John Lester Barstow Correspondence
Collection Overview
John L. Barstow’s letters, most written to his wife Laura, describe camp life at Ship Island, New Orleans, and various locations in the Louisiana countryside, and include comments on the attitudes and conduct of white and black civilians, as well as the leadership of Generals Nathaniel P. Banks, Benjamin F. Butler, and William B. Franklin. Barstow served as brigadier general of Provisional Forces in St. Albans, Vermont, after he left the Eighth Vermont in June 1864. He was elected Governor of Vermont in 1882.
Time Period Covered: May 3, 1862 - December 28, 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)
Place(s)
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Social aspects [3]
- Fort Jackson (La.) [2]
- Fort Saint Philip (La.) [2]
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- New Orleans (La.)HistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865 [2]
- Military camps -- Louisiana [1]
- Military campsLouisiana [1]
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care [1]
Format(s)
- text [10]
Genre(s)
- correspondence [10]
Topic(s)
- United StatesArmy.Vermont Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1865) [8]
- United StatesArmy Military life [5]
- African Americans [3]
- Butler, (Benjamin Franklin)Mr1818-1893 [3]
- Food [3]
- Medicine, Military [1]
- Military discharge [1]
- Photographs [1]
- Picketing [1]
- Recruiting and enlistment [1]
- Reporters and reporting [1]
- Steamboats [1]
- United StatesArmy Surgeons [1]
- War Economic aspects [1]
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Title: John Lester Barstow to ?
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-05-18
Resource type: correspondence
Comfortable lodgings of the regiment in New Orleans, the cost of food items, and the ruined state of New Orleans when the Vermont Regiment arrived, interaction with the Negroes.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Father
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-12-28
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include the fleeing of Rebels to Texas, the destruction and loss of property near New Orleans, and Barstow’s belief that the war must not end until the Union is restored.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-05-03
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include an overview of the daily schedule in camp, firing on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philips by General Butler, General Phelps, and about 10,000 men that lasted for three days, and orders for the rest of the regiment to head for New Orleans.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1863-03-26
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include Barstow's sickness, of him sent to New Orleans for rest but ordered back to his regiment as Heitzel's Brigade was to retreat, a very hard rain that flooded the camp, Admiral David Farragut at the siege of Port Hudson (on March 14), the retreat of General Banks and his army to Baton Rouge, his feelings other southern cities will soon fall and he will be going home, burning of the steamer, BioBio and perhaps the burning and loss of the mail with it and requests for photographs.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1863-04-22
Resource type: correspondence
Writing laying on the ground from Opelousas La. topics include the regiment moving and having an exchange of fire with the rebels, at last receiving letters dated Feb 28th and Mar. 10th, he being a Captain must walk (not ride according to regulations), his feet now sore and blistered, the men who were wounded in this exchange, and the regiment's plan to go to the Red River to attack Port Hudson or Vicksburg, regrets the lack of writing paper and pen.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1863-05-16
Resource type: correspondence
Topics include moving up the Red River, on the march can not catch the Rebels on horseback, dealing with snakes, joining forces with General Grant and his campaign in regard to Port Hudson or Vicksburg, inquiries about the draft in Shelburne, wishing to be with family, the beauty of flower gardens at the residences, plenty of corn planted but folks in need of other goods, the murder of a soldier by another soldier (later confined as a lunatic), a surgeon administering medicine only to discover is was poisoned resulting in the death of five soldiers.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1863-10-25
Resource type: correspondence
Two letters dated Oct 25 and Oct 27 with topics including marching, waiting, more marching, more waiting, lack of food due to road conditions, unable to forage for food, hot days, cold nights, the importance of picket duty, the unpopularity of General William B. Franklin, and the army returning to New Iberia, fear that mail may be lost due to capture of wagons by Rebels and fear to send any money by mail.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-11-23
Resource type: correspondence
Written in the field he writes of idleness of the Regiment since its arrival on the banks of the Bayon and the help the Negroes are receiving from the government, the lack of coffee, poor quality flour, no salt, spoiled meat causing disease, exorbitant prices for food.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-12-14
Resource type: correspondence
General Banks supersedes General Butler, the capture of one of the rebel officers, and the dishonorable discharge of Lieutenant Day.
Title: John Lester Barstow to Laura
Creator: Barstow, John Lester, 1832-1913
Date: 1862-05-11
Resource type: correspondence
Being aboard the ship “Jamis Hovey” on the Mississippi River on the way to New Orleans, the difficulty of the journey from Ship Island to New Orleans, and the initial observations upon the arrival in New Orleans.
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