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 the University of Vermont and the Vermont Historical Society.
The collection includes materials dating from 1861 at the start of the Civil War, and will grow with additional materials throughout the years of the sesquicentennial commemoration, from 2011 through 2015. 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) will eventually be included; each adds a certain experience and point of view to the whole.
1861
In 1861, Vermont produced a three-month volunteer infantry regiment (the First Vermont Infantry) that served in Virginia from May through July. Five additional volunteer infantry regiments, mustered for three-year terms and numbered consecutively, were put in the field in the summer and fall, camping first in Washington and at Camp Griffin through the fall and winter. The First Vermont Cavalry regiment was also mustered and sent south in the fall of 1861.
Subject content for the 1861 letters and diaries covers a great deal of ground. The many logistical issues involved in launching the war effort come to light in the letters of General John W. Phelps, while officers such as Lieutenant Roswell Farnham often made thoughtful observations on the events and personalities in the camps and in the field. The enlisted men occasionally described important events in detail, but more often wrote about everyday life and concerns. Eyewitness accounts of engagements at Big Bethel (June 9-10), Bull Run (July 21), and Lewinsville (September 11) reveal the motivations and expectations of the men in arms, while descriptions of living conditions, drilling, sickness, and political intrigue provide insight on the soldiers’ experiences.
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.
Time Period Covered: 1861
Sub-collections
Charles F. Bancroft Correspondence
Horace Barlow Diary
Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
John Lester Barstow Correspondence
Barton Family Correspondence
John W. Campbell Correspondence
Roswell Farnham Correspondence
Justus F. Gale Correspondence
Solomon G. Heaton Correspondence
William Wirt Henry Correspondence
William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Albert A. May Correspondence
Benjamin F. Parmenter Correspondence
Joseph L. Perkins Correspondence
John Wolcott Phelps Correspondence
George W. Quimby Correspondence
Joseph Chase Rutherford Correspondence
Henry A. Smith Correspondence
Joseph Spafford Correspondence
Edward and John Stone Correspondence
Ransom W. Towle Correspondence
Orlando S. Turner Correspondence
Wheelock Graves Veazey Correspondence
Daniel S. White Correspondence
Henry Harrison Wilder Correspondence
Lyman Williams Correspondence
Published: April 11, 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.
Browse Options
Creator(s)
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [7]
- Holbrook, Frederick [6]
- Dudley, N. A. M. [1]
- Fullam, Volney S. [1]
- Phelps, John Wolcott [1]
Recipient(s)
- Holbrook, Frederick [5]
- Phelps, John Wolcott [5]
- Butler, B. F. [1]
- Dudley, N. A. M. [1]
- Holbrook, F. F. [1]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [1]
- Thomas, Lorenzo [1]
Place(s)
- Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862 [5]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [3]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- Fort Pike (La.) [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [1]
Format(s)
- text [16]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [16]
Topic(s)
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866) [16]
- Armed Forces Officers [9]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [6]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866).Company C [6]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [5]
- Capitulations, Military [1]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Holbrook, Frederickt1813-1909 [1]
- Intrenchments [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Military hospitals [1]
- Morale [1]
- Newspapers [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- Slaves [1]
- Surgery, Military [1]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 4th (1861-1865) [1]
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Format: ("text")
Topic: ("United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866)")
Title: ? to Lorenzo Thomas
Date: 1862-08-30
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the request to inquire after statements made by the Major General, and a request for an investigation of the Battle of Baton Rouge by a court of inquiry.
Title: Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1862-08-08
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Mrs. Holbrook requesting General Phelps to forward her letters to her son and Frederick Holbrook inquiring after the sick men and the number of surgeons. Holbrook expresses frustration that the Vt. Regiments (7th & 8th) are still not under Phelps's command, per an agreement with Gen. Butler. Holbrook also mentions Phelps's "Dark Brigade," black troops that Phelps recruited in Louisiana without permission from the War Dept. (Phelps resigned in Aug., 1862.)
Title: Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1862-03-10
Resource type: correspondence
Upbeat letter delivered to Gen. Phelps by the writer's son, William C. Holbrook, who apparently turned down an offer to join Phelps's staff. The writer, Gov. Holbrook, lavishes praise on Vermont officers and soldiers (including his son), and sends warm wishes for success to Phelps, sharing his conviction that "the Union Cause must triumph." Holbrook concludes with some reflections on the difficulty of being a wartime governor.
Title: Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1862-05-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the arrival of the 7th and 8th Vermont Regiments at Ship Island, off the coast of Miss., and arrangements with the War Department for wounded troops to be sent home. Holbrook mentions the Battle of Yorktown (April 5-May 4, 1862), esp. the "affair" on April 16 that left ca. 100 Vermont soldiers wounded. Holbrook is in charge of the U.S. Marine Hospital in Burlington, Vt.
