Valentine G. Barney Correspondence
Collection Overview
Valentine G. Barney of Swanton, Vt., was commissioned sergeant on May 2, 1861 in Co. A of the 1st Vermont Regiment. He was mustered out August 15, 1861. He was then commissioned captain of the 9th Vermont Regiment, Co. A, June 14, 1862; and lieutenant colonel of the 9th Vermont Regiment, on May 24, 1863. He was mustered out June 13, 1865.
In his correspondence, Barney describes the capture of Belle Boyd, Camp Sigel, the surrender at Harper's Ferry, parole camps Tyler and Douglas at Chicago, Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas, the Army of the James, and the occupation of Richmond. Barney was in the 9th Vermont Regiment and led the first troops to enter Richmond.
Time Period Covered: May 5, 1861 - August 2, 1861
Parent Collections
Related Archival Collection(s)
Published: March 22, 2011, University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Center for Digital Initiatives
Rights: Requests to reproduce this item should be sent to Vermont Historical Society Library, vhs-library@state.vt.us. For more information, see http://cdi.uvm.edu/about/rights. More information.
Browse Options
Creator(s)
Recipient(s)
- Barney,Maria, 1833-1884 [95]
- Barney, Maria [18]
Place(s)
- Camp Douglas (Ill.) [29]
- Military camps -- Virginia [20]
- Chicago (Ill.) [14]
- Military campsVirginia [9]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons [9]
- Suffolk (Va.) [8]
- Yorktown (Va.) [7]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [6]
- Fort Monroe (Va.) [4]
- Military camps -- Illinois [4]
- Military camps -- Vermont [3]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns [3]
- Winchester (Va.) [3]
- Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) [2]
- Suffolk (Va.)HistorySiege, 1863 [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Casualties [2]
- Baton Rouge (La.) -- History -- Siege, 1862 [1]
- Culpeper County (Va.) [1]
- Hopewell (Va.)City Point [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Destruction and pillage [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Destruction and pillage [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Medical care [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Military reconnaissance [1]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Social aspects [1]
- Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [1]
Format(s)
- text [113]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [113]
Topic(s)
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865) [46]
- Armed Forces Officers [30]
- Prisoners of war [24]
- United StatesArmy Military life [22]
- Food [21]
- Marching [8]
- Battle casualties [7]
- Prisoner-of-war camps [7]
- Promotions, Military [7]
- Confederate States of AmericaArmy [6]
- Horses [6]
- Draft United States [5]
- Pillage [5]
- Skirmishing [5]
- Desertion, Military [4]
- Drill and minor tactics [4]
- Military discipline [4]
- Newspapers [4]
- Picketing [4]
- Postal service [4]
- Religion [4]
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry United States [3]
- Homesickness [3]
- Military deserters [3]
- Operational rations (Military supplies) [3]
- Sharpshooters [3]
- Soldiers Alcohol use [3]
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 9th (1862-1865).Company B [3]
- War casualties [3]
- African Americans [2]
- Contraband of war [2]
- Executions and executioners [2]
- Fugitive slaves [2]
- Hooker, Joseph1814-1879 [2]
- Intrenchments [2]
- Military hospitals [2]
- Soldiers Suicidal behavior [2]
- Stannard, George Jerrison1820-1886 [2]
- Steamboats [2]
- Wistar, Isaac J. (Isaac Jones)1827-1905 [2]
- Amputation [1]
- Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861 [1]
- Boyd, Belle1844-1900 [1]
- Bragg, Braxton1817-1876 [1]
- Burnside, Ambrose Everett1824-1881 [1]
- Copperhead movement [1]
- Corcoran, Michael1827-1863 [1]
- Cowardice [1]
- Friendly fire (Military science) [1]
- Guerrilla warfare [1]
- Hardtack [1]
- Love-letters [1]
- Medicine, Military [1]
- Military chaplains [1]
- Military funerals [1]
- Military leaves and furloughs [1]
- Naglee, Henry M. (Henry Morris)1815-1886 [1]
- Pope, John1822-1892 [1]
- Railroad trains [1]
- Rosecrans, William S. (William Starke)1819-1898 [1]
- Slavery [1]
- Slaves [1]
- Stones River, Battle of, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 1862-1863 [1]
- Sutlers [1]
- Traitors [1]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [1]
- War Psychological aspects [1]
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Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-08
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Rutland on topics including the plan to start for Fort Monroe, Virginia, sends his love to his children, that he will make arrangements for Maria to stay with Uncle David, that all the men are well.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the regiment occupying the large Hygeia Hotel located outside the Fort Monroe on Old Point Comfort, the rules and costs of the hotel, Rebels firing on a steamer, 18 or 20 of the enemy killed, mentions vessels occupied by secessionists being captured and General Butler coming with either eight or ten thousand men to form an army.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-24
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the journey from Fort Monroe, Virginia to Hampton, the Secessionists setting fire to a bridge that lead to the village, the Colonel being asked to not molest, assault or otherwise interfere with the citizens of Hampton, mentions Sewells Point where the enemy had built a battery, reference to the state election about secession from the union, speaks of his love for his family.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-05-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the arrival of the Troy Regiment and the New York Zouaves, runaway slaves, a false alarm set off by the Troy Regiment, Mass 4th Regiment being arrested for pillage and plundering, requests for postage stamps and photographs of his family
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-06-03
Resource type: correspondence
Barney writes from Newport News, Virginia on the construction of a trench and accounts of alarms from the picket guard including a mule causing one of the alarms. Writes of the 2500 men, their disappointment at not being able to fire upon the Secessionists, fears the box from Swanton will not arrive at all, of the presence of 25 or 30 slaves, of horses, mules, dogs being brought in to camp, requests postage stamps and envelopes.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-06-09
