History Exhibits
These exhibits present the story of Fort Duffield and the soldiers who built and guarded it, using
letters, diaries, official reports, and modern research. Each exhibit combines multiple sources into
a focused narrative, offering different ways to explore the fort’s history.
Choose an exhibit below to follow a particular thread of the story — from the building of the fort,
to the voices of the men on the hill, to the day‑by‑day record preserved in Wellington C. Wells’s diary.
The Story of Fort Duffield
A long‑form interpretive history of Fort Duffield — from its construction in late 1861 through its
later use, abandonment, and preservation. This exhibit weaves together diary entries, letters, and
post‑war accounts to tell the full story of the fort on the hill above West Point.
Read “The Story of Fort Duffield” →
Voices of the Soldiers
A hub for every soldier’s voice preserved in the Fort Duffield archive — letters, diaries, and
combined exhibits. This page links to Halladay, Love, DeLand, Barker, Parkhurst, Duffield family
letters, Wellington’s diary, and the cross‑reference exhibits that connect them.
Visit “Voices of the Soldiers” →
Wellington Diary — “So Much to Say”
A curated exhibit built around the diary of Pvt. Wellington C. Wells, who recorded daily life from
October 25, 1861 through March 31, 1862. This exhibit highlights key entries and themes, showing how
one soldier experienced the building and occupation of Fort Duffield.
Explore the Wellington Diary Exhibit →
Diary & Letters Cross‑Reference Exhibit
Many letters written from West Point match specific days in Wellington’s diary. This exhibit lines
up those documents side by side, revealing how different men described the same weather, rumors,
hardships, and events on Muldraugh’s Hill.
View Diary & Letters Cross‑References →
Additional Exhibits
As new research and interpretive projects are completed, additional exhibits may be added here —
focusing on specific companies, families, or events connected to Fort Duffield and West Point.