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)
- , [3]
- Gale,Jonas, 1800-1874 [3]
- [Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892] [2]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876 [1]
- Gale,Almeda A., 1835-1876; Gale [1]
- Gale,Charles T., 1845-1862 [1]
- Gale,Samantha A., 1832-1892 [1]
Place(s)
- Military camps -- Louisiana [2]
- Military campsLouisiana [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Poetry [1]
Format(s)
- text [12]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [12]
Topic(s)
- Families of military personnel [12]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [6]
- Religion [4]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [2]
- Diseases [2]
- Food [1]
- Guerrilla warfare [1]
- Medicine, Military [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [1]
- Racism [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Richmond (Va.) [1]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [1]
- Skirmishing [1]
- Slavery [1]
- War casualties [1]
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Topic: ("Families of military personnel")
Author: ("Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863")
Title: Justus E. Gale to Sister and Mother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-25
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a summary of the health of Justus Gale’s family, makes references to his faith, the movement of the regiment to Brashear City, a scene in camp as soldiers go about various activities, and the warm weather.
![Thumbnail: Justus E. Gale to [Family]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwvhsGaleJustus35_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Justus E. Gale to [Family]
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-08-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a poem titled “The Heavenly Home” and clearing up the rumor that Justus Gale is dead.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Brother
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-08-01
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the sickness and deaths in the regiment including that of Lucias M Benson of Worcester from diphtheria whom Gale was caring for in the hospital, inquiries about home and family members, the lack of news from Richmond, and the hot weather in Algiers.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-07-10
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the medicating himself after seeing the doctor twice to rid his diarrhea, taking of Richmond and rebel prisoners, the weather in Algiers, high price of provisions, inquires about family and the plan to go visit friends 4 miles away.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-09-24
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include his reference to his religious faith, the death of Justus Gale’s brother Charlie and of the death of Jester caused by the fever, the poor health of the rest of his family, the good health of himself and of sending on a photograph sent to him and of getting a photograph taken of him to send.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Father
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-07
Resource type: correspondence
Gale writes of his regiment and the rebels, of other troops encountering the enemy who left much camp supplies, cannon, etc. behind, receiving the Green Mountain Freeman, trying to appease both parents concerning the farm and deeding it back to his father, his concerns about his father having another woman in his life and how that affects him, and the expectation that the regiment will return to Algiers.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-03-07
Resource type: correspondence
Writing to his sister topics include the journey from Camp Holbrook to Ship Island through New York via train car, mentions 45 rebel officers being taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, hopes the war to be over soon, thinks of his family back home and puts his faith in God to rule over all.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-11-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the poor health of Justus Gale’s sister, having plenty to eat and confiscating anything while in the field including livestock from the rebels, receiving a box from home that was greatly appreciated though disappointed none of Mother's cheese, the expectation of returning to Algiers, and some family affairs including what to do with Charlie's clothes since his death, mentions still needing to get a photographer and have his photo taken, and the possibility of renting the farm.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-08-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include wishing his sister a happy birthday, clearing up the rumor that he is dead, the enlisting of blacks, and the enlisting of men from home before they are drafted.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-10-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the improved health of Justus Gale’s family, speaks of his religious faith, a discussion of deciding on Charley’s gravestone, and the separation of his Gale's parents.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister & Friends
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-09-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the sickness of Justus Gale’s mother and brother Charley, mentions his dismay of men trying to skip military duty, the rebel prisoners taken by various Union regiments, mentions Gen. Butler may be taking care of the guerrilla fighters and the injuries sustained by the men in the train accident whereby many seemed to have avoided amputations.
Title: Justus F. Gale to Sister & Friends
Creator: Gale, Justus F., 1837-1863
Date: 1862-09-24
Resource type: correspondence
From Algiers, La topics include ill health of his mother and sister, the death of his brother Charley, how difficult it is to get a military discharge, Justus Gale’s negative opinion of the Blacks, his hope slavery is ended, and his hope that his sister and mother will become healthy again.
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