Title: Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1862-07-27
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the President calling for 300,000 additional troops, the wish that the National Government will develop a decisive policy to "proclaim war to the knife," and a description of Frederick Holbrook's son Major Will. Holbrook continues to express his admiration for Phelps and offer him greater forces to command.
Title: Frederick Holbrook to John Wolcott Phelps
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1861-11-29
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Brig. Gen. John Wolcott Phelps' commanding Butler's New England Division and inviting Frederick Holbrook's son William to be his Aid-de-Camp. Mention of 7th Vermont Regiment (the old 1st reorganized) also being attached to Butler, of Lt. Roberts being given Colonelcy of the 7th, of Major Kimball of the New Jersey 9th for Lt. Col. of the 8th Regiment, reference to Thanksgiving Proclamation.
Title: N. A. M. Dudley to William C. Holbrook John Wolcott Phelps to N. A. M. Dudley
Creator: Dudley, N. A. M.; Phelps, John Wolcott
Date: 1862-08-30; 1862-09-02
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters; one signed by N. A. M. Dudley and the other by W. C. Holbrook requesting a Court of Inquiry to investigate allegations against the 7th Regiment participation in the Battle of Baton Rouge by a Commanding General.
Title: Volney S. Fullam to B. F. Butler
Creator: Fullam, Volney S.
Date: 1862-08-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include vacancies in the regiment caused by the death and sickness of some officers, the resignation and guilt of misconduct by Lt. G. W. Sheldon, and the intention to send a list of promotions.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frank
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-11-21
Resource type: correspondence
To his brother Frank, William writes of the findings of the Court of Inquiry that was held by General Butler regarding the conduct of the 7th Vt. Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Baton Rouge in August; his decided opinion of a soldier's unreliable word; his expectation of having comfortable living quarters in Pensacola as his regiment has moved there (to which he adds he well deserves as he has lived in "bush houses long enough"); mentions the steamer Cumbria and of his having a fever for the past several days.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-05-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include working with the naval forces to occupy Fort Pike, La. which fell April 27, 1862. Holbrook describes the fort, the artillery left behind, and the process for allowing vessels to pass by this strategic entrance to Lake Pontchartrain, at New Orleans.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-05-27
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the Union gaining control of New Orleans, General Shepley becoming Military Commandant of the city, and the news that the Vermont Brigade has been gaining control on the Potomac. Evaluations of Generals Butler and Shepley. Also mentions the "contrabands" or slaves coming within Union lines. (Butler would later start recruiting African Americans to be Union soldiers.)
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-08-08
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a description of the battle at Baton Rouge on August 5th, expresses his thoughts that the Rebels received misinformation about the strength of the Union forces thus suffering great losses, blowing up of a Rebel boat that was part of a CSA plan to attack Union gunboats, mentions "ram On Ransom", the death of Colonel George T. Roberts and General Williams.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-11-25
Resource type: correspondence
From New Orleans to his father Gov. Holbrook, William writes of the arrival of Dr. Langdon and Dr. Foster with Chaplain Hopkins on the steamer McClellan; of news that they bring regarding the government adhering to its bargain; his praise of these men; the regiment residing at Pensacola, his recommendation of distinguishing between the assistant surgeons just in case the positions are ever vacant (thus leaving him in a delicate position at some point) and the expectation to receive orders to head North.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-12-09
Resource type: correspondence
To his father topics include the sickness of the regiment (mentions miasma, vapors from swamp believed to cause disease), mentions scorbutic appearance of the sick (relating to scurvy), a description of Pensacola Harbor, and very high praise for the Chaplain for all he has done for the men.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Mother
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-08-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the number of men that were killed and wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge August 5th, lost of his "boy Jack" [does he refer to a Black man in his service or to a child?], the loss of Col. Roberts, the unpopularity of the current officer Col. Faillam, the men's request that Holbrook replace Faillam, Holbrook’s desire to go into a regiment located in Virginia, Gen. Phelps and his opinions on the slave question, Gen. Butler's compliments to the regiment for its brave conduct in the Baton Rouge battle, sending home of the Secessionist's flag retrieved from Fort Pike, desire for newspapers from Vt.
![Thumbnail: [Frederick Holbrook] to [F. F. Holbrook]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmphelps33_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Frederick Holbrook] to [F. F. Holbrook]
Creator: Holbrook, Frederick
Date: 1862-10-7
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a summary of Frederick Holbrook's requests for General Phelps to go to Washington to discuss the 7th Vermont Regiment. Reference to Senator Foote is probably Solomon Foot, senator from Vermont (1851-1866).
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