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John Lester Barstow Correspondence

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Collection Overview

John L. Barstow’s letters, most written to his wife Laura, describe camp life at Ship Island, New Orleans, and various locations in the Louisiana countryside, and include comments on the attitudes and conduct of white and black civilians, as well as the leadership of Generals Nathaniel P. Banks, Benjamin F. Butler, and William B. Franklin. Barstow served as brigadier general of Provisional Forces in St. Albans, Vermont, after he left the Eighth Vermont in June 1864. He was elected Governor of Vermont in 1882.

Time Period Covered: May 3, 1862 - December 28, 1862 

Parent Collections

Vermonters in the Civil War

Published:  May 12, 2011,  University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Center for Digital Initiatives

Rights:  Requests to reproduce this item should be sent to the UVM Libraries' Center for Digital Initiatives at cdi@uvm.edu. For more information, see http://cdi.uvm.edu/about/rights. More information.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to ?

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-05-18

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the comfortable lodgings of the regiment in New Orleans, the cost of food items, and the state of New Orleans when the Vermont Regiment arrived.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to Father

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-12-28

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the fleeing of Rebels to Texas, the destruction and loss of property near New Orleans, and Barstow’s belief that the war must not end until the Union is restored.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to Laura

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-11-23

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the idleness of the Regiment since its arrival on the banks of the Bayon and the help the Negroes are receiving from the government.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to Laura

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-12-14

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include General Banks superseding General Butler, the capture of one of the rebel officers, and the dishonorable discharge of Lieutenant Day.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to Laura

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-05-03

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include an overview of the daily schedule in camp, firing on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philips by General Butler, General Phelps, and about 10,000 men that lasted for three days, and orders for the rest of the regiment to head for New Orleans.


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Title:   John Lester Barstow to Laura

Creator:  Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913

Date:  1862-05-11

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include being aboard the ship “Jamis Hovey” on the Mississippi River on the way to New Orleans, the difficulty of the journey from Ship Island to New Orleans, and the initial observations upon the arrival in New Orleans.