Heart of the Civil War

One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-07-25 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-07-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-01 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-09 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-15 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-16 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) and 2 more dates | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Explore the incredible Civil War history in Downtown Frederick with expert guides from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. from April until September, docents from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will explain how Frederick became “One Vast Hospital.” Arguably the most trying moment in city’s history came after the Battle of Antietam in the fall of 1862. The town’s population doubled when 8,000 wounded soldiers were delivered by ambulance to make-shift hospitals throughout Frederick. Walking tours last for an hour to an hour and a half.
Tickets are $15 and include admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in addition to the walking tour. Tickets are free for Museum members, but you must still reserve your spot. Reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
Contact Chris Reed at chris.reed@civilwarmed.org for more information.

Discover the Heart of Maryland
2026-07-25 13:00 | Antietam Creek Vineyards, 4835 Branch Ave, Sharpsburg, MD, 21872
The Heart of Maryland Collaborative, a network of more than 30 organizations working across Frederick and Washington County, will host Discover the Heart of Maryland 2026 Saturday, July 25 from 1:00–3:00 PM at Antietam Creek Vineyards (4835 Branch Ave, Sharpsburg, MD).
It is a community event celebrating the region’s landscape, woods, and waters, connecting landowners with opportunities to implement projects on their land.
Sponsored by Catoctin Land Trust, the gathering highlights the collaborative efforts of organizations working together through the Whole Watershed Program to improve water quality, protect natural resources, and support sustainable land stewardship across the region.
Landowners are especially encouraged to attend, as the event provides a unique opportunity to meet directly with conservation professionals, learn about available funding and technical assistance, and explore potential projects such as stream restoration, tree plantings, and other land stewardship practices.
Partners from across the Collaborative will be tabling throughout the event, creating space for one-on-one conversations, while attendees can enjoy live music and food and drink in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Set in the scenic landscape of the Antietam Watershed, the event offers a welcoming, informal setting for conversation, connection, and collaboration, while building momentum for future conservation projects.
Event Details:
What: Discover the Heart of Maryland 2026
When: July 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Antietam Creek Vineyards, Sharpsburg, MD
Who: Open to the public (landowners encouraged to attend)
For more information, please contact: Emma Tarquinio
Outreach and Engagement Manager
Catoctin Land Trust info@catoctinlandtrust.org
Please register at the link: https://catoctinlandtrust.org/event/discover-the-heart-of-maryland-2026/

“‘Irritable Heart’, Shell Shock, Battle Fatigue, and PTSD: The History of Combat Stress Reactions” Program at Historic Newcomer House
2026-07-25 13:00 | Newcomer House, 8422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, Maryland, 21756
On Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the historic Newcomer House on the Antietam National Battlefield, Dr. Stephen A. Goldman will present a fascinating talk on “Irritable Heart,” Shell Shock, Battle Fatigue, and PTSD: The History of Combat Stress Reactions. This program is FREE to the public.
In 1996, the Office of the Inspector General Evaluation Report on the Management of Combat Stress Control in the Department of Defense noted that “Combat stress is not new,” its documentation “dat[ing] back to the Civil War.” Using data from that conflict, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, psychiatrist and war historian Dr. Stephen A. Goldman will examine how evolving concepts and knowledge of combat-related stress led to the American Psychiatric Association’s milestone 1980 classification of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He will then discuss the ongoing revision of PTSD diagnostic criteria based on accumulating experience and research from subsequent wars, and the actual (as opposed to popularly believed) extent of PTSD among veterans, up to and including those who have served in Iraqi, Afghanistan, or both theaters.
Stephen A. Goldman, M.D. is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and the only physician to serve on the Abraham Lincoln Institute Board of Directors. His having treated and worked with those who have been in combat, ongoing comprehensive study of veterans that spans 160 years, and their ramifications are all exemplified in his groundbreaking book, One More War to Fight: Union Veterans’ Battle for Equality through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the Lost Cause.

