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)
- Smith, Henry A., d. 1864 [6]
- Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863 [5]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [4]
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [3]
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [2]
- Bruidnell, William, b. 1842; Morey [1]
- Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915 [1]
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [1]
- Thurston, Quincy F., d. 1862 [1]
Recipient(s)
- , [7]
- Holbrook, Frederick [3]
- Veazey, Julia A., [3]
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [2]
- Henry, William Wirt, [2]
- Gale,Abigail Albee [1]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876 [1]
- Gale,Jonas, 1800-1874 [1]
- Henry, Mary Jane, [1]
- Spafford, Mary Jane, [1]
Place(s)
- Vicksburg (Miss.) [3]
- Military camps -- Virginia [2]
- Military campsMaryland [2]
- Military campsVirginia [2]
- Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862 [1]
- Culpeper County (Va.) [1]
- Fort Pike (La.) [1]
- Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) [1]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [1]
- Military camps -- Mississippi [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Flags [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Participation, Juvenile [1]
Format(s)
- text [24]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [24]
Topic(s)
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [24]
- Armed Forces Officers [7]
- Battle casualties [7]
- Skirmishing [7]
- Prisoners of war [6]
- Horses [2]
- Marching [2]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [2]
- Postal service [2]
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [2]
- Armies Medical and sanitary affairs [1]
- Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant)1818-1893 [1]
- Children and war [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Executions and executioners [1]
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Homesickness [1]
- Military deserters [1]
- Military discipline [1]
- Military hospitals [1]
- Morale [1]
- Photographers [1]
- Picketing [1]
- Pillage [1]
- Religion [1]
- Richmond (Va.) [1]
- Steamboats [1]
- Sutlers [1]
- United StatesArmy Flags [1]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [1]
- Vicksburg (Miss.) [1]
- Winchester, 1st Battle of, Winchester, Va., 1862 (May 25) [1]
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Topic: ("Confederate States of AmericaArmy")
Topic: ("Confederate States of AmericaArmy")
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-09-24
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Henry Smith losing his horse, camp punishment of John H. Willard for disobeying an order, and the numerous men who were wounded and killed.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-08-14
Resource type: correspondence
Six miles south of Culpeper (Virginia) two letters included dated Aug 15 and Aug 15. Topics include an exchange of fire near the Orange Court House, the numerous rebel deaths, injuries, and prisoners, and another terrible battle at Culpeper with references to Jackson, Banks and John Pope.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-03-30
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the journey from Annapolis to Harpers Ferry, Henry Smith's good health, liking the hand made shirt he received from home very much, keeps his brandy with him, burning of the post office by the Confederates, requests more postage stamps.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-05-27
Resource type: correspondence
From Williams Post, Maryland Smith writes 2 letters one dated May 27 and one May 28. (First Battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862). Topics include a terrible battle in and near Winchester in which he escaped injury, of many men from the regiment being lost but many returning to camp the next day, rebels suffering great losses, mentions General Shields, General Fremont and General Banks, cautions given to his siblings at home regarding being in and near the water.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-06-07
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the defeat and retreat of the regiment to Williamsport (Battle of Harrisonburg?? June 6), telling of southern woman firing upon union soldiers, of the shooting death of a drummer boy by a southern woman, description of a rebel regiment's clothing recognized as the Louisiana Tigers, transporting the sick and wounded by wagon to hospitals, a summary of the men who were lost or wounded.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-07-05
Resource type: correspondence
From Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River topics include news from Richmond, rumor that Stonewall Jackson was killed, having enough to eat including local peaches & cherries found in Virginia, horses well fed, men on picket duty, newspaper report that General McClellan taken prisoner along with 40,000 of his men, and Henry Smith's homesickness.
