division. Writes the hill being fortified with hard labor by the men, food in camp being good but not so good when on the move. Mentions the boys from Swanton being well. Six rebel scouts captured, one believed to pretend to be crazy but a grave ordered to be dug for the prisoner in hopes of getting him to confess his pretense.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-31
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include order from General Pope that force the regiment to find their own meat which they do by confiscating cattle from the countryside, Union troops being flung insults from the Southern women, pickets firing at the rebels, a careless discharge of a revolver caused a fifer to have two injured fingers on his right hand amputated by Surgeon Hall, and the capture of the Lady Rebel Spy Belle Boyd.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-08-03
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Seigle near Winchester, Va. topics include having a good meal, postal service finally getting the mail on the road only to be handed off and the rider now missing, the burning of the city (Winchester?), being invited to take refreshments by city residents but declining as he did not want to risk being poisoned, Lieutenant Jewett on picket duty, attended worship service, misses his young children, and the hope that the 10th regiment will arrive in camp.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Whitmore, Orange S., 1836-1908
Date: 1862-10-29
Resource type: correspondence
Whitmore writes to Maria Barney of the improvement of Barney’s health, of Barney advising Maria to keep the cow and the possibility of returning to Vermont in the near future.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-11-05
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health, his taking of jaundice bitters as treatment, his paying Mrs. Snow $10 for his and his attendant's room and board in her home and of sending his attendant back to camp.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-11-07
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health, having his attendant return to camp, his thinking of applying for a furlough to return home when he feels stronger, his outrage at the government for the continued poor living conditions for the men at camp in the sheds, his asking for more money from home and the lack of military pay the soldiers have received.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-11-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health from jaundice though his legs tire quickly, the need for money from home, thoughts of a furlough and the sickness and deaths in the regiment.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-11-11
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the weather in Chicago, the desire to return home, and the improvement in Barney’s health.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include arriving at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Lt. Erastus W. Jewett expects military pay to come through, and the good condition of the company.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-07
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include good food for his dinner, the high standard of living while visiting Danby and Syracuse, living conditions at the camp, having coal stoves, rats and lice plentiful, the death of one of his men Alfred Burrows from diphtheria, paying Mrs. Snow owed, giving comment on theater ("love sick stuff"), having no word of a prisoner exchange and the hope to be able to send $500 home soon.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-10
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include the continued improvement of Barney’s health, being busy with issues with the company including low morale and discipline, the good weather in Chicago and having received a photo of Maria.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-14
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include Barney receiving military pay (back from Nov 1 of $580), how Maria is to distribute it to pay off money owed by Barney, reaffirms his devotion to Maria, his ability to not be tempted to stray and his delight in receiving letters from his young children Carrie and Fred (even if not quite intelligible).
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-16
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include sending military pay of $480 home, request for needed items from home including boots, fur collar, pillow. etc., having a pleasant evening dinner and singing at Mrs. Snow's and arranging to have his photograph taken.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-18
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include an update on the state of the regiment including men deserting, sick, discharged or joining the regular army, of sending photographs of Bushnell, Cleveland and of himself home to Maria, of Lt Sherman in camp, the loss of 13,000 Union men from Burnside’s army in recent battles, of thousands of paroled prisoners in Annapolis thus Barney needing to stay at camp through the holidays.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-21
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include Barney having had 48 small photographs of himself made, of sending photographs home to his family, of several of his men, of trying to get a furlough for one of them, of expecting to stay where he is for a while longer, fixing up his living quarters, Colonel Andrus to arrive in camp to replace Stannard who may go home to recover his health, newspapers reporting Reg. to be sent back East, and the invitation to spend Christmas at Mrs. Snow’s.
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