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)
- Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898 [10]
- Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902 [3]
- Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862 [2]
- Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915 [2]
- Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866 [2]
- Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889 [1]
- Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903 [1]
- Quimby, George W., 1835-1862 [1]
- Smith, Henry A., d. 1864 [1]
- Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864 [1]
Recipient(s)
- Veazey, Julia A. [8]
- Rutherford, Hannah [3]
- Henry, Mary Jane [2]
- Veazey, Julia A., [2]
- , [1]
- Bancroft,Clarissa E., 1843-1864 [1]
- Bancroft,Smiley, 1808-1874; Bancroft [1]
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [1]
- Farnham, Mary [1]
- Masta, Emeline B. [1]
- Spafford, Mary Jane [1]
- Towle, Rufus [1]
- Towle, Sebra [1]
- White, Homer [1]
- Williams, Caroline [1]
Place(s)
- Military campsVirginia [11]
- VermontHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [9]
- Military camps -- Virginia [3]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [3]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- Military camps -- Maryland [2]
- Chicago (Ill.) [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns [1]
Format(s)
- text [25]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [25]
Topic(s)
- Homesickness [25]
- Veazey, Wheelock G. (Wheelock Graves)1835-1898 [10]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865) [9]
- Diseases [7]
- United StatesArmy Military life [7]
- Love-letters [2]
- Medicine, Military [2]
- Picketing [2]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [2]
- War casualties [2]
- Armies Medical and sanitary affairs [1]
- Battle casualties [1]
- Bounties, Military [1]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [1]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [1]
- Farnham, Roswell1827-1903 [1]
- Hancock, Winfield Scott1824-1886 [1]
- Horses [1]
- Marching [1]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [1]
- Military chaplains [1]
- Military hospitals [1]
- Patriotism [1]
- Pillage [1]
- Postal service [1]
- Prisoners of war [1]
- Promotions, Military [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865) [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 4th (1861-1865) [1]
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Topic: ("Homesickness")
Title: Charles F. Bancroft to Clarissa Bancroft
Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-01-11
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the illness of Ephraim D. Dutton and the treatment he is getting from Bancroft, who is watching over Dutton. Bancroft thinks he'll recover when taken to a hospital. Fever, dysentery, lung ailments are compounded by homesickness, according to Bancroft. B. asks for sausage, cayenne pepper, and brandy from home. Mentions daguerreotype of "that little schoolmarm" and the problem of blue eyes. Final request: burn this letter after you read it! "Chain Bridge" refers to a site near Washington, D.C.
Title: Charles F. Bancroft to Parents
Creator: Bancroft, Charles F., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-02-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include reminiscences of church meetings in Vt., stimulated by his attendance of them at camp; how much he enjoys the supplies (footwear, clothing, food, brandy) from home; some medical treatment that was improved with brandy; his appreciation of family and home; a few words about postal delivery; and a map of the South he plans to give to his father. -- Because of winter, the war has slackened off a bit. Lincoln is still trying to force McClellan to act.
Title: George W. Quimby to Emeline B. Masta
Creator: Quimby, George W., 1835-1862
Date: 1862-09-13
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the hardships of war, the unfairness between the men who are at home and those that are fighting, and the progress of George W. Quimby’s recuperation. Mentions a long march "on a certain Sunday" from Charles City C. H. (Court House) across the Chickahominy River.
Title: Henry A. Smith to Family
Creator: Smith, Henry A., d. 1864
Date: 1862-07-05
Resource type: correspondence
From Snickers Ferry on the Shenandoah River topics include news from Richmond, rumor that Stonewall Jackson was killed, having enough to eat including local peaches & cherries found in Virginia, horses well fed, men on picket duty, newspaper report that General McClellan taken prisoner along with 40,000 of his men, and Henry Smith's homesickness.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford03_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-08-31
Resource type: correspondence
Dr. Rutherford writes from Camp Washburn about his improved health from the dysentery from which he has suffered, medicine he took, his heavy responsibilities caring for sick soldiers, and anticipation of leaving for Virginia on Friday. He writes of missing home.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford10_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1862-11-15
Resource type: correspondence
Rutherford writes of the regiment's movement to Camp Grove Offults Cup, Maryland. Also of his contempt for soldiers who want to shirk their military duties, of how well the truly sick soldiers are cared for in the hospital, and a slanderous report written about the Surgeon which Rutherford firmly denies, gives his side of the story including military discipline and an account of who a man named Murk who is responsible for the false report.
![Thumbnail: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]](http://cdi.uvm.edu/archives/civilwar/cwuvmrutherford19_01-thumb.jpg)
Title: Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
Creator: Rutherford, Joseph Chase, 1818-1902
Date: 1863-01-02
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from camp at White's Ford (over the Potomac River) two letters dated Jan 2 and Jan 6 include topics of a description of the night of the expected fight, of having enough food to eat that he is gaining weight, of the camp's glee club singing, of being homesick and wanting a leave but may be on the eve of "some great event", a description of the camp ground, promotions within the camp including himself as Acting Surgeon and the possibility of a brigade hospital being created with himself most likely being put in charge of it.
Title: Joseph Spafford to Homer White
Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866
Date: 1862-02-07
Resource type: correspondence
Spafford writes to his friend Homer on topics including Typhoid Fever in the Regiment, friendship, camp life, Hancock’s Brigade [Winfield Scott Hancock], and answering his friend’s questions about joining the Regiment and fear of dying.
Title: Joseph Spafford to Mary Jane Spafford
Creator: Spafford, Joseph, 1837-1866
Date: 1862-01-06
Resource type: correspondence
Written to his sister from his camp in Virginia, topics include inquiring after news from home, a possible visit by his father, cold weather, boxes of bedding sent by the towns of Weathersfield and Windham, and sending hats home so folks can see them.
Title: Letter to Rufus and Sebra Towle
Creator: Towle, Ransom W., d. 1864
Date: 1861-12-29
Resource type: correspondence
December 29, 1861. Topics include the health of the regiment in the cold weather (rheumatism, boils, homesickness), camp inspection, lack of presence of Chaplain except at religious services, and the prospect of battle.
Title: Lyman S. Williams to Caroline Williams
Creator: Williams, Lyman S., 1839-1905
Date: 1861-11-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the comforts of camp life.
![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: 1862-11-11
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the weather in Chicago, the desire to return home, and the improvement in Barney’s health.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-08-25
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey being in command of the Regiment for about a week, scouting Virginia, and General Smith making recommendations for Lt. Col. Hyde to be promoted to Col. and Wheelock G. Veazey to be promoted to Lt. Col.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-10-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-10-[06]
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: [1861]-10-17
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
Title: Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
Creator: Veazey, Wheelock G., 1835-1898
Date: 1861-11-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the cold nights and the toll it takes and Wheelock G. Veazey’s responsibilities in camp.
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: 1862-08-10
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: [1861]-12-09
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey telling his wife Julia A. Veazey how much he loves and misses her.
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-?
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Wheelock G. Veazey inquiring after his wife’s devotion to him.
Title: William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
Creator: Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915
Date: 1861-10-16
Resource type: correspondence
Writes of feeling better from eating to many chestnuts, took Hibbards Pills, rustling cattle, pickets meeting up with Rebels with some, mentions friends and family life, misses his wife and young daughter Mollie.
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.
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