History Distilled: Open-House Storytelling Event About Alcohol and the Civil War Era
2026-07-26 13:30 | Pathfinder Farm Distillery Tasting Room and Cocktail Bar, 14 S. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Join us at Pathfinder Farm Distillery for another round of “History Distilled.” The tasting room doors open at noon. Arrive early for cocktails, order food or grab snacks, and find a seat to settle in. This is an outdoor, rain or shine event under the tent and patio area. Listen along as three historians explore the fascinating connection between alcohol and the American Civil War era. Pathfinder will be donating 15% of total sales to the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Cheers!
Speakers:

Emily Huebner – Director of Operations and Programs for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
Elizabeth Paul – Newcomer House Manager with the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
Gary Candelaria – TA Consultants, Naval History and Heritage Command

The Most Terrible Experience during the War: Stonewall Jackson’s Winter Campaign to Bath, Hancock, and Romney – Timothy R. Snyder
2026-07-27 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
On July 27, local author Timothy R. Snyder will take a critical look at Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s controversial Bath-Romney Campaign, conducted in the winter of 1862. During the expedition, Jackson failed to achieve his objectives. Severe winter weather, an aggressive Union commander, and disgruntlement from a large portion of his command thwarted his plans. In the end, the Confederate high command intervened and reversed Jackson’s troop dispositions, which caused him to resign. The presentation will examine Jackson’s preparations and leadership during the campaign and the soundness of his decision to leave the majority of his army at Romney.
Timothy R. Snyder has a master’s degree in history from Shippensburg University. He is the author of Trembling in the Balance: the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal during the Civil War, which was published in 2011, and his most recent book, Stonewall Jackson’s Winter Operations: The Raids Against the C&O Canal and the Bath-Romney Campaign, which was published this year by Savas Beatie. He lives in Hagerstown, MD.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Carroll 250 Event: Braddock’s Tars: The Sailors of the Braddock Expedition
2026-07-28 18:00 | Carroll County Public Library – North Carroll Branch, 2255 Hanover Pike, Hampstead, MD, 21074, United States
A little known party of thirty-three Royal Navy sailors marched with Braddock’s army in the 1755 expedition to attack Fort Duquesne that ended as a disastrous failure on the banks of the Monongahela. In Braddock’s Tars: Common Sailors and the Braddock Expedition, Kyle Dalton will use their story as a lens to look at the larger picture of common sailors in the British Atlantic World and discuss what we can learn from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
Registration is required. Please register here.

World Ranger Day 2026!
2026-07-31 12:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Monocacy National Battlefield hosts World Ranger Day 2026! Join as they celebrate World Ranger Day, an international observance of Park Rangers of all backgrounds and jobs dedicated to natural and cultural landmarks the world over. This family-friendly, hands-on event will include meet and greets with Park Rangers from across the state and region. Displays of equipment, vehicles, and other exhibits. As well as games, activities and crafts!

Tolson's Chapel Open House
2026-08-01 10:00 | Tolson’s Chapel, 111 E. High St., Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Open House 10am – 2pm.
Tolson’s Chapel is open the first Saturday of every month between April and October. Onsite docent(s) will explain the historical significance of Tolson’s Chapel from its inception in 1866 as the spiritual and educational center of a vibrant and newly freed community of African American families in Sharpsburg, MD.

55th Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast
2026-08-01 11:00 | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Each meal ticket includes a serving of fried chicken, applesauce, sliced tomatoes, roll and butter, iced tea or lemonade and all the roasted corn that you can eat! Corn is roasted in the husk served at your table.
Other Attractions: Musical Entertainment by the Martin Brothers Gift Shop and Blacksmith Shop open Tours of the historic House and Mill for a fee (11 am – 4 pm). Adult – $22; 12 years and under – $10. Please note: there will be a 50¢ credit card fee per ticket.

"Ancestors at Antietam" - Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland
2026-08-01 14:00 | Antietam Institute Education Center, 101 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Join the Antietam Institute on Saturday, August 1, to learn about the Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland by Institute member and relic collector, Kevin Boyer. The Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland was a Civil War veteran’s organization unique to this state. The presentation will discuss the history, badges, ribbons, and ephemera of this group. Several Maryland soldiers (who participated in the Maryland Campaign) whose likeness is shown on some of the UVA of MD badges will be highlighted during the talk.
Howard (Kevin) Boyer grew up surrounded by the history and places of the Maryland Campaign. This fostered an ardent interest in the Civil War and local history. He began collecting Civil War artifacts and ephemera at an early age. Kevin graduated from Boonsboro High School and attended Hagerstown Junior College and the University of Maryland at College Park. He retired in 2021 from Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, MD. Following retirement, he became an Antietam Ambassador at Antietam National Battlefield, a member of the Antietam Institute, and a docent at the Boonsboro Museum of History.
These monthly “Ancestors at Antietam” talks are free and open to the public – anyone may attend – and you do not need to register. The talks will be held at the Institute’s Education Center at 101W Main Street, Sharpsburg, beginning at 2 pm.

Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign – Benjamin L. Cwayna
2026-08-03 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
As Lee’s victorious army pivoted away from the bloody field at Manassas and crossed over the Potomac, a simmering feud between Stonewall Jackson and his staff on one side and A.P. Hill and his South Carolina Brigade on the other, took center stage. Multiple arrests, accusations, innuendo, and other high drama played out as the army approached its most critical fight of the war along the banks of the Antietam. With so much on the line that Fall, egos and critical decisions both on and off the field would help define a campaign and set in motion a series of events that saved Lee’s army in an obscure 40-acre cornfield. Join us on August 3, as Benjamin L. Cwayna presents – “Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign.“
Benjamin L. Cwayna is an attorney in private practice and a prominent leader in the Civil War reenacting and living history community. For many years, Ben commanded the 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc., a nationally recognized reenacting organization. He has been featured on the “Addressing Gettysburg Podcast” with Matt Callery. He has dedicated his life to preserving the memory of the Civil War through living history demonstrations, presentations, and tours on numerous battlefields. A graduate of Michigan State University and Michigan State University College of Law, Benjamin resides with his son, Grant, in Grand Ledge, Michigan. An active member of the community, Cwayna is a member and past president of the Grand Ledge Rotary Club, a volunteer coach, and participant in numerous other civic organizations. Ben is the author of The Invincible Twelfth: The 12th South Carolina Infantry of the Gregg-McGowan Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. published by Savas Beatie in 2025.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Elevated Architecture Double Decker Bus Tour
2026-08-08 10:00 | The Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E Church St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Heritage Frederick is excited to partner with Maryland Double Deckers to bring you an all new history experience! Most people walk through Downtown Frederick with absolutely no awareness of what’s happening above their own eyebrows, which is precisely how gargoyles gain confidence. This tour aims to correct that.
Many of the defining features of historic Downtown Frederick’s charming architecture are found high above the streets in upper stories, cornices, and spires. Discover beautifully preserved examples of commercial, residential, religious, and public buildings displaying major American and European styles that span more than two centuries. Along the way, we’ll explore how the history of Frederick is told by the enduring structures that witnessed it.
Recurring program: Saturdays: June 13, July 11, August 8 10-11:30am Sundays: September 13, October 11 2-3:30pm

“No Further Record” POWs of the 7th Michigan Infantry – Jack Dempsey
2026-08-10 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Mauled in the West Woods during the II Corps’ ill-conceived assault by echelon, the 7th Michigan Infantry lost 221 out of 402 combatants. Some casualties are well-known, such as John A. Clark, whose grave Bill Frassinito identified, and Allen H. Zacharias, whose poignant note tears at the heart. What was the fate of those in that number who were captured or missing? Join author, editor, and historian Jack Dempsey as he delves into their story to reveal answers and to examine why the inquiry bears investigation during his talk on August 10.
Jack Dempsey has been a student of the Civil War since the Centennial. His name appears on 8 Civil War titles as author or editor, including the award-winning Michigan and the Civil War (2011), the most recognized single volume on that subject. Co-written with Brian James Egen, Michigan at Antietam (2015) was the pioneer study of the Wolverine State’s role in the Maryland Campaign of 1862. The two historians co-founded the Michigan Civil War Association in 2013 to advance understanding of Michigan’s role in the nation’s greatest crisis. Jack first visited Antietam in 1973 with two fellow congressional interns. He returned there with his new bride in 1975. In 2012, as chairperson of the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, he was a part of the State’s commemoration of “Michigan Day at Antietam” at the invitation of the National Park Service. The MCWA is working with the NPS to erect a Michigan monument at the epicenter of the Antietam battlefield. Like the Institute, the MCWA publishes an annual monograph as part of a series of studies on the Civil War. The fifth will appear, as per custom, close to September 17th of this year. In addition to being an accomplished writer, he is a longtime contributor to the American Battlefield Trust. All proceeds from Jack’s Civil War writings, including his biography of Alpheus Starkey Williams, support the MCWA.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: 1876 The Centennial Celebration & America’s First World’s Fair
2026-08-13 18:30 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This talk, presented by Jim Shriver (HSCC Board of Trustees President), will cover how the USA celebrated the Centennial and the significance of a World’s Fair. Local and Maryland participants in the Philadelphia Exposition (The World’s Fair) will be included and local events held to commemorate 1876 will also be highlighted.

