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)
- Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863 [17]
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [12]
- Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902 [2]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [1]
- Merriam, John W., d. 1863 [1]
Recipient(s)
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [12]
- Gale,Charles T., 1845-1862 [4]
- Gale,Jonas, 1800-1874 [4]
- Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892 [4]
- , [2]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876 [2]
- Rutherford, Hannah [2]
- Gale,Abigail Albee, 1801-1869 [1]
- [Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892] [1]
Place(s)
- Military camps -- Louisiana [5]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [5]
- Military camps -- Virginia [4]
- Military camps -- Vermont [3]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons [3]
- Chicago (Ill.) [2]
- Fort Jackson (La.) [2]
- Military camps -- Maryland [2]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- Fort Saint Philip (La.) [1]
Format(s)
- text [33]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [33]
Topic(s)
- Food [33]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [14]
- United StatesArmy Military life [10]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [9]
- Prisoners of war [8]
- Pillage [3]
- Postal service [3]
- Religion [3]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [3]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [2]
- Drill and minor tactics [2]
- Homesickness [2]
- Morale [2]
- Slaves [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865) [2]
- African American soldiers [1]
- Battle casualties [1]
- Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant)1818-1893 [1]
- Children and war [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Desertion, Military [1]
- Fort Henry, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 [1]
- Friendly fire (Military science) [1]
- Fugitive slaves [1]
- Hardtack [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Marching [1]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [1]
- Military deserters [1]
- Military pay [1]
- Photographers [1]
- Photographs [1]
- Prisoner-of-war camps [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Richmond (Va.) [1]
- Skirmishing [1]
- Soldiers Suicidal behavior [1]
- Sutlers [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865).Company B [1]
- Vicksburg (Miss.) [1]
- War Psychological aspects [1]
- War casualties [1]
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Topic: ("Food")
Title: John W. Merriam to Friend Samantha
Creator: Merriam, John W., d. 1863
Date: 1862-09-04
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Algiers, La. topics include the false report of Justus's death and an attack by 1500 Rebels on a train leaving Desallemands and heading for Algiers that left 30 to 40 soldiers wounded or killed.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford29_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1863-04-10
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the progress being made on the house, military pay slow in being received, the children's bad reactions to a vaccination with suggestion for treatment, follow up visits to Mr. Trundle with his erysipelas, a big dinner in camp with the officers including Col. Jewett, the men practice shooting a new rifle received in camp with targets being cattle grazing across the river owned by the Secessionists and a flock to ducks.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford19_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1863-01-02
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp at White's Ford (over the Potomac River) two letters dated Jan 2 and Jan 6 include topics of a description of the night of the expected fight, of having enough food to eat that he is gaining weight, of the camp's glee club singing, of being homesick and wanting a leave but may be on the eve of "some great event", a description of the camp ground, promotions within the camp including himself as Acting Surgeon and the possibility of a brigade hospital being created with himself most likely being put in charge of it.
Title: Justus E. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-03-28
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters one dated March 28th and one April 6th.Topics include a description of the journey to Ship Island, Mississippi, being seasick, about the food and hard bread, poor quality water and little of it, writes of his faith in God and his sighting of the island.
Title: Justus E. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-12-13
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the health of Justus Gale, the mistaken attack (friendly fire) by the Indiana regiment, the process of making sugar done by the slaves, and the daily drilling in camp.
Title: Justus E. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-29
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, of city purchases by Justus Gale of barrels of apples which he resold by the piece, of buying tobacco, postage stamps, writing supplies, local terms for cash money, of commanding officers of 3rd Louisiana colored regiment and the dry weather.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Brother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-01-24
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters in one dated Jan 24th and Jan 26th. Topics include the expectation that the war will end in a couple of months, waiting for military pay, anxious to hear from home, Sergeant U. A. Woodbury drilling the company, the stormy weather at camp, the bad food being served except for good bread from a local bakery, the good health of Gale and of him sending a picture in this letter.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Brother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-02-07
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Brattleboro, Vermont, topics include news of bombardment of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (February 6, 1862) by Commodore Andrew Hull Foote (officer of the U.S. Navy) and General Ulysses S. Grant, a skirmish that resulted in finding a barrel of rum, food sometimes good but not the hash made in camp and the vaccination of the company for pox.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Brother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-04-24
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters dated April 24th and 25th. Topics include the capture of Fort Jackson(?) ; fort south of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, [battle April 18-28], the food at camp good except greasy pork meat, and the schedule for the day including battalion drills and dress parade.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Brother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-05-25
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the process of choosing new officers and police in New Orleans, Gen. Butler's orders to the N.O. police being refused, illness among some of the soldiers, fruit berries available, other provisions few and expensive, summary of all the letters that have been received by Justus Gale, and how welcome the Vermont regiment is in New Orleans.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-06-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the good living conditions in New Orleans, the Indiana regiment taking meat from the rebels, been on cooking duty, good meals, fresh beef, waiting for military pay and the possibility of leaving soon.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-06-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the living conditions and food in New Orleans, continues with cooking duty, the good weather, soldiers bringing back to camp chickens, eggs, an account of the poor treatment of slaves, two slave boys being rescued from ill treatment from their masters, and the observance of Sabbath in camp, wishing to know more news of the war than he can get in the South.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Mother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-04-06
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters dated April 4th and 6th. Writing after arriving at Ship Island, Mississippi topics include observing the Sabbath,his devotion for the Bible, arriving on shore, digging and finding plenty of fresh water, being treated with food from the Mass. 30th, thinking war may be over before he gets a chance to fight and the expectation of capturing New Orleans.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-05-15
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include leaving Ship Island, being towed back up the Mississippi River to camp in New Orleans, the poor conditions of Fort Jackson and Philips, traveling into the city, the positive attitude of the natives of New Orleans toward Gale and companion now that it is occupied by the Union, General Butler redistributing provisions to the poor of the city that were captured from the rebels
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-06-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the movement of the company from Algiers to Lafourche, a description of the living situation at Algiers, the good food at camp including fresh fruit berries, water quality not good.
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: 1862-04-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the improvement in Justus Gale's health, the cost of food items in camp, the death of three men in the regiment, the attempted suicide of a man in Company F, mentions "sugar place" back home in Elmore and writes about the lack of information in camp about the rest of the Union Army.
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: Justus F. Gale to Sister Almeda
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-08-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include guard duty, being able to pick some sweet potatoes, having fresh fruit melons, a trip into the city, a description of a plantation, mentions how much work it is for owners to look after their slaves, states care must be taken of their dress suits and boots in spite of whatever their living conditions may be and the improved health of some of the men in the regiment.
![Thumbnail: Justus F. Gale to [Family]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwvhsGaleJustus08_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Justus F. Gale to [Family]
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-02-19
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Brattleboro topics include drilling, a few companies being sworn into the United States service, Justus Gale’s health improving from a brief cold, mentions "rag" hash soup, boiled beef & potatoes, news of family members and the snow at camp.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-08-05
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Siegel topics include the mail from home being delivered after being misdirected, comments on family, digging in the ground creating storage spaces for items such as butter and milk, having fresh berries to eat, clearing up rumors revolving around the regiment, sun stroke suffered by one soldier due to the heat, cost of food.
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: 1862-10-01
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Chicago topics include the journey to an area 2 miles from Chicago, a description of the living quarters that include a good dinner, fixing up the sheds they are living in which are on the fairgrounds (the site of a Sanitary Fair to benefit soldier relief funds, Oct. 27, 1863), the morale of the men, food of pork, bread, beef, talk of being relocated to Minnesota, and the disparate need for money.
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: 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.
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