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)
- Smith, Henry A., d. 1864 [8]
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [8]
- Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864 [7]
- Wilder, Henry Harrison [7]
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [6]
- Quimby, George W., 1835-1862 [3]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [2]
- Marshall, Ira A., d. 1893 [2]
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [2]
- Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905 [2]
- Barton, Hiram H., 1836-1903 [1]
- Bliss, Warren E., 1840-1930 [1]
- Bruce, Horatio P., [1]
- Bruidnell, William, b. 1842; Morey [1]
- Canning, Charles C., b. 1828 [1]
- Carter, Frances E. [1]
- Fairbanks, Erastus [1]
- Farnham, Mary E. [1]
- Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903 [1]
- Fullam, Volney S. [1]
- Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863 [1]
- Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915 [1]
- Holbrook, Frederick [1]
- May, Albert A. [1]
- Merriam, John W., d. 1863 [1]
- Samson, Merrill F. [1]
- Turner, Orlando S., b. 1839 [1]
Recipient(s)
- , [8]
- Veazey, Julia A., [6]
- Barney, Maria [5]
- Henry, William Wirt, [4]
- Bancroft,Smiley, 1808-1874 [2]
- Masta, Emeline B. [2]
- Phelps, John Wolcott [2]
- Spafford, Mary Jane, [2]
- Veazey, Julia A. [2]
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [1]
- Butler, B. F. [1]
- Farnham, Mary [1]
- Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892 [1]
- Hayward, A. [1]
- Henry, Mary Jane, [1]
- Holbrook, Frederick [1]
- Turner, Louisa A. [1]
- Williams,Warren [1]
- Williams,Warren, Williams Caroline [1]
- [Barton,Melissa] [1]
- [Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892] [1]
Place(s)
- Military campsVirginia [11]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [9]
- Military camps -- Virginia [8]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns [6]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Casualties [6]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns [5]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [3]
- Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862 [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- VermontHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- AbolitionistsUnited StatesHistory19th century [1]
- Camp Douglas (Ill.) [1]
- Culpeper County (Va.) [1]
- Fort Monroe (Va.) [1]
- Military camps -- Washington (D.C.) [1]
- Military campsMaryland [1]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military reconnaissance [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Flags [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Medical care [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Military reconnaissance [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Participation, Juvenile [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Prisoners and prisons [1]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [1]
Format(s)
- text [64]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [64]
Topic(s)
- Battle casualties [64]
- Armed Forces Officers [17]
- United StatesArmy Military life [12]
- Prisoners of war [11]
- Marching [9]
- Diseases [5]
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862 [5]
- Families of military personnel [4]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866) [4]
- Drill and minor tactics [3]
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862 [3]
- Horses [3]
- Military hospitals [3]
- Patriotism [3]
- Picketing [3]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [3]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865) [3]
- Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861 [2]
- Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862 [2]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [2]
- Farnham, Roswell1827-1903 [2]
- Friendly fire (Military science) [2]
- Grief [2]
- Intrenchments [2]
- Merrimack (Frigate) [2]
- Military discipline [2]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [2]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 4th (1861-1865) [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866).Company C [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [2]
- War Psychological aspects [2]
- Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862 [1]
- Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss1816-1894 [1]
- Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861 [1]
- Burnside, Ambrose Everett1824-1881 [1]
- Children and war [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Desertion, Military [1]
- Food [1]
- Freedmen [1]
- Guerrilla warfare [1]
- Hancock, Winfield Scott1824-1886 [1]
- Hardtack [1]
- Homesickness [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Military deserters [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Military pay [1]
- Newspapers [1]
- Photographers [1]
- Photographs [1]
- Postal service [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Savage's Station, Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Seven Days' Battles, Va., 1862 [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- Slavery [1]
- Slaves [1]
- Sutlers [1]
- Trench warfare [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1861-1865) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 6th (1861-1864) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865).Company B [1]
- War casualties [1]
- Winchester, 1st Battle of, Winchester, Va., 1862 (May 25) [1]
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Topic: ("Battle casualties")
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.
