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.