Their Maryland: The Army of Northern Virginia From the Potomac Crossing to Sharpsburg in September 1862

by Alexander B. Rossino

“Engagingly written and persuasively argued, this daringly revisionist book is an essential addition to the Antietam bibliography.” —Brian Matthew Jordan, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Marching Home   What if the histories previously written about Robert E. Lee’s 1862 Maryland Campaign, 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? As Alexander B. Rossino, author of the acclaimed Six Days in September, demonstrates in Their The Army of Northern Virginia from the Potomac Crossing to Sharpsburg in September 1862, these types of distortions indeed continue to shape modern understanding of the campaign.   Rossino reassesses the history of the Confederate operation in seven comprehensive chapters, each tackling a specific major issue. He addresses many important Did supply problems in Virginia force Lee north to press the advantage he’d 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?   Rossino makes extensive use of primary sources to explore these and other questions. In doing so, he reveals that many long-held assumptions about the Confederate experience in Maryland do not hold up under close scrutiny. The result is a well-documented reassessment that sheds new light on old subjects and reinvigorates the debate on several fronts.   “The reader will come away with a greater understanding of this crucial campaign and battle.” —James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times–bestselling author of Battle Cry of Freedom

Genres: Civil War, American Civil War

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

On a sunny afternoon about as far back as I can remember, my grandfather sat down next to me on the sofa in his living room. In his hands he held a thick, heavy book with the words "The Civil War" emblazoned in faded gold lettering on the spine. The book was Bruce Catton's American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. Little did I know at the time that my grandfather had just introduced me to what would become a subject of lifelong interest - the history of the War Between the States. The pictures and maps in Catton's book captivated me and I pored over them for years. Indeed, one of the highlights of going to visit my grandparents' house on the holidays was having the chance to spend time with that book. I'd excuse myself from the dinner table and huddle with the tome on my lap, taking in the photos of lonely cannon on foggy landscapes and battle monuments silhouetted against the setting sun.

As my interest grew, my parents fed my fascination. My father took me to Gettysburg and Antietam and the shelf of Civil War histories in my bookcase bowed under the weight of accumulated volumes. Twenty-five years later I moved to Northern Virginia and continued visiting battlefields. Still, I had never written anything on the Civil War and didn't think I ever would ... until 2012.

Prior to that time my writing had taken another direction, leaning toward modern Europe and the upheaval of the interwar period that culminated in cataclysm of the Second World War. In 2003, I published Hitler Strikes Poland: Blitzkrieg, Ideology, and Atrocity, a study of the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. The book earned accolades. Stone & Stone Second World War Books selected it as one of the top ten books of 2003 and it was chosen for the History, Military, and Reader's Subscription Book Clubs. Several scholarly articles followed on the subjects of Nazi Germany and the Third Reich's racial-political policies before my interest in writing about those subjects finally passed.

It was then that I rediscovered my fascination with the Civil War and considered writing about it. I hadn't gotten far with any ideas until I moved to western Maryland. This sealed it for me. Anytime I wanted I could visit the Antietam National Battlefield or any of the many other Civil War sites that lay within less than an hour's drive. The landscape fired my imagination and inspired me to begin writing about events in the 1860s. So many excellent histories of the fight at Antietam existed, however, that I decided to focus on historical fiction. Gettysburg had Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels, why couldn't Sharpsburg have its own iconic novel? Six Days in September: A Novel of the 1862 Maryland Campaign is the fruit of those efforts.

Whence these scribblings will lead, I do not know. I know only that they allow me to explore the past through the lens of my imagination. It is a journey I enjoy sharing with fellow travelers, those who might feel a similar urge to step back through the mists of time and find themselves privy to dramatic and powerful events.

