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., [36]
Place(s)
- Military campsVirginia [12]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns [3]
- Fort Monroe (Va.) [2]
- AbolitionistsUnited StatesHistory19th century [1]
- Military campsWashington (D.C.) [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Medical care [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Social aspects [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Women [1]
Format(s)
- text [36]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [36]
Topic(s)
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [30]
- Armed Forces Officers [14]
- Love-letters [14]
- Families of military personnel [12]
- Battle casualties [6]
- Homesickness [2]
- Marching [2]
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862 [2]
- Picketing [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865) [2]
- Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss1816-1894 [1]
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Hancock, Winfield Scott1824-1886 [1]
- Merrimack (Frigate) [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Military hospitals [1]
- Postal service [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Skirmishing [1]
- Slavery [1]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 16th (1862-1863) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [1]
- Women in war [1]
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Recipient: ("Veazey, Julia A., ")
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-06-07
Resource type: correspondence
Writing somewhere near Richmond, Virginia topics include expression of sadness over the death of Captain William Parker Ainsworth of Nashua (May 30, 1862), a description of the Battle of Richmond (Peninsular Campaign), his praise for General McClellan and the reporting of the favorable opinion of François-Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Marie d'Orléans, prince de Joinville of the Yankees.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-06-10
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include reporting of a few scrimmages, of Captain William Parker Ainsworth’s funeral and his honorable life, of desire to be home.
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: 1862-07-17
Resource type: correspondence
From Harrison's Landing to Julia still in Boston topics include the improved health of Wheelock Veazey, Major Seaver’s resignation denied, wishing to be home, the possibility of the war ending in the autumn if more troops are raised but fears it will not be enough or soon enough and of having been sent some two dozen bottles of whiskey but does not know who sent them.
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: 1862-08-03
Resource type: correspondence
Wheelock Veazey writes to Julia visiting in Boston, writes of his hove for her and of missing her, the desire for a new regiment and suspecting nepotism by the Governor, the return of Captain Atherton who still suffers from his wound, and a fight with the rebels.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-08-10
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock Veazey loving and missing his wife, of reading the book Gypsy’s Prophecy, of sending a receipt for money home to Julia.
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: 1862-08-22
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Heigera Hotel at Fortress Monroe topics include marching to the fort, his feelings of how the Peninsular Campaign has been for naught, only for the loss of so many lives, storm postponing the division from moving, the resignation of Captain Atherton and reminding Julia of not to engage in flirtatious behavior.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-09-07
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a favorable description of Columbia College Hospital in Washington, D.C. and its surgeons, his praise of General McClellan and his command, and the sickness of Colonel Hyde.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-10-29
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp at East Capitol Hill in D.C. topics include the journey to Washington D.C. and the pregnancy of Wheelock Veazey’s wife.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the frequent moving of the troops, his recent move to Camp Vermont in Virginia, the good health of many of the men in the regiment, and love for Wheelock Veazey’s wife.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-08
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Vermont, Virginia topics include Wheelock Veazey loving and missing his wife, the orders to prepare huts for winter quarters, a snow storm and he laments about how the war is going.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-10
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Vermont, topics include orders to prepare huts for winter quarters, Wheelock Veazey loving and missing his wife, of a visit to Col Stevens and Col. Bowers, and an indirect reference to his wife's pregnancy.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include orders for Veazey and Proctor to be ready to move to Harpers Ferry (W. Va.), the desire to go to Texas with General Banks, and the excitement of Veazey’s wife’s pregnancy.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-22
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Vermont, Virginia topics include the possibility of the rebels attacking the camp and thus may not go to Harpers Ferry, predictions on the sex of the baby, and the death of General Stoughton’s loved one.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-11-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the good health of Wheelock Veazey, his wish that his wife would conduct herself in a more befitting manner toward certain gentlemen friends, a brief reference to other wives' less than desired behavior, a mention of the baby coming, and his regiment is out on picket.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-12-04
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Vermont, Virginia topics include needing to report to the Secretary of War in regards to a discharge and arrangements for Wheelock Veazey’s wife to visit him.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-12-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include plans for Veazey’s wife to visit him at Camp Vermont, the love he has for his wife, his concern for her safety traveling, recommending she travel with Mr. and Mrs. Adams, a brief reference to divine providence blessing his family.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-12-14
Resource type: correspondence
From Head Quarters 16th Vt Volunteers, at a camp between Centreville and Bull Run, Virginia topics include the march to Fairfax Court House, the 24 sick men that were left behind at Camp Vermont, and the current living situation.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-12-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Julia Veazey returning home after a visit with Veazey in Washington, the death of Herman Veazey, and a fruit cake the mother of Private Kingston of Proctorsville, Vt sent.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-12-28
Resource type: correspondence
From camp near Fairfax Court House topics include the regiment having to battle the measles, a little battle that broke out near Fairfax Court House, brief reference to Julia being concerned she is so big due to her pregnancy and a brief description of Christmas in camp.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-06-15
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock Veazey’s position as Judge Advocate of a General Court Martial, the inspiration of General McClellan, and a love letter to his wife.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-07-05
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Harrison's Landing, Virginia topics include an attack by Andrew Jackson and the subsequent fighting, Veazey's taking command of the 77th New York Regiment, and the great losses of both armies, brief references to Gen. John Pope and Secretary of War Edwin M.Stanton.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1862-08-24
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Hygeia Hospital at Fort Munroe topics include the ill health of Veazey (bilious condition) and that of his father-in-law.
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