In their letters "To the Editor" of the Rutland Herald, young Vermont
soldiers tell of their service in the Civil War, fighting for the Union,
galloping around Lee's army in Virginia, garrisoning the beleaguered
defenses of Washington, D.C., and blunting Pickett's desperate charge at
Gettysburg. One writer is captured, another serves as a prison camp
guard, others are wounded - and one dies fighting in the horrific
conflict in the Wilderness of Virginia. The author provides biographical
information for each writer (except one unidentified soldier who remains
an enigma) and supporting commentary on military affairs. The book is
illustrated with 30 engravings and prints, 15 maps, and 21 historical
photographs, and includes an extensive index.