An attorney from a long-time Maryland family delves into the past with a focus on Maryland’s divided sympathies in the first two years of the War between the States.

A review of Maryland’s culture, politics, and economy at the time of the Presidential election of 1860, the secession crisis, the first two years of the War between the States, and with a further discussion of Maryland’s divided sympathies and participation in the seminal events of that time.

In our second session, we will analyze Lee’s Maryland Campaign of 1862, the battles of South Mountain and Antietam/Sharpsburg. Even though Antietam was a tactical draw, it was probably the most significant military action of the War with Lee’s withdrawal back to Virginia triggering Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

What to expect:

This will be discussion based on well-documented research, introducing diaries, letters and other first-person accounts of the cultural, political and military events occurring in Maryland during this divided time. There will also be discussion of a single battle on Maryland soil which changed the course of the War, and for that matter, all of American history.

Russell dashiell

Russell Dashiell

Russell Dashiell, Jr. grew up on the Eastern Shore, with family here since 1654. He had ancestors on both sides of the War between the States. He has been on the Board of Preservation Maryland that helps preserve Maryland historical sites, as well as on the Board of the Maryland Historical Society. He is currently a member of both the Talbot and Wicomico Historical Societies. He enjoys his role as a living history volunteer for the National Park Service at the Antietam and Monocacy National Battlefield Parks and has made a lifetime study of the period of the American Civil War. Graduated with a BA with honors in History from Univ of VA in 1971, and graduated from the Univ of MD Law School with a JD awarded in 1974. He has practiced law in MD in most counties of the Eastern Shore ever since.

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