Research — Fort Duffield Archive
The Research Section preserves the documentary record of Fort Duffield, West Point, and the
soldiers of the 9th Michigan Infantry during the winter of 1861–62. These materials include letters, diaries,
official reports, maps, and interpretive exhibits that reveal the human experience behind the construction and
defense of the fort.
Explore the collections below to read the voices of the men and families who lived through the earliest months
of the Civil War in Kentucky.
Primary Sources
The core of the Fort Duffield archive — original documents written by soldiers, officers, and families.
- Primary Sources — Main Archive
- Letters & Correspondence
- Wellington Diary — Full Transcription
- Wellington Diary — “So Much to Say” Exhibit
- Official Reports & Military Documents
- Maps & Diagrams
- Miscellaneous Documents
Letters & Correspondence
Personal letters written during the winter of 1861–62. These are the most vivid first‑person accounts of life
at West Point and Fort Duffield.
- Halladay Letters
- Love Letters
- DeLand Letters
- Barker Letter
- Parkhurst Letters
- Duffield Family Letters
- Little Love Letters from the Hill
Diaries
Daily accounts written by soldiers stationed at West Point and Fort Duffield. These diaries provide
chronological insight into weather, sickness, construction, and military activity.
Official Reports & Military Documents
Orders, reports, and official communications related to the 9th Michigan Infantry, Fort Duffield, and
military operations in the region.
Maps & Diagrams
Historic and modern maps showing Fort Duffield, West Point, Muldraugh’s Hill, and troop movements.
Walking & Driving Tours
Interpretive tours that guide visitors through the fort, the hillside, and the surrounding historic landscape.
Featured Exhibits
Curated presentations that combine multiple primary sources into thematic stories.