Reviews

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Civil War Buffs, "Their Maryland" is an engrossing run through some of the lesser-appreciated aspects of the Antietam Battle and Maryland Campaign generally. Most intriguing is Rossino's thesis that Robert E. Lee invaded the Old Line State as much for political as military purposes. Despite decades of other sources tamping down the reason of securing Maryland for the Confederacy, or at least threatening Washington, DC, with a state of divided loyalties, Rossino makes a compelling case that Lee clutched at a political coup de grace with the 1862 invasion. History turned out quite differently, with George McClellan proceeding at a faster pace after the discover of Lee's plans in Special Order No. 191, but the alternatives are intriguing to consider: a successful Lee making home in Maryland for months, causing the Lincoln administration to abandon DC and putting the war effort in the North on a more unsteady footing.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction history book doesn’t just provide yet another rendition of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s (“ANV”) invasion of the Union via the State of Maryland in 1862. The focus in this book is to examine some of the rather critical assumptions about that campaign that have just been accepted by historians over the years as opposed to rethinking them or challenging them. The first assumption the author felt needed to be challenged is that the Confederates didn’t really believe that a successful invasion of Maryland would cause that slave holding state to succeed from the Union. The author presents his case that the Confederates did launch an invasion of this state in order to give Maryland the push they needed to withdraw from the Union and fully join the Confederacy. Hence the title of the book, Their Maryland. According to the author, most Southern people believed that State of Maryland belonged in the Confederacy and that an effort should be made to get them to join in. Another point of view the author challenges is that Robert E. Lee faced a “dilemma” after the ANV won the battle of Manassas at the end of August 1862. The dilemma was what should the ANV do next? His choices were to attack Washington D.C. and/or Baltimore, move into the Shenandoah Valley or invade Maryland. The author presents his case that the only real choice Lee had was to invade Maryland. Lee never really gave much thought to the other options so there was no dilemma. Another assumption the author challenges is the widely accepted location where Union soldiers found the infamous “lost” order 191 that laid out the Confederate army’s near-term plans. The author presents his arguments about a more likely location where that order was found, which if accepted, it changes who the most probable Confederate officer was who lost the order. Another less critical point the author challenges is that a famous photograph of Confederate troops marching through Frederick, Maryland was actually taken during the 1864 incursion into Maryland. The initial interpretation of the photo was that it was taken during the 1862 Maryland Campaign, but over the years it became accepted as a photo taken in 1864. The author provides his reasoning of why 1862 was and is the correct time of that march. The last assumption was why Lee stood and fought at Antietam. The ANV was facing a superior force with its back to the Potomac River. While the actual ground was good for a defensive stand, why make a stand there? What was to be gained? The accepted assumption is that regardless of the battle’s outcome, the ANV would still be required to retreat back into Virginia. The author presents his logic and reasons as to why Robert E. Lee purposely chose to stay and fight there at Antietam Creek in Maryland.

[Steve A. Litteral Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Awesome Book About The Maryland Campaign!

I have loved civil war history since I was a kid, but I did not know a lot about the Maryland Campaign. I was able to visit a couple of Maryland battlefields last August, so I was really excited to read this book. I want to learn more before I return. There were a few things that surprised me. I did not realize how much the odds were stacked against Lee in Maryland. His actions do seem a little more hazardous to the life of the ANV so early in the war. Although Lee was a risk taker. He had to be to earn his reputation as a brilliant field commander. Also, I didn't know that Lee thought the people of Maryland would rise up during his invasion of the state. By this time, I had thought most of the hard-core rebels had already left Maryland since Lincoln had that state on lock down. It seems that his Army did not share his enthusiasm since they were dealing with the people on a daily basis. I also liked the in depth analysis of a photo taken in Maryland during the war and the controversy surrounding it. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I learned a lot about the campaign. The maps were also top notch. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in civil war history.

[Douglas Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of essays by Author Rossino is first-rate in every respect. Well researched, well written and full of insightful commentary and analysis. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Lee's Lost Order 191 and the analysis of the famous photo showing Confederate troops in Frederick, Maryland. Most highly recommended!

[W Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise examination of several areas of the Confederate Maryland Campaign of 1862. Rossino corrects several longstanding misconceptions about the campaign, many that back decades. He lays out very detailed case in each. This is a must read for anyone interested in the topic.

[Timothy R. Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an introduction to the Maryland Campaign, Rossini’s study delves into the details and helps to flesh out the campaign. It draws attention to overlooked features and errant interpretations

[Douglas Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their Maryland comprises eight thoughtful, thoroughly researched and footnoted essays concerning various aspects of the Army of Northern Virginia's incursion into Maryland. Author Rossino examines and interprets Lee's motivations (political and military) for the campaign challenging long-accepted conclusions along the way. He also examines the mystery of Lee's "lost order" and offers an interesting new hypothesis. Another highlight is his accounting of Lee's whereabouts and "hands-on" activities during the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg). This highly readable, deeply researched, and extremely well thought out investigation is highly recommended.