Resource type: correspondence
Barney writes of camp equipment inspection, Sunday services held by Chaplain Stone, of being one of the singers during the service singing "Sweet Home", of receiving letters from home, of there being 4000 men, two men with the measles, of the arrival of the New York 4th Regiment and Hawkins Zouaves, of camp duties.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-06-11
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Newport News, Va. on a battle between General Butler's men and a camp of secessionists at Bethel, battle casualties due to confusion among the soldiers and friendly fire, of missing men, thanks Maria for the postage stamps.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-06-16
Resource type: correspondence
June 16, 1861. Barney writes from Newport News, Virginia an account of the Battle of Big Bethel including battle casualties, men sent out to look for cattle, illness among the men, soldiers tired to camp life, the arrival of food sent from home some of which was in good condition such as cheese, dried apples and maple sugar with some not.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-06-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include an account of a day of camp life when the regiment is "not on labor", the receipt of a box from home with envelopes, postage stamps, Sunday School singing books, of the family.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-06-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include an account of what was seen during a scouting expedition, of orders to bring back lumber, of the men coming upon deserted homes still completely furnished, of the men ordered not to disturb anything (which some did anyway), of his observation and opinion of the negro slaves encountered.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-06-30
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Newport, Va. of his improving health after a bout of illness, of about 6000 Rebels in the area which the company is out scouting, the capture of two prisoners from a Regiment of Zouaves from Louisiana who voluntarily surrendered as they thought their company had moved out without them, of Barney's weight loss, death of a man from the Middlebury Co. and his funeral.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-04
Resource type: correspondence
Writes from Newport News, Va of an account of the 4th of July celebrations among the troops, of the burning of the Steamer Cataline that was the company's mail boat, hopes of Congress being able to settle the war, his opinion of the war and of his improved health.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1861-07-07
Resource type: correspondence
Writes of his uncertainty of when he will head home, of the men being anxious to be out of the army and away from camp life, a visit from Sect. Cameron, of the family
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the dates in which Valentine G. Barney will head home, the arrival of a telegraph wire from Newport News to the fort which will help the officers communicate quickly, the meeting of scouting party with Secessionists, the death of at least one of them, of 10 Union soldiers being taken prisoners and the news that the Fort is ready for use.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-18
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Valentine G. Barney's improving health, of his wishing to hear news from Swanton, of his newly acquired taste for the plentiful tomatoes that are in the area, of the men wanting to go home.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-23
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the plan for the journey home, the death of Whitney of the Woodstock Co. by the hands of forty or fifty rebels, the capture of two rebels, and of only a few men ill in the hospital.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-07-28
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the updated plan of departure for home and the defeat at Manassas.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1861]-08-02
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the updated plan of departure and of a visit by General Baxter.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-06-19
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the march to camp in Brattleboro, having very good tents that helped keep the overnight rain from getting him wet and hopes to be home in about a week.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-06-22
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the food served in camp was plentiful and good, tent set up to be comfortable, health is good, the distribution of clothing among the men, Col. Stannard expected in camp, mentions plans to return home and the expected arrival of a few more companies at Brattleboro.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-06
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the Regiment is full and the expectation that the regiment will be mustererd (process of accounting for members in a military unit), mentions he is officer of the day and has many duties to attend to with recruits being new to army life.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-13
Resource type: correspondence
Writing from Camp Davis in Brattleboro, topics include Barney being made officer of the day tomorrow, feeling proud of that, and the plan to march to Washington.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1862]-07-14
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Barney sending photographs of himself home to his wife and family.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: [1862]-07-16
Resource type: correspondence
On board a steamer, topics include the journey from Brattleboro to New Haven and then on to Jersey City and eventually to Washington, D.C. that include marching and going by train. Mentions whiskey being drunk by the soldiers and him needing to keep the men sober. His military pay not expected until September.
Title: Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Creator: Barney, Valentine G., 1834-1889
Date: 1862-07-21
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include being in camp near Clouds Mills near Alexandria, Va., the journey there including a 14 mile march, the numerous regiments encamped together, not liking the Southern area or the dirty cities, feels the South may not be worth fighting for and having a good dinner received in camp.
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