William C. Holbrook Correspondence
Collection Overview
The son of Vermont Governor Frederick Holbrook, William C. Holbrook left his job as a clerk in Boston at the outbreak of the war to help raise a regiment of infantry. He was commissioned first lieutenant in Company F, 4th Vermont Infantry, but left the regiment for a promotion to Major in the 7th Vermont Infantry in January, 1862. Holbrook was commissioned colonel of the 7th after the death of Col. George T. Roberts in August 1862. He resigned from the 7th in June, 1865. After the war’s end, he studied law at Hrvard, graduating in 1869, and became a lawyer in New York City. He won an appointment as judge of the Court of Special Session in 1895.
Holbrook's letters follow the 7th from Vermont to the Gulf Department, where the regiment served under General Benjamin Butler. Most of the letters were written to Gov. Holbrook during the summer of 1862, and contain recommendations for promotions and comments on the conduct of the war. The major topic is General Butler's condemnation of the 7th after the battle of Baton Rouge on August 5, 1862. Holbrook demanded and received a court of inquiry on the affair, and the regiment was largely exonerated, though it remained under a cloud of censure ever after.
Included is a letter from Governor J. Gregory Smith (who succeeded Governor Holbrook) concerning a proposal to brigade the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Vermont regiments. Also, two letters from Lieutenant Colonel Volney Fullam concerning replacements for officers killed or incapacitated, and a letter from former Brigadier General John W. Phelps (Oct. 3, 1862) on the necessity of war to resolve the slavery issue.
Time Period Covered: October 16, 1861 - December 9, 1862
Parent Collections
Published: May 12, 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)
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [21]
- Fullam, Volney S. [2]
- Phelps, John Wolcott [2]
- Dudley, N. A. M. [1]
- Williams, Francis C. [1]
Recipient(s)
- Holbrook, Frederick [19]
- Butler, B. F. [1]
- Dudley, N. A. M. [1]
- Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904 [1]
- Thomas, Lorenzo [1]
Place(s)
- Military camps -- Louisiana [7]
- Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862 [5]
- Ship Island (Miss.) [4]
- Vicksburg (Miss.) [4]
- Military camps -- Mississippi [3]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [3]
- Abolitionists -- United States -- History -- 19th century [2]
- Fort Pike (La.) [2]
- Military camps -- Virginia [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [1]
Format(s)
- text [27]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [27]
Topic(s)
- Armed Forces Officers [14]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866) [10]
- Promotions, Military [6]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [5]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [5]
- African Americans [2]
- Armies Medical and sanitary affairs [2]
- McClellan, George Brinton1826-1885 [2]
- Morale [2]
- Skirmishing [2]
- Slaves [2]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [2]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1866).Company C [2]
- Antislavery movements [1]
- Capitulations, Military [1]
- Contraband of war [1]
- Families of military personnel [1]
- Food [1]
- Holbrook, Frederickt1813-1909 [1]
- Intrenchments [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Newspapers [1]
- Racism [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Religion [1]
- Savage's Station, Battle of, Va., 1862 [1]
- Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 [1]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [1]
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Title: William C. Holbrook to Mother
Creator: Holbrook, William Cune, 1842-1904
Date: 1862-07-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include a Rebel “Ram” passing the Union fleet and stopping at Vicksburg, the continued bombardment, and the sickness in the regiment and the request for more medical personnel (i.e. surgeon).
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.
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