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.
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Creator(s)
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [12]
- Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902 [11]
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [11]
- Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863 [8]
- Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864 [8]
- Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903 [4]
- Wilder, Henry Harrison [4]
- Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862 [3]
- Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837 [3]
- Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905 [3]
- Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915 [2]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [2]
- Quimby, George W. [2]
- Stone, John M., 1835-1915 [2]
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [2]
- Whitmore, Orange S., 1836-1908 [2]
- Bruce, Horatio P., [1]
- Fullam, Volney S. [1]
- Marshall, Ira A., d. 1893 [1]
- Quimby, George W., 1835-1862 [1]
- Smith, Henry A., d. 1864 [1]
- Stannard, George J., 1820-1886 [1]
Recipient(s)
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [13]
- Rutherford, Hannah [10]
- Spafford, Mary Jane [9]
- Farnham, Mary [4]
- , [3]
- Henry, William Wirt [3]
- Towle, Sebra [3]
- Gale,Charles T., 1845-1862 [2]
- Gale,Jonas, 1800-1874 [2]
- Holbrook, Frederick [2]
- Towle, Rufus [2]
- Veazey, Julia A., [2]
- Bancroft,Clarissa E., 1843-1864 [1]
- Bancroft,Smiley, 1808-1874 [1]
- Bancroft,Smiley, 1808-1874; Bancroft [1]
- Barney, Maria [1]
- Butler, B. F. [1]
- Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892 [1]
- Henry, Mary Jane, [1]
- Henry, William Wirt, [1]
- Henry, Mary Jane [1]
- Henry, William Wirt, [1]
- Masta, Emeline B. [1]
- Spafford, Mary Jane, [1]
- White, Homer [1]
- Williams, Caroline [1]
- Williams,Lois L. [1]
- Williams,Warren [1]
- [Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876] [1]
Place(s)
- Military campsVirginia [21]
- Military camps -- Virginia [15]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [10]
- Military camps -- Maryland [6]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [5]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [4]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [4]
- Chicago (Ill.) [3]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Medical care [3]
- Fort Monroe (Va.) [2]
- Military camps -- Vermont [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons [2]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Casualties [2]
- VermontHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- Camp Douglas (Ill.) [1]
- Culpeper County (Va.) [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military reconnaissance [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Social aspects [1]
- Winchester (Va.) [1]
Format(s)
- text [85]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [85]
Topic(s)
- Diseases [85]
- United StatesArmy Military life [35]
- Armed Forces Officers [15]
- War casualties [15]
- Families of military personnel [11]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [7]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [7]
- Food [6]
- Medicine, Military [6]
- Military hospitals [6]
- Battle casualties [5]
- Military leaves and furloughs [5]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 1st (1861) [5]
- Drill and minor tactics [4]
- Picketing [4]
- Postal service [4]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [3]
- African Americans [2]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [2]
- Farnham, Roswell1827-1903 [2]
- Intrenchments [2]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [2]
- Military chaplains [2]
- Military pay [2]
- Pillage [2]
- Promotions, Military [2]
- Richmond (Va.) [2]
- Skirmishing [2]
- Slaves [2]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [2]
- Sutlers [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865)Company F [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 6th (1861-1864) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866) [2]
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [2]
- Vicksburg (Miss.) [2]
- African American soldiers [1]
- Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant)1818-1893 [1]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Desertion, Military [1]
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Fort Henry, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 [1]
- Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862 [1]
- Fugitive slaves [1]
- Grief [1]
- Hancock, Winfield Scott1824-1886 [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Marching [1]
- Military deserters [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Military discipline [1]
- Newspapers [1]
- Patriotism [1]
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862 [1]
- Prisoner-of-war camps [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Religion [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- Soldiers Suicidal behavior [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866).Company C [1]
- Women in war [1]
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Topic: ("Diseases")
Title: Charles Dillingham to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837
Date: 1861-08-07
Resource type: correspondence
August 7, 1861 from Clermont, Virginia. Writes Vermont 3rd located at the Chain Bridge Georgetown Heights, picket duty, illness among the men, sudden death of soldiers from sore throat.
Title: Charles Dillingham to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837
Date: 1861-11-?
Resource type: correspondence
Writes of Brigade drill under General Smith, picket duty, prospect of detachment from brigade to go south, much illness among the men including a case of small pox, upcoming promotion of Lt. Crossman, cold weather, upcoming grand review by General McClellan.
Title: Charles Dillingham to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837
Date: 1861-08-26
Resource type: correspondence
August 26, 1861 from Great Falls Maryland. Writes of furloughs and discharges not being granted without good cause, illness among the men including measles, duty guarding the river, good fishing, having acquired a horse, quarters in an old hotel with creature comforts.
Title: Charles F. Bancroft to Clarissa Bancroft
Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-01-11
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the illness of Ephraim D. Dutton and the treatment he is getting from Bancroft, who is watching over Dutton. Bancroft thinks he'll recover when taken to a hospital. Fever, dysentery, lung ailments are compounded by homesickness, according to Bancroft. B. asks for sausage, cayenne pepper, and brandy from home. Mentions daguerreotype of "that little schoolmarm" and the problem of blue eyes. Final request: burn this letter after you read it! "Chain Bridge" refers to a site near Washington, D.C.
Title: Charles F. Bancroft to Family
Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862
Date: 1861-11-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the number of men who have either died or are sick in the regiment, the success at Port Royal, and the arrest of the Confederate Ministers to Europe, Mason and Slidell.
Title: Charles F. Bancroft to Parents
Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-02-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include reminiscences of church meetings in Vt., stimulated by his attendance of them at camp; how much he enjoys the supplies (footwear, clothing, food, brandy) from home; some medical treatment that was improved with brandy; his appreciation of family and home; a few words about postal delivery; and a map of the South he plans to give to his father. -- Because of winter, the war has slackened off a bit. Lincoln is still trying to force McClellan to act.
