Edwin H. Stoughton
Encyclopedia
Edwin Henry Stoughton was a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
and a lawyer.
, the son of Henry Evander and Laura (Clark) Stoughton.
He was appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy
on July 1, 1854, and graduated with the class of 1859. He served garrison duty as a brevet 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
from July to September 1859. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, and transferred to the U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment
.
, and led his command in the Peninsula Campaign
. Stoughton was only 23 years old and said to be the youngest colonel in the army at the time of his appointment.
In November 1862, he was appointed Brigadier General, Volunteers, and assumed command of the 2nd Vermont Brigade
on December 7, replacing Colonel Asa P. Blunt
. Stoughton's brother, Charles B. Stoughton
, assumed command of the 4th Vermont Infantry in his stead.
Mosby's Rangers (led by Confederate partisan John S. Mosby
) led a daring raid into Union Territory and captured Stoughton at Fairfax Court House
on March 9, 1863. Stoughton had hosted a party for his visiting mother and sister, who were staying at the home of Confederate spy Antonia Ford
. After leaving the party, Stoughton retired to a nearby house that served as his headquarters. Mosby allegedly found Stoughton in bed, rousing him with a slap to his rear. Upon being so rudely awakened, the general shouted, "Do you know who I am?" Mosby quickly replied, "Do you know Mosby, general?" "Yes! Have you got the rascal?" "No but he has got you!" Apparently, Edwin H. Stoughton was not popular with the officers and men of the brigade, and few mourned his loss. President Lincoln, on hearing of the capture, said "he did not so much mind the loss of a brigadier general, for he could make another in five minutes; 'but those horses cost $125 apiece!'" Colonel Blunt assumed command of the brigade again, turning it over to the new commander, Brigadier General George J. Stannard
, on April 20, who led the brigade until the Battle of Gettysburg
.
After a two month stay in Richmond
's Libby Prison
, Stoughton was exchanged, but saw no further service, as the United States Senate
had not confirmed his initial appointment.
Stoughton was an attorney after the war, and died in New York City
, only 30 years old. He is buried in Immanuel Cemetery, Rockingham, Vermont
.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and a lawyer.
Early life
Stoughton was born in Chester, VermontChester, Vermont
Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census. The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were not met and the town was re-chartered as New Flamstead in 1761...
, the son of Henry Evander and Laura (Clark) Stoughton.
He was appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
on July 1, 1854, and graduated with the class of 1859. He served garrison duty as a brevet 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
The U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. It has served the United States for approximately two hundred years.-Origins:...
from July to September 1859. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, and transferred to the U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment
U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment
The 6th Infantry Regiment was formed in 1812. Its most famous commander was Zachary Taylor, later the twelfth President of the United States. The Motto, "Regulars, By God!" derives from the Battle of Chippawa, in which British general Riall noticed that the approaching regiment had on the uniforms...
.
Civil War
He resigned his regular commission in March 1861, and in September was appointed colonel of the 4th Vermont Infantry4th Vermont Infantry
The 4th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three year' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 1861 to July 1865...
, and led his command in the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
. Stoughton was only 23 years old and said to be the youngest colonel in the army at the time of his appointment.
In November 1862, he was appointed Brigadier General, Volunteers, and assumed command of the 2nd Vermont Brigade
2nd Vermont Brigade
The 2nd Vermont Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.- Composition and commanders :...
on December 7, replacing Colonel Asa P. Blunt
Asa P. Blunt
Asa Peabody Blunt was a draughtsman and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
. Stoughton's brother, Charles B. Stoughton
Charles B. Stoughton
Charles Bradley Stoughton was an officer and regimental commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, assumed command of the 4th Vermont Infantry in his stead.
Mosby's Rangers (led by Confederate partisan John S. Mosby
John S. Mosby
John Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
) led a daring raid into Union Territory and captured Stoughton at Fairfax Court House
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
on March 9, 1863. Stoughton had hosted a party for his visiting mother and sister, who were staying at the home of Confederate spy Antonia Ford
Antonia Ford
Antonia Ford was a volunteer civilian spy for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
. After leaving the party, Stoughton retired to a nearby house that served as his headquarters. Mosby allegedly found Stoughton in bed, rousing him with a slap to his rear. Upon being so rudely awakened, the general shouted, "Do you know who I am?" Mosby quickly replied, "Do you know Mosby, general?" "Yes! Have you got the rascal?" "No but he has got you!" Apparently, Edwin H. Stoughton was not popular with the officers and men of the brigade, and few mourned his loss. President Lincoln, on hearing of the capture, said "he did not so much mind the loss of a brigadier general, for he could make another in five minutes; 'but those horses cost $125 apiece!'" Colonel Blunt assumed command of the brigade again, turning it over to the new commander, Brigadier General George J. Stannard
George J. Stannard
George Jerrison Stannard was a Vermont farmer, teacher, and Union general in the American Civil War. After the war, he served as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives.-Early life:...
, on April 20, who led the brigade until the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
.
After a two month stay in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
's Libby Prison
Libby Prison
Libby Prison was a Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It gained an infamous reputation for the harsh conditions under which prisoners from the Union Army were kept.- Overview :...
, Stoughton was exchanged, but saw no further service, as the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
had not confirmed his initial appointment.
Stoughton was an attorney after the war, and died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, only 30 years old. He is buried in Immanuel Cemetery, Rockingham, Vermont
Rockingham, Vermont
Rockingham is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, along the Connecticut River. The population was 5,309 at the 2000 census. Rockingham includes the incorporated villages of Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, as well as a large rural area west of Interstate 91.Rockingham has no formal...
.
- Benedict, G. G., Vermont in the Civil War. A History of the part taken by the Vermont Soldiers And Sailors in the War For The Union, 1861-5. Burlington, VT.: The Free Press Association, 1888, i:105, 157-165, 259-260, 293, 321; ii:404, 410, 419-422, 426-430, 778.
- Crockett, Walter Hill, Vermont The Green Mountain State, New York: The Century History Company, Inc., 1921, iii:516, 537, 541, 557.
- Peck, Theodore S., compiler, Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-66. Montpelier, VT.: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, pp. 106, 108, 456, 682, 749.
Additional reading
- Coffin, Howard, Full Duty: Vermonters in the Civil War. Woodstock, VT.: Countryman Press, 1995.
- -----. Nine Months to Gettysburg. The Vermonters Who Broke Pickett's Charge. Woodstock, VT.: Countryman Press, 1997.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- Vermont in the Civil WarVermont in the Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the State of Vermont continued the military tradition started by the Green Mountain Boys of American Revolutionary War fame, contributing a significant portion of its eligible men to the war effort.- History :...