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)
Recipient(s)
- Veazey, Julia A. [20]
- Veazey, Julia A., [3]
- Beard, Albin [2]
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [1]
Place(s)
- VermontHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [20]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [16]
- Military campsVirginia [12]
- SecessionSouthern States [2]
- Military campsWashington (D.C.) [1]
Format(s)
- text [25]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [25]
Topic(s)
- Morale [25]
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [23]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [21]
- Armed Forces Officers [7]
- Drill and minor tactics [6]
- War Economic aspects [2]
- Women in war [2]
- African Americans [1]
- Battle casualties [1]
- Bounties, Military [1]
- Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861 [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Families of military personnel [1]
- Intrenchments [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Marching [1]
- Military leaves and furloughs [1]
- Postal service [1]
- Slavery [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1861-1865) [1]
- War Psychological aspects [1]
- War casualties [1]
- War victims [1]
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Browsing by:
Author: ("Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898")
Topic: ("Morale")
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861-10-06]
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the cleanliness of the camp and the arrival of Wheelock G. Veazey’s horse.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Albin Beard, Albin Beard to Wheelock G. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898; Beard, Albin
Date: [1861]-09-08
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the assignment of Wheelock G. Veazey’s regiment to the post of honor within their division of the army.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-08-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the cold weather in camp and one of the corporals cutting off his thumb.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-08-17
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the sacrifice made by all the soldiers, the Vermont 2nd Regiment at Bull Run, and the fight but up by the Zouaves and the New York 69th Regiment.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-08-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include plans to capture a company in Virginia, the danger the Capitol is in according to General Smith, and the preventative steps being taken to protect it.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-08-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the safe return of the company from an expedition.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-08-25
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey being in command of the Regiment for about a week, scouting Virginia, and General Smith making recommendations for Lt. Col. Hyde to be promoted to Col. and Wheelock G. Veazey to be promoted to Lt. Col.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-07-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a description of a riot Wheelock G. Veazey was in charge of dissipating because of the absence of Colonel Hyde.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-09-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey’s position as field officer of the day, the lack of sleep the soldiers are experiencing, and the ease with which the Rebels could attack the Regiment.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-09-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include an attack made on the Californians and a counterattack, as well as Wheelock G. Veazey’s personal opinion on the difference between killing a rebel and murder.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-10-20
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the toll the war is taking on the wives, mothers, and sisters of soldiers, the lack of awareness by Northerners, and a discussion of Gen. McClellan.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-09-01
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Butler’s victory and an overview of all the promotions in the Regiment.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-09-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include advancements made by the Regiment although they have not seen any action yet.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-11-17
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the predicted end of secessionism and the anticipation of a “magnificent” battle.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-07-13
Resource type: correspondence
Still at Harrison's Landing and writing to Julia now in Boston topics include improved health of the men, the resignation of Major Seaver and Major Proctor, and Wheelock Veazey saying when he leaves the army he will not yet be fit for business, laments that if he does not get a regiment he will resign from service, is distraught about the politicians, corruption of the army, and gives a brief mention of women with the army.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-07-26
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp near Harrison's Landing Veazey expresses his opinions about the high cost of fruit and vegetables, government controlled transportation and difficulty of getting around, the poor health of Veazey’s father-in-law, and his poor impression of President Lincoln of being an "Old Betty." On the bright side, his camp and men are clean and doing well.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-08-12
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp near Harrison's Landing, Veazey laments of life as a soldier, being tired of war, of feeling soldiers will not be fit for civilian life, of the waters of Saratoga will benefit his father-in-law's health, of high cost of living.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-11-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the disappointment about the week passing without an attack and on a personal note Wheelock G. Veazey’s feelings of jealousy concerning his wife.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-11-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a package that arrived from home, a new General who served in Florida through the Mexican War, and Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-12-01
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a brief description of the Thanksgiving celebrations and a description of a trip to Washington.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-12-04
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-12-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-12-15
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey’s dismay that some people from home believe the pay soldiers receive should be decreased.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-12-[23]
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Captain Atherton recruiting for the 4th Vermont Regiment and General Phelps making a “fool” out of himself.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-01-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include military matters (court martial, foraging, picket duty) and disgust with the Congress, administration, government and fears the nation's downfall.
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