What: Lovettsville Historical Society Lecture: “Their Maryland: The Army of Northern Virginia from the Potomac Crossing to Sharpsburg in September 1862”
When: Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: St. James United Church of Christ, 10 East Broad Way, Lovettsville, Va.
For further information, contact:
Edward Spannaus 540-822-9194, or 703-727-9758
http://www.lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org/
events@lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org
“Their Maryland: The Army of Northern Virginia from the Potomac Crossing
to Sharpsburg in September 1862″
by Alexander Rossino
Sunday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m.
In person or Live-streamed via Zoom
St. James United Church of Christ,
10 East Broad Way, Lovettsville
Most students of the Civil War believe the story of Robert E. Lee’s 1862 Maryland Campaign is complete, and that new studies must rely on interpretations long-since accepted and understood. But what if this is not the case? What if the histories previously written about the first major Confederate operation north of the Potomac River missed key sources, proceeded from mistaken readings of the evidence, or were influenced by Lost Cause ideology?
Alexander B. Rossino, the next speaker in the Lovettsville Historical Society’s lecture series, showed in his book, Their Maryland: The Army of Northern Virginia from the Potomac Crossing to Sharpsburg in September 1862, that these types of distortions continue to shape modern understanding of the campaign.
Rossino addresses many important issues: Did supply problems in Virginia force Lee north to press the advantage he had won after the Battle of Second Manassas? What did Rebel troops believe about the strength of secessionist sentiment in Maryland, and why? Did the entire Army of Northern Virginia really camp at Best’s Farm near Frederick, Maryland? Did D. H. Hill lose Special Orders No. 191, or is there more to the story? How did Maryland civilians respond to the Rebel army in their midst, and what part did women play? Finally, why did Robert E. Lee choose to fight at Sharpsburg, and how personally was he involved in directing the fighting?
The presentation will be held at St. James United Church of Christ, at 10 East Broad Way, in Lovettsville. The program will be followed, as is customary, by questions and discussion.
The Zoom link will be sent out before the lecture. To request the Zoom link, please RSVP to events@LovettsvilleHistoricalSociety.org.
Admission is free, but donations and are welcome to defray expenses of the program and to support the activities of the Lovettsville Historical Society.