Setting the Record Straight on the "High-Bounty" Men


Welcome to the official website of High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac: Reclaiming Their Honor, where history is revisited and perceptions are challenged. Authored by Edwin P. Rutan II, this groundbreaking work documents the service of the men joining the Army of the Potomac later in the war when the conditional draft and higher bounties were in effect. Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, this book refutes the longstanding criticism of the "high-bounty" men and demonstrates their crucial--but generally ignored--contribution to the Union Victory.

Featured Reviews

Icon of a Civil War bugle representing speaking engagements on the High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac website.

Earl J. Hess

Professor Emeritus, Lincoln Memorial University

"(High-Bounty Men in The Army of the Potomac)...is a brilliant addition to Civil War soldier studies."

Icon of a Civil War bugle representing speaking engagements on the High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac website.

William Marvel

Author of Lincoln’s Mercenaries: Economic Motivation among Union Soldiers during the Civil War

"Ed Rutan has credibly quashed an indictment against late-war Union volunteers that originated in high-level excuse-making 160 years ago."

Core Insights:

Combat Effectiveness

Regimental Effectiveness Diagram from High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac

High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac innovatively applies the combat effectiveness framework, traditionally used in European military assessments, to the Civil War, revealing how late-war Union regiments performed like seasoned veterans in their initial battles.

Detailed Maps

Battle of Five Forks Civil War Map by Hal Jespersen from High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac.

Every reader of military history knows the importance of excellent maps supporting the text. The maps designed by Hal Jespersen for High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac meet that test.

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Data-Driven Analysis

Chart 6.1 from High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac About Battle Deaths: Pennsylvania Soldiers in the Army of the Potomac.

High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac challenges conventional views with rigorous evidence from newly created databases, showing that late-war "high-bounty" recruits faced combat as fiercely as early-war veterans. 

Illustrations

  • Illustrative cover depicting the Fall of Petersburg, sourced from the Library of Congress.

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    Illustrative cover of the Fall of Petersburg during the Civil War. Source: Library of Congress.

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  • Portrait of Governor Horatio Seymour of New York, sourced from the Library of Congress.

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    Portrait of Governor Horatio Seymour of New York. Source: Library of Congress.

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  • Historical photograph of Private Russell Higgins Jr. from the 189th New York Volunteers, courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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    Private Russell Higgins Jr., 189th New York Volunteers during the Civil War. Courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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  • Photograph of Private George F. Scott from the 188th New York Volunteers, courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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    Private George F. Scott of the 188th New York Volunteers. Courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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  • Image of Private William B. Drew from the 185th New York Volunteers, courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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    Private William B. Drew, 185th New York Volunteers. Courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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  • Photograph of Captain Nelson Penfield from the 125th New York Volunteers, courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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    Captain Nelson Penfield, 125th New York Volunteers. Courtesy of the New York State Military Museum.

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  • Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, sourced from the Library of Congress

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    Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Source: Library of Congress.

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  • Provost Marshal General James B. Fry, from the Library of Congress.

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    Provost Marshal General James B. Fry in uniform. Source: Library of Congress

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  • Historical photograph of II Corps Commander Winfield Scott Hancock, sourced from the Library of Congress.

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    General Winfield Scott Hancock, prominent Civil War leader. Source: Library of Congress.

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  • Image of General John Hartranft, sourced from the Library of Congress.

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    General John Hartranft, notable figure in the Civil War. Source: Library of Congress.

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About the Author

Headshot of Edwin P. Rutan II, Author of High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac

Edwin P. Rutan II, a retired attorney and dedicated historian, has authored High-Bounty Men in the Army of the Potomac: Reclaiming Their Honor, which explores the unsung heroes of the Civil War. After a distinguished career in law, including serving as the City Attorney for Salt Lake City, Ed returned to his first passion—history. His works, including the detailed study of the 179th New York Volunteer Infantry, blend rigorous scholarship with compelling narrative to illuminate overlooked chapters of the past. Ed resides in Park City, Utah, where he enjoys the great outdoors and continues his historical research.

About the Author