Western Maryland

When the Civil War divided the nation, Maryland stood on the pivotal border between North and South, and its people were caught in the crossroads of conflict as some became leaders, freedom fighters, and spies. Citizens endured the harsh realities of war on their doorsteps: men left for the battlefront, wounded soldiers recuperated in homes, barns, and churches, massive armies stripped areas of food and supplies, and communities were divided over secession and slavery. Three major military campaigns left a lasting impact: the bloody Antietam Campaign led to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Campaign ended in another Union victory, and later a Confederate army marched into Maryland in a desperate attempt to capture the nation's capital, but the Battle of Monocacy delayed its advance.

Maryland · United States