Title: Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866
Date: 1862-12-13
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Company E. 16th Vt. Picket Reserve, Centerville Virginia, topics include the regiment marching to Fairfax Court House, Virginia, the picket line out on battlefield of Second Battle of Bull Run, battle casualties observed including those of horses and that of a man's head.
Title: Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866
Date: 1862-12-18
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp near Fairfax Court House, Virginia topics include a description of what picket duty entails, an account of the people Joseph Spafford met in Virginia including two families with very different attitudes towards the Northern soldiers. Writes of dining with one family who also had been given the responsibility of keep a dead Confederate officer in a metal lined coffin in their shed, of observing battle remains at the Bull Run site and of picking up bullets, etc from there, the ill health of Ed Hammond, the decision to remain at Camp Vermont and a brief reference to gunfire heard near Fredericksburg.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-05-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include trying to figure out where letters may have gone missing, letters taking several weeks to arrive, not receiving the Green Mountain Freeman, the lack of details about the taking of New Orleans, and Justus Gale being on guard last night.
Title: Lyman S. Williams to Parents
Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905
Date: 1862-07-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a retreat to the James River (known later as a "great skedaddle," a word that Williams uses here but in the context of not being paid), a fight at Savage's Station, a review by General McClellan, and the men killed and wounded in the fight.
Title: Lyman S. Williams to Warren Williams
Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905
Date: 1862-04-20
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Lyman Williams coming down with a fever, an encounter with the rebels that left four men wounded, and the rebels' description of the Vermont regiment as dare devils. Stationery has an illustration of a "Vermont Boy," plus two verses of a song with the title "Vermont Soldier." The refrain, "Away down in Dixie," suggests an attempt to compete with the immortal southern song "Dixie."
Title: Mary E. Farnham to Henry
Creator: Farnham, Mary E.
Date: 1862-12-24
Resource type: correspondence
Mary Farnham writes from near Fairfax Court House in Virginia to her brother, Henry, of soldiers being taken prisoners, of the wounded, of casualties, of checking rabbit traps for food. She mentions the weather, of her tour of camp, of sickness among the troops, of her excellent dinner at camp with Mrs. Blunt, Mrs. Stearns and others, and writes of family back home.
Title: Merrill F. Samson to A. Hayward
Creator: Samson, Merrill F.
Date: 1862-07-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the death of Wilder; and his friend Merrill sending condolences to Wilder's mother. Wilder may have died during the Battle of Malvern Hill, which concluded the Seven Days Campaign; or in any number of skirmishes that occurred in early July.
Title: Orlando S. Turner to Joseph and Louisa A. Turner
Creator: Turner, Orlando S., b. 1839
Date: 1861-07-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a brief account of the first Battle of Bull Run, Manassas, Virginia. Writes of the bravery of the soldiers, casualties and men killed, of his opinion that the officers were afraid to go where the soldiers were, damage to the American flag.
Title: Ransom W. Towle to Friends
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-04-06
Resource type: correspondence
Towle writes from near Yorktown and of firing upon and taking a Rebel fortification at Young's Mills with little resistance from the enemy. He writes a soldier was wounded soldier who was from the Rutland Company, 5th Regiment. The troops also marched to a well fortified encampment of the enemy. He was also in battle, men killed and wounded and the troops had difficulties with moving the artillery as the ground is march and swamp.
Title: Ransom W. Towle to Friends
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-04-18
Resource type: correspondence
Writing after a battle near Yorktown, Towle recalls those wounded and killed. States preparations continue to be made for more fighting, that provisions for the men sometimes are difficult to get, that Col Stoughton performs admirably but that General Smith was drunk and has been arrested .
Title: Ransom W. Towle to Friends
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-06-26
Resource type: correspondence
Towle writes of what he hears about the living conditions of the Rebels including forced service, some without enough food and about the Battle of Richmond having been going on for a month with artillery shelling and likely to continue.