Title: George J. Stannard to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Stannard, George J., 1820-1886
Date: 1862-01-07
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include inquiring after William Henry's health, the sickness in the regiment, and a brief description of drills and picket duty and makes mention of not being promoted, states Capt Dillingham to be promoted.
Title: George W. Quimby to Emeline B. Masta
Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-01-20
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the terrible weather at Camp Griffin, Va. and the numerous deaths from sicknesses such as Typhoid Fever. "Smith's Division" refers to the Vt. 5th Infantry Regiment under the command of Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith.
Title: George W. Quimby to Sister
Creator: Quimby, George W.
Date: 1861-11-05
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include family matters where George gives legal advice to his sister Emeline in regards to settling her estate after the death of her husband, of illness among the men particularly measles, of finally getting all their military clothing.
Title: George W. Quimby to Sister
Creator: Quimby, George W.
Date: 1861-11-30
Resource type: correspondence
Writes to sister Emeline B. Masta from Camp Griffin, Va of a description of a Grand Review by Gen. McClellan and staff with Pres. Abraham Lincoln in attendance, marching to Bailey's Cross Roads, expedition to Fairfax Court House for grain, receipt of quilt and pillow, death of two men from disease, reference to Thanksgiving Day
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-10-04
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include encamping near Alexandria, an update on the health of Lant Blake and Gene, his unable to mail a gun home for his younger siblings, the large loss of the rebels at Orange Court House, a request for boots and gloves from home and a comment that army issue are not worth what the soldiers have to pay for them.
Title: Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-10-22
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes of having his military pay make interest, of a fight that had taken place and General Johnston was taken prisoner, of his health being better, of a soldier's discharge due to fever sore on his leg, of a woman named Marion and of a lot of letter writing being done by the soldiers.
Title: Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-11-11
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes a solemn letter about the death from consumption of his tent mate, Adams Potter of Cornwall, of his plans to write to friends and family.
Title: Henry Harrison Wilder to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-?-29
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes from Camp Griffin, Va. of being in good health, of having gained ten pounds, of sleeping well, of having a comfortable bed and coverings, of the burial service of two men held by the Chaplain and of Fenton ill with the measles.
Title: Horatio P. Bruce to Smiley Bancroft
Creator: Bruce, Horatio P.,
Date: 1862-06-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the death of Charles Bancroft from typhoid fever, the sickness of other men in the company, and that the fall of Richmond will bring the war to an end. Like many other writers, he refers to McClellan's reluctance to deploy his massive army.
Title: Ira A. Marshall to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Marshall, Ira A., d. 1893
Date: 1862-06-08
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include camping at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on the James River, makes reference to regiments and companies losing men, the names of men wounded and their injuries in Company D, makes reference to a battle (maybe Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks]??), several officers resigning, the high cost of food, and the slight sickness of Ira Marshall.
Title: John M. Stone to Family
Creator: Stone, John M., 1835-1915
Date: 1861-11-30
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a number of deaths in the regiment from sickness.
Title: John M. Stone to Family
Creator: Stone, John M., 1835-1915
Date: 1861-12-[09]
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the health of the regiment and numerous deaths.
Title: Joseph Rutherford to Daughter
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-11-23
Resource type: correspondence
Rutherford writes from his Maryland camp to his daughter, Helen, of military life, about the fact that there is no day of worship in the military, food preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, description of the dress parade, Typhoid fever in the camp, and the proper care that the Vermont regiment is receiving from their surgeons.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford06_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-09-28
Resource type: correspondence
Rutherford writes of the illness of the his assistant surgeon, Dr. Clarke, of his own excellent health, and all he is enjoying at camp including a hive of bees. He writes of fresh meat, fowl and fruit available to eat, of a companion dog and of his horse he admires so much. He speaks of the difference in military medical care of the soldiers and notes how the care results in more or fewer sick soldiers and of deaths.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford03_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-08-31
Resource type: correspondence
Dr. Rutherford writes from Camp Washburn about his improved health from the dysentery from which he has suffered, medicine he took, his heavy responsibilities caring for sick soldiers, and anticipation of leaving for Virginia on Friday. He writes of missing home.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford09_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-11-05
Resource type: correspondence
Dr. Rutherford writes of a battle near Leesburgh some 14 miles from the camp near Seneca Creek (Maryland?) the outcome of which is not known, of the filthy condition of some of the soldiers, of an epidemic of Typhoid fever with the loss of over a dozen men to the illness. He writes of his winter living accommodations of which he is very happy and mentions "Mose the Moor", the runaway black slave boy who tends to him. Also writes of a review from the Brigadier General, and the health of Rutherford’s family.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford01_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-08-27
Resource type: correspondence
The surgeon writes from Camp Washburn about being infected with dysentery, the regiment being mustered on Thursday, and a visit from the Governor and the Governor's son.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford07_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-10-07
Resource type: correspondence
Rutherford writes to his wife, Hannah, about life in camp along the Potomac River. Many soldiers have fevers, his assistant surgeon is ill but he continues to keep up with all the work needing to be done. He writes of a 17 year old male runaway slave named Moses, who takes care of him and his horse, Lady Lightfoot and complains of how slow the mail is.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford14_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-12-06
Resource type: correspondence
Rutherford writes a description of Thanksgiving dinner in camp prepared with the help of the officers' wives, a reference to John Piper his "orderly", of soldiers plans to steal a gun from a neighboring farmer in order to get some turkeys and chickens for the holiday meal, of their arrest, the unpleasant weather, of Rutherford being jaundice and of his black boy Moses being sick and likely to die.
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