Washington County in the Civil War

by Stephen R. Bockmiller

Overview

Washington County's involvement in the Civil War conjures images of the terrible aftermath of the Battle of Antietam. But many other events occurred there during the war. Wedged into a narrow neck between Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the area was the setting for many important events in the conflict. From John Brown launching his raid on nearby Harpers Ferry at the Kennedy Farm in 1859 to the dragnet that ensnared local citizens following President Lincoln's assassination in 1865, the military was a constant presence. Antietam changed the course of the war and provided President Lincoln the military events needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Harper's Ferry, the C&O Canal, and several rail lines were of vital importance for projecting Union strength into the Shenandoah Valley. They were regularly attacked and defended, and Hagerstown was nearly burned in 1864. Many from across the nation returned home indelibly affected by their experiences in Washington County; some never made it back at all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467134767
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	03/21/2016
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Stephen R. Bockmiller develops this county-wide history as a companion to his 2011 Arcadia publication Hagerstown in the Civil War. He has gathered images from local and regional libraries, historical societies, and private collections, including previously unpublished photographs provided by the descendants of veterans.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 The Coming Storm: Antebellum Washington County to 1861 9

2 The Great Catastrophe: 1862 27

3 The Path from Gettysburg: 1863 55

4 Weary of War: 1864-1865 79

5 150 Years of Memory and Commemoration: 1865-2015 97