Spunky Lamoille's Boys in Blue Too

Vermont Adjutant General Peter Washburn thought "Spunky Lamoille" was all right; a newspaper editor felt justified that "Spunky Lamoille" may be relied upon to furnish aid in putting down the rebellion; and when someone questioned what the ladies of "Spunky Lamoille" were doing for the Sanitary Commission, the ladies of Johnson proudly replied, in detail. This second volume, "Spunky Lamoille Boys in Blue Too," contains more letters from the front and the stories of three courageous women who served there as well. Soldiers share their prison experiences, and others their war experiences, including one veteran who wrote a memoir for his grandchildren. There are details about five physicians from the county who served in various positions during the war, four freed slaves who came back with soldiers and became residents of the county and two soldiers who received our nation's highest honor, The Medal of Honor. One Lamoille County soldier witnessed the final construction activity at the Capitol building in late 1863, and another had the honor of being one of the firing crew in the gun salute when the Statue of Freedom was placed atop the building. You will find out what the contents of a time-capsule embedded in the foundation of the Morrisville Soldiers' Monument were, and details of the segment of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway that crosses the northern section of the state. The incredible story of Stowe native Ira Barnes Dutton, who shared his life with the lepers in Hawaii is included as well. Compiled by Lamoille County historian Deanna French and edited by Tom Ledoux, webmaster of the Vermont Civil War project, the attitudes expressed in these stories express the "spunkiness" that has characterizes the county's history as far back as the war of 1812, and some say continues today.