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Vermonters in the Civil War

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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.

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Time Period Covered: 1861 


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-02-09

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include Captain Johnson taking command of Company D, the illness of a few men, the possibility of Ned Wells returning home, Henry's side business not doing as well now as the men are out of money to spend, mud prevents drills so men study tactics and go on picket only once every five days.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-08-15

Resource type:   correspondence

A very brief letter from Camp Washburn topics include inquiries after the well being of his baby boy and the anticipated promotion to Major.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-08-18

Resource type:   correspondence

Writing from Camp Bradley (later Camp Holbrook) in Brattleboro, Vt. topics include anxious to see his baby boy, continued anticipation of appointment to Major and as acting Adjutant for 11th Regt.until Mr. Curtis of Burlington arrives.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-[09]-17

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include marching to the Maryland side of the Potomac River and a victory against the rebels.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-09-20

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include reflecting on Katie's death and William Henry being in command of five companies and five miles of the Potomac River.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-09-24

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the good health of the regiment, him having a good bay horse as he needs to ride 15 miles to visit all the pickets and the need for friends and family in a time of loss.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-09-28

Resource type:   correspondence

Writing from his camp in the field topics include a brief account of William Henry's day that includes living quarters with Company B, morning hygiene, breakfast, riding his horse to visit a company and give a lecture picket duty, visiting another officer to discuss matters, a good dinner and ride back to his headquarters. Also inquiries about his family.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-02-23

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include a travel route planned to return home via Annapolis, Brattleboro and maybe even Burlington, the capture of 18 Rebel prisoners near Fairfax, and the hope of one of the wounded prisoners, a Virginian, to retake the oath to become a citizen of the United States again, reference to a Flag of Truce to send a letter to the Confederate Army, his side business doing poorly as the men have expected orders to move and the Sutlers not buying for the same reason.


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Title:   William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry

Creator:  Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1915

Date:  1862-08-13

Resource type:   correspondence

A brief letter writing from camp in Brattleboro, Vt. topics include the birth of Henry's baby boy and a possible promotion to Major.


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Title:   [B. Murray?] to Aunt

Creator:  Murray, B.

Date:  1862-08-09

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the army photographs of Wilder being sent to his family.


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Title:   [C. W.] Seaton to John Wolcott Phelps

Creator:  Seaton, C. W.

Date:  1861-11-09

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the nomination of Governor Holbrook for the Lieut-Colonelcy of the 1st Regiment Berdan's Sharp Shooters and John Wolcott Phelps' opinion of nominating Captain Ripley of Rutland for the position instead.


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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.


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Title:   [Frankie?] to Mother

Date:  ?-?-?

Resource type:   correspondence

A poem, "Death of H. H. Wilder," written by Frankie, presumably Wilder's nephew.


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Title:   [Frederick Holbrook] to [F. F. Holbrook]

Creator:  Holbrook, Frederick

Date:  1862-10-7

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include a summary of Frederick Holbrook's requests for General Phelps to go to Washington to discuss the 7th Vermont Regiment. Reference to Senator Foote is probably Solomon Foot, senator from Vermont (1851-1866).


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Title:   [Harry N.] Worthen to John Wolcott Phelps

Creator:  Worthen, Harry N.

Date:  1861-06-02

Resource type:   correspondence

Writes from Camp Butler, Newport News, Virginia. Topics include a report of the hospital and a list of names of the sick men and names of the steward and attendants. Mentions Fort Monroe, the unsanitary conditions of the hospital, how the sick men have been neglected by the steward and attendants.


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Title:   [Henry Harrison Wilder] to ?

Creator:  Wilder, Henry Harrison

Date:  1861-09-19

Resource type:   correspondence

Henry writes from Camp Holbrooke in St. Albans (5th Regiment Vt Volunteers Co. B) that he is taking a route on the east side of the mountain instead of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad.


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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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Title:   [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother

Creator:  Wilder, Henry Harrison

Date:  1861-09-22

Resource type:   correspondence

Henry writes from Camp Holbrooke in St. Albans of the 5th Vt Vol Regiment to his mother about rainy weather, acting as Corporal of the Guard, and receiving pay for his services and talks about how his pay should be handled.


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Title:   [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother

Creator:  Wilder, Henry Harrison

Date:  1861-11-08

Resource type:   correspondence

Henry writes from Camp Griffin, Virginia of the difficulty of camp life, of Fenton being very ill and taken to Georgetown to the General Hospital.


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Title:   [Henry Harrison Wilder] to Mother

Creator:  Wilder, Henry Harrison

Date:  1861-12-11

Resource type:   correspondence

Henry writes from Camp Griffin, Va of the regiment's scouting expedition, of Capt. Stowell's company, of obtaining two hogs from a pen, of the fact that the captain is not very liked and that Lt. Hamilton is well liked by the company. Cautions his mother against being bothered about hear say.


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Title:   [Lamuay] to John Wolcott Phelps

Creator:  [Lamuay]

Date:  1861-05-25

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include errors in Colonel Phelps' rolls and a special order allowing Colonel Phelps to decide where the 1st Regiment Vermont Volunteer Militia will camp.


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Title:   [Lawrence] D. Clark, [William] W. Pelton, [Hiram] E. Perkins, [Dudley K.] Andross, [Oscar S.] Tuttle, [William] H. Boynton, [Joseph] Bush, [David B.] Peck, [Eben S.] Hayward, and Wm. Y. W. Ripley to John Wolcott Phelps

Creator:  Clark, Lawrence D.; Pelton, William W.; Perkins, Hiram E.; Andross, Dudley K.; Tuttle, Oscar S.; Boynton, William H.; Bush, Joseph; Peck, David B.; Hayward, Eben S.; Ripley, Wm. Y. W.

Date:  1861-05-16

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include the commanding officers of the 1st Regiment of the Vermont Volunteer Militia requesting the 1st Regiment be allowed to stay at the Willard Hotel.


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Title:   [Le Grand B. Cannon] to John Wolcott Phelps

Creator:  Cannon, Le Grand B.

Date:  1862-10-15

Resource type:   correspondence

Topics include General Phelps returning to Vermont and addressing members of the Legislature. (Phelps resigned his commission Aug. 21, 1862 after Washington rejected his recruitment of African Americans to fight for the Union.) Cannon invites Phelps to visit him to talk about the war.


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Title:   [Roswell Farnham] to [Mary Farnham]

Creator:  Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903

Date:  1862-11-28

Resource type:   correspondence

Farnham writes from within his new house in Camp Vermont, near Alexandria Va., of three regiments moving to Fairfax Station, a description of the men’s quarters and mentions Mary's dental issues.


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Title:   [Roswell Farnham] to [Mary Farnham]

Creator:  Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903

Date:  1862-11-30

Resource type:   correspondence

Farnham writes from Camp Vermont, Alexandria, Va. 12th Vt. Regiment Volunteers Militia and writes of his wife Mary's visit camp, of meeting with Mr. Morrill and Senator Foote, of his house being finished with 2 bedrooms and a fireplace.