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: William C. Holbrook to Mother
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-08-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the number of men that were killed and wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge August 5th, lost of his "boy Jack" [does he refer to a Black man in his service or to a child?], the loss of Col. Roberts, the unpopularity of the current officer Col. Faillam, the men's request that Holbrook replace Faillam, Holbrook’s desire to go into a regiment located in Virginia, Gen. Phelps and his opinions on the slave question, Gen. Butler's compliments to the regiment for its brave conduct in the Baton Rouge battle, sending home of the Secessionist's flag retrieved from Fort Pike, desire for newspapers from Vt.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1862-01-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Captain Dillingham returning to Brattleboro, the recommendation of Lieutenant Johnson for Captain, deep mud all over camp restricting movement, expecting the Elixir soon and hopes to sell it, the number of deaths in the regiment, and a description of Ed Wells.
![Thumbnail: [Frances] E. Carter to Grammama](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmwilder32_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Frances] E. Carter to Grammama
Creator: Carter, Frances E.
Date: 1862-07-31
Resource type: correspondence
Wilder's niece writes a letter of condolence to her grandmother for his death.
![Thumbnail: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmwilder03_1-thumb.jpg)
Title: [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother
Creator: Wilder, Henry Harrison
Date: 1861-09-30
Resource type: correspondence
Henry writes from his camp at Chain Bridge of his journey made by the 5th Regiment of Vermont Volunteers from Springfield to Washington D.C. and on to Marellian Hill and then to Chain Bridge. Speaks of soldiers being shot almost everyday by the Rebels and of orders to march to Fairfax Court, requests postage stamps.
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