Title: Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866
Date: 1862-12-30
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the whole brigade on picket duty on Bull Run, a catholic church having been emptied of its pews so as to used for a hospital, a brief encounter with Rebel soldiers, Spafford's anger with the Rebels being able to infiltrate the Union troops, the captured rebel prisoner stated aim was to take Sutler's supplies, acceptance of officers' resignations and the potential promotion of George Clark to Captain.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-07
Resource type: correspondence
Gale writes of his regiment and the rebels, of other troops encountering the enemy who left much camp supplies, cannon, etc. behind, receiving the Green Mountain Freeman, trying to appease both parents concerning the farm and deeding it back to his father, his concerns about his father having another woman in his life and how that affects him, and the expectation that the regiment will return to Algiers.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Mother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-08-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a few deaths in the regiment, a description of the Battle at Baton Rouge (August 5, 1862) , and the resignation and promotions within the regiment.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the poor health of Justus Gale’s sister, having plenty to eat and confiscating anything while in the field including livestock from the rebels, receiving a box from home that was greatly appreciated though disappointed none of Mother's cheese, the expectation of returning to Algiers, and some family affairs including what to do with Charlie's clothes since his death, mentions still needing to get a photographer and have his photo taken, and the possibility of renting the farm.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the being saddened by the ill health of his family in Elmore, enjoying good health himself, troops living in an apparently abandoned house in Bayou Boeuf, La., the parole of the prisoners who are still alive (not clear but these may be Union soldiers taken prisoners as some were shot for running from their army and joining a Union regiment), the movement of the army on the Potomac and still unable to get a photograph of himself taken.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-07-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the good health of Justus Gale, the food available at Algiers including confiscated beef from the locals, standing guard for 12 hour shifts, killing alligators, writes of some of his comrades, the sickness of Sargent 2nd Class.Chas. C. Martin with inflammation of the bowels, the capture of Richmond and Vicksburg, mentions Confederate Gen. G. T. Beauregard, receiving a copy of the Green Mountain Freeman and refers to his religious faith.
Title: Quincy F. Thurston to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Thurston, Quincy F., d. 1862
Date: 1862-06-07
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include an account of the battle near Richmond (maybe the Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), makes mention of marching, the evacuation of Yorktown, the battle of Williamsburgh, a stay at the White House and advance to the Chickahominy River.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-08-28
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the capturing of some Rebels at Newtown who stated Rebels do not go hungry as long a Union troops are around from which to steal food, issues with the postal mail service, the difficulty of getting rest in camp, and the sickness of the regiment.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-09-22
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Parole topics include a hard march to the camp near Annapolis, being paroled and possibly being sent out West to fight the Indians or sent to home state and a detailed description of an engagement at Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) that included heavy fire, skirmishing Rebels, Union soldiers abandoning their posts, troops falling back, white flag raised by the Union soldiers, men discarding their revolvers and swords, mingling of the Confederates with the Union men as comrades in arms.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-04-06
Resource type: correspondence
Writing in the field topics include moving from Yorktown to James River, the rebels withdrawing from Youngs Mills, and a description of General Smith.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-04-09
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Union Mills, Va. topics include a description of the fast day with sports being played, a prediction that the next campaign will end the war, and a description of the rebel army.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-04-17
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Winfield Scott topics include Motts battery engaging the rebels, an account of Wheelock Veazey’s regiment driving the rebels back, references to several officers and their men and the losses during the skirmishes.
Title: William Bruidnell and Samuel Morey to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Bruidnell, William, b. 1842; Morey
Date: 1862-07-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a description of the Battle of Mechanicsville (June 26-27, 1862), part of the Seven Days campaign near Richmond.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-07-01
Resource type: correspondence
Writing to his father, Gov. Holbrook, from the steamer, Morning Sight near Vicksburg topics include asking if he can have a battery to command, mentions Fort Pike, the desire to join the artillery service, the hope to be given captaincy, and the slow bombardments by the rebels but there was an attack by 3000 Confederates thinking to board the Union mortar boats only to be beaten back when fired upon.
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: 1862-07-23
Resource type: correspondence
Writing to his father, Gov. Holbrook, topics include the need for medical aid because of the numerous men who are sick due to lack of sanitation, unhealthy environment (mentions miasma, vapor from swamp believed to cause disease) and lack of medicine because of some blunder, speaks of doctors doing what they can with what little they have to do with and praise for Dr. Blanchard; the rebel batteries firing upon a boat, and Adj. Parker going home on sick leave.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Mother
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-07-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a Rebel “Ram” passing the Union fleet and stopping at Vicksburg, the continued bombardment, and the sickness in the regiment and the request for more medical personnel (i.e. surgeon).
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-02-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a travel route planned to return home via Annapolis, Brattleboro and maybe even Burlington, the capture of 18 Rebel prisoners near Fairfax, and the hope of one of the wounded prisoners, a Virginian, to retake the oath to become a citizen of the United States again, reference to a Flag of Truce to send a letter to the Confederate Army, his side business doing poorly as the men have expected orders to move and the Sutlers not buying for the same reason.
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