author
William Y. W. (William Young Warren) Ripley
1832–1905
A Vermont businessman turned Civil War officer, he is remembered for leading with unusual grit under fire at Malvern Hill. His life blends military courage, public service, and the story of a prominent 19th-century New England family.
1 Audiobook
Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, 1861 to 1865 : A history of Company F, First United States sharp shooters
by William Y. W. (William Young Warren) Ripley
About the author
William Young Warren Ripley was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on December 31, 1832, and later built his career in Rutland in the family marble business and banking. When the Civil War began, he entered Union service, first with the 1st Vermont Infantry and then with the 1st United States Sharpshooters, rising to lieutenant colonel.
He is best known for his actions at the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862. Although severely wounded, he continued to lead in combat, and he later received the Medal of Honor for that bravery. His military reputation remained strong in Vermont after the war, and he also served in the state militia.
After leaving active wartime service, Ripley returned to business and civic life in Vermont. He died in Rutland on December 16, 1905, leaving behind a legacy tied both to the Union war effort and to Vermont's public life in the nineteenth century.