New Book Shares the History of Maryland in the Civil War

Nov. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Maryland in the Civil War from local authors Mark A. Swank and Dreama J. Swank. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of the “War Between the States” in Maryland.

As a border state between the North and South during the Civil War, Maryland’s loyalties were strong for both sides. The first casualties of the war occurred during the Baltimore Riot of April 19, 1861, when members of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment were attacked by Confederate supporters while traversing through the city on their way to protect Washington, DC, from attack. Ten days later, Maryland chose not to secede from the Union by a vote of 53-13.

On September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place at “Bloody Antietam.” At the end of the day, nearly one in four men would be a casualty of the battle, making it the bloodiest day in American military history. There were over 75 skirmishes, raids and major battles that took place in Maryland during the Civil War. Through vintage photographs, Maryland in the Civil War shares the state’s rich military heritage.

Highlights of Maryland in the Civil War include:

•Rarely seen vintage photographs, the majority of which come from famed Civil War photojournalists Mathew Brady and Alexander Gardner.
•Insight into how no Maryland town was left unaffected by the events of the Civil War, as homes and barns were occupied as headquarters and field hospitals.
•Shares how Maryland’s railroads and bridges were instrumental in the protection of the U.S. Capital from Confederate forces.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.