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)
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [33]
- Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903 [28]
- Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864 [19]
- Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863 [18]
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [17]
- Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902 [13]
- Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915 [11]
- Smith, Henry A., d. 1864 [10]
- Wilder, Henry Harrison [10]
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [9]
- Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862 [6]
- Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913 [4]
- Parmenter, Benjamin F., 1832-1896 [4]
- Quimby, George W. [4]
- Stone, Edward P., 1830-1920 [4]
- Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905 [4]
- Dillingham, Charles, b. 1837 [3]
- Heaton, Solomon G. [3]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [2]
- Spafford, John, b. 1810; Spafford [2]
- Stone, John M., 1835-1915 [2]
- Barton, Hiram H., 1836-1903 [1]
- Bruidnell, William, b. 1842; Finnegan [1]
- Farnham, Mary E. [1]
- Holbrook, Frederick [1]
- Johnson, E. T. [1]
- Leffnis, N. S. [1]
- Marshall, Ira A., d. 1893 [1]
- Murphy, Edward [1]
- Stannard, George J., 1820-1886 [1]
- Terry, Henry L., 1820-1885 [1]
- Thurston, Quincy F., d. 1862 [1]
- Williams, Francis C. [1]
Recipient(s)
- Farnham, Mary [23]
- Spafford, Mary Jane [19]
- Barney, Maria [13]
- Rutherford, Hannah [11]
- Spafford, Mary Jane, [10]
- , [7]
- Henry, Mary Jane, [7]
- Towle, Sebra [7]
- Veazey, Julia A. [6]
- Gale,Charles T., 1845-1862 [5]
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [4]
- Henry, William Wirt, [4]
- Towle, Rufus [4]
- Gale,Jonas, 1800-1874 [3]
- Henry, William Wirt [3]
- Veazey, Julia A., [3]
- Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903 [2]
- Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892 [2]
- Henry, John [2]
- Holbrook, Frederick [2]
- Spafford, John, b. 1810; Spafford [2]
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [2]
- Williams, Lois L. [2]
- [Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876] [2]
- 1862-01-25, [1]
- Bancroft, Smiley [1]
- Bancroft,Mary, 1809-1878 [1]
- Barton, Melissa [1]
- Campbell, John W. [1]
- Gale,Abigail Albee, 1801-1869 [1]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876 [1]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876; Gale [1]
- Harding, C. H. [1]
- Henry, John, [1]
- Henry, Mary Jane [1]
- Henry, William Wirt, [1]
- Rutherford, Jacob [1]
- Smith,Clarissa, d. 1891 [1]
- Spafford, Marianne, [1]
- Stone, John F. [1]
- White, Homer, [1]
- Williams, Caroline [1]
- Williams, Warren [1]
Place(s)
- Military campsVirginia [55]
- Military camps -- Virginia [42]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [26]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [25]
- VermontHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [21]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [17]
- Military camps -- Vermont [14]
- Military camps -- Maryland [10]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [5]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects [5]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [4]
- Military camps -- Washington (D.C.) [3]
- Military campsMaryland [3]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Casualties [3]
- Fort Jackson (La.) [2]
- Fort Saint Philip (La.) [2]
- Military campsVermont [2]
- Military campsWashington (D.C.) [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Destruction and pillage [2]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Military reconnaissance [2]
- Camp Douglas (Ill.) [1]
- Fort Monroe (Va.) [1]
- Military campsLouisiana [1]
- Roanoke Island (N.C.)HistoryCapture, 1862 [1]
- SecessionSouthern States [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- African Americans [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Women [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Destruction and pillage [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Medical care [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Participation, Juvenile [1]
Format(s)
- text [216]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [216]
Topic(s)
- United StatesArmy Military life [216]
- Diseases [35]
- Farnham, Roswell1827-1903 [29]
- Armed Forces Officers [28]
- Families of military personnel [26]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [11]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 4th (1861-1865) [11]
- Food [10]
- War casualties [10]
- Postal service [9]
- Marching [8]
- Prisoners of war [8]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [8]
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [8]
- Homesickness [7]
- Military discipline [6]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [6]
- Horses [5]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [5]
- Military chaplains [5]
- Military leaves and furloughs [5]
- Recruiting and enlistment [5]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [5]
- Sutlers [5]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Brigade, 1st (1861-1865) [5]
- Women in war [5]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [4]
- Slaves [4]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [4]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1861-1865) [4]
- African Americans [3]
- Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861 [3]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [3]
- Fugitive slaves [3]
- Medicine, Military [3]
- Military funerals [3]
- Pillage [3]
- Religion [3]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 16th (1862-1863) [3]
- Burnside, Ambrose Everett1824-1881 [2]
- Children and war [2]
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862 [2]
- Fort Henry, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 [2]
- Hardtack [2]
- Intrenchments [2]
- Love-letters [2]
- Military hospitals [2]
- Military pay [2]
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862 [2]
- Promotions, Military [2]
- Skirmishing [2]
- Slavery [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 15th (1862-1863) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 1st (1861) [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, 9th (1862-1865) [2]
- African American soldiers [1]
- Amputation [1]
- Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss1816-1894 [1]
- Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861 [1]
- Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Capitulations, Military [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Desertion, Military [1]
- Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862 [1]
- Grief [1]
- Military deserters [1]
- Monitor (Ironclad) [1]
- Musicians [1]
- Photographers [1]
- Photographs [1]
- Pope, John1822-1892 [1]
- Richmond (Va.) [1]
- Soldiers Suicidal behavior [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 14th (1862-1863) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865).Company B [1]
- War Economic aspects [1]
- War Psychological aspects [1]
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Browsing by:
Genre: ("correspondence")
Topic: ("United StatesArmy Military life")
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]-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: 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: 1862-05-14
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from the field 26 miles from Richmond, Virginia topics include a description of camp at Cumberland Landing on the Pamunkey River (tributary of the York River in eastern Virginia), the White House Farm estate, restrictions of the soldiers to respect and not touch anything belonging to the house or grounds, the expectation of a battle at the Chickahominy Swamp, reference to Gen. McClellan and his divisions, praise from confederates prisoners of the excellence of the Vermont 3rd and the hope for a victory near Richmond.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-06-01
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp near Cold Harbor, Virginia topics include the one year anniversary of the Veazey’s marriage to Julia, the defeat of the rebels on numerous fronts, his opinion and description of the horrors of war, fighting with the 5th Vermont Regiment, reference to General Porter, General McClellan.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-12-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey taking the role of Field Officer of the Day, an exchange of fire, and the appointment as Court Marshall.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-12-27
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the moving of tents into the woods around Christmas and the prediction that England will not become involved in the war.
