CIVIL WAR RECORDS AT THE VERMONT STATE ARCHIVES

Military Records

Records of the Office of the Adjutant and Inspector General, 1861-1867
(Series PRA-364, PRA-433, and PRA-432)

The Adjutant and Inspector General commanded Vermont's military during the Civil War. The correspondence, reports, muster rolls, enlistment contracts, pay rolls, and related records within these series richly document the service of the state's military units during the war. A detailed finding aid further describes these holdings. The records are available on microfilm at the State Archives and Records Administration. Published versions of the Adjutant and Inspector General's reports also may be found at the Vermont Department of Libraries.

Records of the Quartermaster General, 1857-1867
(Series PRA-443)

Vermont Quartermasters General George Davis and Perley Pitkin were responsible for acquiring and supplying the necessary arms and equipment for those Vermont troops in U.S. service during the Civil War as well as the provisional units of the Vermont Militia called into state service to defend the frontier subsequent to the St. Albans Raid 1864 - 1866. The series also contains the records of Perley Pitkin while he acted in the capacity of Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Army, stationed in Warrenton Junction, VA (October 1862), and in Brandy Station, VA (November 1863). The correspondence, financial accounts, and inventories provide a detailed picture of the effort and expense required to field the military during the war. The records are available on microfilm at the State Archives and Records Administration.

Civil War Soldiers' Powers of Attorney and Survivor Applications to Draw State Pay, 1861-1873
(Series PRA-459)

This collection contains Civil War soldiers' powers of attorney allowing a designated assignee to draw pay ($7.00 per month) from the State Treasurer. Also includes applications of surviving relatives of Vermont soldiers to collect arrears of pay due. Many of the applications provide genealogical information, and they are arranged alphabetically within companies by the name of the soldier. These records have been microfilmed and are available for research at the State Archives and Records Administration.

Roster of Vermont Volunteers, 1863
(Series PRA-393)

Prepared by the State Treasurer's Office in August 1863, this volume contains an alphabetical roster of Vermont soldiers which includes their rank, company, and regiment. It is available for research at the State Archives and Records Administration.

Enrolled Militia Records, 1863
(Series PRA-390, PRA-391, and PRA-392)

The General Assembly enacted legislation in 1862 in response to Federal authorization that allowed states to draft militia. Every man eligible for military service was required to register beginning January 27, 1863. The enrollment information includes names, ages, occupations, and any exemptions to service. Enrollment records are available at the State Archives and Records Administration for Buel's Gore (PRA-390), Goshen Gore (PRA-391), and the Town of Ripton (PRA-392). Enrollment records for other municipalities may be found with municipal clerks or local historical societies.

Civil War Letters and Diaries
(Series PRA-356)

During the Civil War Centennial Commemoration, 1961-1965, individuals with private collections of Civil War letters, diaries, and papers generously allowed the Vermont Civil War Centennial Committee to microfilm their records for the benefit of researchers. The microfilm copies of these records are available for research at the State Archives and Records Administration.