Title: Ransom W. Towle to Sister and Friends
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-06-22
Resource type: correspondence
Camping in the field near Richmond topics include the weather in Virginia with food crops growing well in the hot temperatures, pickets conversing and trading papers, coffee, whiskey, fighting resulting in losses, reference to Rifle Pits, preparations for the Battle of Richmond, sickness among the soldiers.
![Thumbnail: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwvhsTowleRansom21_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-05-08
Resource type: correspondence
Towle's regiment pursues the Rebels after finding their hasty departure from their camps. The men marched to the enemy's strong holds at Williamsburg, Virginia including Fort Magruder and a battle was fought. Killed and wounded reported. Soldiers had to endure heavy rain and muddy conditions. Some men did reconnaissance.
![Thumbnail: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwvhsTowleRansom27_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-06-14
Resource type: correspondence
Still in the field near Richmond, Va topics include the Battle of Richmond being fought since May 31, soldiers wounded and killed by Rebel fire, shell fire by the Rebels, balloon reconnaissance.
![Thumbnail: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwvhsTowleRansom30_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1862-06-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the Massachusetts 16th Regiment pushing the rebels back in heavy fighting with the Rebels in rifle pits, soldiers killed (74), prisoners taken (16) and preparations being made to move out in anticipation of battle the next day.
![Thumbnail: Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmfarnham29_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903
Date: 1861-06-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include: gratitude among the men for gifts of food (incl. maple sugar) and other "luxuries"; Major Worthen's scouting expedition, which led to a small skirmish and some casualties among some St. Albans and Swanton soldiers; press inaccuracies; life at camp; how he misses his books and reading; other domestic matters.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the regiment occupying the large Hygeia Hotel located outside the Fort Monroe on Old Point Comfort, the rules and costs of the hotel, Rebels firing on a steamer, 18 or 20 of the enemy killed, mentions vessels occupied by secessionists being captured and General Butler coming with either eight or ten thousand men to form an army.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-06-16
Resource type: correspondence
June 16, 1861. Barney writes from Newport News, Virginia an account of the Battle of Big Bethel including battle casualties, men sent out to look for cattle, illness among the men, soldiers tired to camp life, the arrival of food sent from home some of which was in good condition such as cheese, dried apples and maple sugar with some not.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the plan for the journey home, the death of Whitney of the Woodstock Co. by the hands of forty or fifty rebels, the capture of two rebels, and of only a few men ill in the hospital.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-06-11
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Newport News, Va. on a battle between General Butler's men and a camp of secessionists at Bethel, battle casualties due to confusion among the soldiers and friendly fire, of missing men, thanks Maria for the postage stamps.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the dates in which Valentine G. Barney will head home, the arrival of a telegraph wire from Newport News to the fort which will help the officers communicate quickly, the meeting of scouting party with Secessionists, the death of at least one of them, of 10 Union soldiers being taken prisoners and the news that the Fort is ready for use.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-12-18
Resource type: correspondence
From Camp Douglas topics include an update on the state of the regiment including men deserting, sick, discharged or joining the regular army, of sending photographs of Bushnell, Cleveland and of himself home to Maria, of Lt Sherman in camp, the loss of 13,000 Union men from Burnside’s army in recent battles, of thousands of paroled prisoners in Annapolis thus Barney needing to stay at camp through the holidays.
Title: Volney S. Fullam to B. F. Butler
Creator: Fullam, Volney S.
Date: 1862-08-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include vacancies in the regiment caused by the death and sickness of some officers, the resignation and guilt of misconduct by Lt. G. W. Sheldon, and the intention to send a list of promotions.
Title: Warren E. Bliss to Smiley Bancroft
Creator: Bliss, Warren E., 1840-1930
Date: 1862-06-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include moving to camp near the Chickahominy, anticipation of a battle at Richmond, the capture of Fort Darling, a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the death of Charles Bancroft. Topics include moving to camp near the Chickahominy, anticipation of a battle at Richmond, the capture of Fort Darling, a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the death of Charles Bancroft. Use of hot air balloons in reconnaissance is mentioned, as is the observation that many plantations are deserted by their owners and run by slaves, Gen. McClellan threatened to turn every "White House" (plantation) into a hospital.
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