Title: William Bruidnell and Francis Finnegan to William Wirt Henry
Creator: Bruidnell, William, b. 1842; Finnegan
Date: 1862-08-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a request for pay amounting to $116 and an update on the leaders of the Vermont Regiment.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Frederick Holbrook
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1861-10-28
Resource type: correspondence
Writing to his father in Montpelier, Vt topics include Holbrook's desire to be appointed aide to General Phelps staff rather than Gen. Brooks', mentions names of several officers, his suggestion to appoint only West Point men to the position of Colonel, his opinion about Frank making a good Major, praise for McClellan and celebrating Thanksgiving on the wrong day.
Title: William C. Holbrook to Mother
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1861-10-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the movement of the regiment from Camp Advance to Camp Griffin, an alarm caused by the Dutchmen mistaking a calf for the rebels, Union officers receive praise from Holbrook (McClellan) as does the unit he is in from officers Col Stoughton and Gen Smith and a description of the living situation at camp that include good food, sleeping on the ground and sending money back home.
Title: William Wirt Henry to John Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1861-10-08
Resource type: correspondence
October 8, 1861 from Camp Advance, Virginia near Chain Bridge. Writes of family business, men to camp for the winter a little south of Virginia, desire to be Quartermaster.
Title: William Wirt Henry to John Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1861-10-12
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Camp Griffin near Lewinsville about eating too many chestnuts that made him sick, of family business, of having had enough war and ready to go home.
Title: William Wirt Henry to John Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-09-11
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Chase, Va. topics include the death of Henry's sister Katie and the journey to Camp from Brattleboro, aboard the train to New Haven, on the steamer Continental to New York, on to Philadelphia and then to Baltimore and finally Washington, D.C. and on to his camp just beyond Fairfax, Va.under the command of Brig. Gen. Briggs of MA
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-02-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include William Henry missing his wife, having gained weight and health is good, of being glad he did not become the Captain of Company D, reference to a bill to disband the Bands, mentions his side business of selling to the men being pretty slim as he has "got them most all cured up", reference to the fall of Roanoke Island, North Carolina (February 7& 8, 1862) under the leadership of Ambrose Burnside, has sent money home,
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1861-10-08
Resource type: correspondence
October 8, 1861 from Camp Advance, Virginia. Writes of kindness from Col Stannard, wet weather, grand review of artillery by Genl. McClellan, illness among the men including homesickness and Typhoid Fever, family business.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-01-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the hardships of camp life, the sickness of Henry Daniels, wishing to be on his way home, selling the Elixir and liniment for twenty five dollars in two days.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-02-03
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the terrible muddy weather at Camp Griffin, Va. restricting moving about, not selling much Elixir due to the mud and restriction of movement, the living arrangements with Dr. Carpenter, how he spends his time in camp with visiting, going to the Sutlers, playing a card game Euchre with Col. Stannard, wishing to be home to play with his young daughter and sends money home to his wife.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-02-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Captain Johnson taking command of Company D, the illness of a few men, the possibility of Ned Wells returning home, Henry's side business not doing as well now as the men are out of money to spend, mud prevents drills so men study tactics and go on picket only once every five days.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-[09]-17
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include marching to the Maryland side of the Potomac River and a victory against the rebels.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-09-24
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the good health of the regiment, him having a good bay horse as he needs to ride 15 miles to visit all the pickets and the need for friends and family in a time of loss.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-09-28
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from his camp in the field topics include a brief account of William Henry's day that includes living quarters with Company B, morning hygiene, breakfast, riding his horse to visit a company and give a lecture picket duty, visiting another officer to discuss matters, a good dinner and ride back to his headquarters. Also inquiries about his family.
![Thumbnail: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmwilder02_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-09-22
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes from Camp Holbrooke in St. Albans of the 5th Vt Vol Regiment to his mother about rainy weather, acting as Corporal of the Guard, and receiving pay for his services and talks about how his pay should be handled.
![Thumbnail: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmwilder07_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-11-08
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes from Camp Griffin, Virginia of the difficulty of camp life, of Fenton being very ill and taken to Georgetown to the General Hospital.
![Thumbnail: [Roswell Farnham] to [Mary Farnham]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmfarnham96_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Roswell Farnham] to [Mary Farnham]
Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903
Date: 1862-11-28
Resource type: correspondence
Farnham writes from within his new house in Camp Vermont, near Alexandria Va., of three regiments moving to Fairfax Station, a description of the men’s quarters and mentions Mary's dental issues.
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