Russell Dashiell, 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.