Any performance differences between top and rear flue exit on Hearthstone stoves? Have used both configurations on dutchwest and vermont casting stoves in past.
Top or Rear Flue Exit
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An extended horizontal connection off the rear of a stove can slow down draft resulting in slower starts and possible smoke spillage when opening the stove door. This will usually be more notable in stoves with a large door and a shallow firebox. You'll want a strong draft and an uphill pitch of at least 1/4" per ft to help counteract this problem.
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Vertical is a superior configuration. Due to the whole, heat rises thing. If you have the choice, always go vertical.
GibsonJ45
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I've got a rear exit, but also a very tall chimney. The upside is that I don't have a tall pipe going through my ceiling/roof, but I also don't get the extra heat radiation of the longer pipe provides.
stove is a castleton by hearthstone. hooking up to a 20' chimney through a fireplace. rear would make connections easier but vertical is still possible as it is a large fireplace opening.
I would put the stove out on the hearth for more heat radiation. I have my stoves here rear-vented with a tee, so I just remove the bottom tee cover and brush the flue into a garbage bag tied to the bottom of the tee. As long as your draft is good, you're good. 
On some stoves, having a Tee on the back of a rear vent stove is a help when cleaning the flue. Knock the cap off the bottom and put a garbage bag over the end before running the brush down from the top. Om my Jotul Castine it is not an Issue, since I lift the top off the stove and the stove pipe stays put, and I can clean out the debris easily. On my old Garrison the TEE was a big help.
That's not really the goal. Modern stoves are so efficient that the heat going up the chimney is needed to keep the draft going and to avoid the accumulation of creosote.
I would recommend using an insulated liner; then draft should not be a problem, even with a rear-exit. Don't forget a block-off plate: https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/make-a-damper-sealing-block-off-plate/
How dry is the wood?
flue setup is already in place with great results and draft. Hearthstone is replacing a small vermont casting aspen that is inset inside the fireplace. Am hoping to pull the new stove out onto the hearth for asthetics and more radiant heat. just hoping the rear exit will not diminish performance.
The Castelton looks like it has a reasonably deep firebox. If the draft is good it should work ok. Be sure to give it a little uphill incline toward the chimney.
If you don't have any, it would be an ideal moment to add the block-off plate. Pretty much everyone here who did not have one noticed a significant improvement in heat retention after installing the plate.
Keep us posted on how the Castleton works out. I think you will like the steady even heat of the soapstone.
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