The Civil War transformed the Potomac River into an international boundary, placing Washington County on a dangerous border. The valley, located at the mid-point of a natural corridor, appeared to Confederate generals as a dagger pointed at the soft underbelly of the North. Events of the Civil War shows that War through the eyes of one community in the path of some of its greatest events. Both Antietam and Lee's retreat from Gettysburg through the county are seen in the context of the War's impact on the freedom, lives, and property of local residents. This study is drawn from letters, newspapers, regimental histories, diaries, family histories, and published and unpublished archival sources. It is a model of Civil War local history research.

This book explains how the Battle of Antietam—a conflict that changed nothing militarily—still played a pivotal role in the Civil War by affording Abraham Lincoln an opportunity to announce the emancipation of slaves in states in rebellion. Antietam 1862: Gateway to Emancipation examines the connections between the Maryland Campaign culminating in the battle of Antietam in 1862 and the drive to emancipate slaves to win the war for the Union. The work's thematic chapters discuss how slaves' resistance to the Confederacy and flight to Union armies influenced Union domestic and diplomatic politics, Confederate military strategy, and above all, the leadership of President Lincoln. By focusing on the complex topics of antislavery politics, diplomacy, and slaves' resistance rather than the specific occurrences on the battlefield, this book shows how shrewd Abraham Lincoln was in assessing the consequences of fighting a civil war about slavery. The concept that slaves' resistance played a part in Lee and Davis's decision to cross the Potomac and invade Maryland is explored, as is the idea that this strategy delayed and ultimately dashed all of the Confederacy's hopes of help from the British.

Architectural & Historic Treasures of Washington County, Maryland features 140 articles, including references to original land patents, early settlers and their families, and the establishment of towns throughout Washington County. In addition, this book includes over 500 photographs, plus 64 pages of color photos, maps showing each location, many historic pictures, an extensive glossary and index.Publication of this book was made possible by the Washington County Historical Trust and the volunteer efforts of its members. All profits will be placed in a revolving fund for the preservation of endangered properties in Washington County, Maryland.

The towns of Maryland's Middletown Valley bear the imprints of some of the most telling events in early American history: the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the building of America's first national road. Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president, described the Middletown Valley as "one of the most favored and delightful spots on earth." The largest town, picturesque Middletown, was the scene of intense activity during the Civil War. Mountaintop Braddock Heights became a resort "getaway" after the construction of a trolley line in 1896. Myersville was settled in the 1700s by industrious immigrants who set up a bustling community of farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Wolfsville, an appealing old settlement near the Mason-Dixon Line, was occupied by Confederate forces in 1864. The charming little village of Burkittsville sits beneath a mountain that boasts the world's only monument to fallen war correspondents. Using images gathered from local families, historical societies, and libraries, Middletown Valley explores the unique history and daily lives of the people who have lived and worked in this magical valley.

Read the story of the Battle of Antietam from the African American perspective. The African American community around Sharpsburg, Maryland witnessed John Brown's raid, wartime skirmishes, the Battle of South Mountain, and the aftermath of the bloodiest day in American history. Read stories of encounters with Abraham Lincoln and Union and Confederate generals, and of Black civilian suffering and sacrifice in the cause of freedom. Their experiences during four years of Civil War come to life in vivid detail, often in their own words. Award-winning historian Emilie Amt recounts the personal stories of African Americans, both enslaved and free, who lived on the battlefield and who worked in the armies who clashed there.