The Civil War in Maryland Reconsidered
These essays, by historians throughout the U.S., are intended to bridge the gap between older versions of Maryland’s Civil War history and new topics and interpretations. They break fresh ground. Some challenge long-held assumptions, while others provide new perspectives on old debates. All are based on analyses of original sources (some previously overlooked or newly discovered), offering new ways of looking at Maryland’s Civil War past.
“A long overdue of the history of the conflict in the Old Line State. The contributors focus not just on military history but also on the home front, politics, soldier voting and recruitment, the plight of Maryland’s enslaved population and the state’s unique processes of emancipation and Reconstruction.” (from the book jacket)
Praise for The Civil War in Maryland Reconsidered
A geographic lynchpin whose defection might well have triggered a third and fatal wave of Southern secession, the Border State of Maryland holds a unique place in Civil War history. It was a hotbed of both pro-slavery sentiment and anti-slavery action; a site of riots and threats against the president-elect and the army, a laboratory for executive power (or overreach), a pool for both Union and Confederate volunteers, and the site of a bloody battle that transformed the conflict into a war against slavery. Now we have a single volume that brings these varied and crucial stories together—written by some of the best scholars in the field and ably edited by Charles W. Mitchell and the great Jean Baker. Anyone interested in secession, emancipation, military history, and civil liberties will need to own this book.” Harold Holzer, Winner of the Lincoln Prize and author of “Lincoln and the Power of the Press”
This rich collection by leading historians slays persistent and inaccurate notions promulgated by lost cause mythology, a curious but disturbing relic that has long outlived its 19th-century roots in false memories and white supremacy. Fresh, new research and keen interpretations recenter Maryland voices long silenced and ignored—Black and white Union soldiers, pro-Union political, legal, and business elites, free Blacks and enslaved people, and women—illuminating the fact that the majority of its citizens supported the United States…these extraordinary essays give life to subjugated truths about Maryland’s place in the annals of the Civil War, challenging the false and tired iconographic image of Maryland as nobly enduring federal military occupation while its heart lay with the Confederacy. Kate Clifford Larson, author of “Bound For the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero”
“This collection of fourteen essays provides a synthesis of recent scholarship on Maryland in the Civil War era, resulting in a wide-ranging, one-volume overview of this important and unique border state experience…The essays examining the experiences of women and Black people offer a refreshing new view of Maryland’s story.” Journal of American History
A superb collection – Ranging widely across political, social, and military subjects, these essays illuminate the story of the Civil War in Maryland, a critical border state. Based on in-depth research, each provides an informed, intelligent approach to a vital topic. All interested in the Civil War and its impact should consult it. William J. Cooper, author of “The Lost Founding Father: John Quincy Adams and the Transformation of American Politics”
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