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Dartmouth & the War

The quotations that are played on the cover screen of this site were selected from the archives to portray Dartmouth during the Civil War period. This page contains the text and audio files for all of the quotations.

This has been a very exciting day here. This noon the telegraph confirmed last night's rumor that Fort Sumter had unconditionally surrendered.
- Edward Tuck '62 to his Father Amos Tuck '35

Everybody talks of war. 9 out of 10 profess willingness to 'go down and fight' and I've no doubt a majority of these talkers would really go if things came to the worst.
- Edward Tuck '62 to his Father Amos Tuck '35

Neither the Trustees nor the Faculty coincide with the president of the College in the views which he has published, touching slavery and the war; and it has been their hope that the college would not be adjudged a partisan institution, by reason of such publications.
- Report of the Subcommittee of the Trustees that looked into Nathan Lord's views on slavery, July 1863

We recognize and acknowledge with grateful pride, the heroic sacrifices and valiant deeds of many of the sons of Dartmouth, in their endeavors to defend and sustain the Government against the present wicked and remorseless rebellion; and we announce to the living, now on the battlefield, to the sick and maimed in the hospitals and among their friends, and to the relatives of such of them as have fallen in defense of their country, that Dartmouth College rejoices to do them honor, and will inscribe their names and their brave deeds upon her enduring records.
- Resolution of the Board of Trustees on the occasion of the resignation of Nathan Lord, July 1863

We hail with joy, and with grateful acknowledgments to the God of our fathers that American slavery, with all its sin and shame, and the alienations, jealousies, and hostilities between the people of different sections, of which it has been the fruitful source, may find its merited doom in the consequence of the war which it has evoked.
- Resolution of the Board of Trustees on the occasion of the resignation of Nathan Lord, July 1863

With a firmer purpose and a steadier hand the Northern armies are opening the south to the warm rays of freedom, and to the advantages of good government and educated labor. A twelve month will suffice to convince them of their arrogance and conceit and perhaps complete the contest of arms, a few years more may be necessary to banish and eradicate slavery.
- Fisher Ames Baker '59 to Kate Fisher, July 11, 1861

My visit home by giving me an opportunity to observe the prosperity and thrift of the North in comparison with the decay of this region has made me more patriotic and more willing to risk life and years in this struggle than before.
- Fisher Ames Baker '59 to Kate Fisher, March 23, 1863

I can not account for the apathy which allows any young man capable of bearing arms to keep aloof from this contest and oblige the government to resort to forcible means to obtain defenders of freedom and constitutional government. Although longing for the enjoyments of society I would be of all men most miserable if by fear, love of home or any other reason I was constrained to withhold my feeble aid in this hour of my country's trial and to feel that I was indebted to others no stronger than myself for making my country honored and respected.
- Fisher Ames Baker '59 to Kate Fisher, March 23, 1863

During the summer vacations of Dartmouth College and Norwich University, a portion of the students connected with these institutions propose to serve their country in the army. Finding no eligible corps in their respective states, they offered themselves to Governor Sprague, to form a company of the squadron.
- The Providence Journal, 1862

Upon this tablet are inscribed the names of the sons of Dartmouth who gave their lives in the war for the preservation of the Union to which are added in recognition of their personal devotion to duty the names of those who fell in the confederate service.
- Plaque in Webster Hall

652 Dartmouth students representing classes from 1822 to 1884 fought for the Union. 204 of these came from the Medical School. 44 Dartmouth students fought for the Confederacy.
- Plaque in Webster Hall

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