The Youngest Colonel

A lawyer and Union Army General, Edwin Henry Stoughton was born June 23rd 1838.


Edwin Henry Stoughton was born June 23rd 1838 in Chester VT, the son of Henry Evander and Laura [Clark] Stoughton. He received an appointment to West Point in 1854, and graduated 17th in his class of 1859. Stoughton started with the United States 4th Infantry, and in September 1859 was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the 6th Infantry.

In March 1861 Stoughton resigned his commission with the United States Army, and excepted an appointment to the 4th Vermont Infantry as their Colonel, where he lead them during the Peninsular Campaign. He was only 23 and the youngest Colonel in the Army at the time. In November 1862 he received a promotion to Brigadier General and took over command of the 2nd Vermont Brigade. On March 9th 1863 Stoughton was captured by Confederate Colonel John S Mosby at Fairfax Court House Virginia. He was held in Libby Prison in Richmond Virginia for two months before being exchanged. Stoughton saw no further military service.
Following the war he worked as a lawyer . Stoughton died December 25th 1868 in New York City. He is buried in the Immanuel Cemetery in Rockingham Vermont.
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Vermont-born Generals
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