Carroll 250 Event: Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration
2026-08-15 13:00 | Carroll County Public Library – Eldersburg Branch, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg, Maryland, 21784
One woman, Mary Katharine Goddard, Katy to her family and friends, risked treason by signing her full name on the Declaration of Independence along with all the male signatories. Who was she, and why was she tasked with such an important job? Author Betty Bolte will share how she came to know Katy despite the absence of personal information. Find out more about Katy, the inspiring and respected woman who signed the Declaration of Independence. Ms. Bolte’s book, Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence, will be available for sale and signing.
If you plan to attend, please register here.

Civil War Drumming: The Stirring Music That Inspired Civil War Soldiers
2026-08-15 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Accomplished drummer Patrick Jones will discuss the role of drums and fifes in the military during the Civil War, as well as drum construction and makers. After exploring the various tasks musicians performed during the war, including helping with wounded removal, Patrick will play a number of stirring tunes used by the armies of both sides. He will also have original drums on hand to view.
Patrick Jones has been playing Civil War drums with various organizations since he was 13 years old. He gives frequent presentations on the topic and also creates museum-quality reproduction drums and their associated accouterments. When not drumming, he teaches 5th grade Social Studies and Science at the Upper St. Clair School district in Pittsburgh, Pa. Learn more about Patrick at rudimentsandrope.com

Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam – Steven Eden
2026-08-17 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
On August 17, author Steven Eden will present “Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam.” Using examples from Antietam, and describe the factors that caused a unit to withdraw or stop advancing. Surprisingly, it was rarely because of casualties. In fact, it was fairly uncommon for a regimental commander to lose control of his unit because of fear; it happened much more often in the wake of some tactical success. Unit commanders typically weighed several factors when deciding to hold or withdraw. These include honor, exposure, ammunition, available cover, loss ratio, and support, among others. The talk will cover this “battlefield calculus” and show how it helps to explain the tactics of the Civil War.
Steven Eden served in the Army for 25 years, including a tour in Afghanistan. During service Steve was assigned to West Point as an instructor in the History Department, where he taught Military History among other subjects, and led several staff rides for senior officers. After retirement, Steve was employed as an instructor for the Department of Defense at Fort Meade; his duties included presenting the Maryland Campaign of 1862 as a case study to field grade officers. Steven has led close to two dozen staff rides to Antietam as part of this instruction. His new book Crisis at Antietam: The Cornfield and West Woods and the Opening Rounds of the Civil War’s Bloodiest Battle, September 17, 1862, published by Savas Beatie is due to come out in 2026. Steve currently resides in Manchester, MD, with my wife Kathleen.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Box Lunch Talk: Stories in Cloth: Using Genealogy to Stitch Together the Past Presented by Amy Hunt
2026-08-18 12:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Amy will explore the use of genealogy to bring stories to light through cloth. Amy Hunt is the curator of The Museum of Frederick County History at Heritage Frederick. She has a degree in Art History from the University of Maryland at College Park and has 25 years of experience curating museum exhibitions. She is a monthly contributor to Frederick Magazine. Born and raised in Frederick County, Amy, her husband and her children have lived in Gettysburg, PA for the last 20 years. She enjoys genealogy, travel, reading and visiting cemeteries. As always, there is no registration for Box Lunch Talks. You bring your lunch, and we provide the drinks and desserts (thanks to our volunteers and staff). The cost is $3 for HSCC members and $5 for nonmembers.

Music on the Millrace: Hayden Shaw and This Side of Pleasant
2026-08-23 15:00 | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Music on the Millrace offers a relaxed, inviting opportunity for members and friends to come out to enjoy the authentic beauty of the site, separate from our other major events.
This is a great time to enjoy an afternoon on the beautiful grounds of the Union Mills Homestead. Admission to the event is only $10. Under 12 are free! Food, beer and wine will be available to purchase. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. No outside alcohol may be brought into the event. Because we have to inspect any containers to ensure there is no alcohol, please refrain from bringing backpacks or coolers, although you are welcome to bring your own snacks.
Hayden Shaw and This Side of Pleasant
Hailing from right down the road, Hayden Shaw and his band This Side of Pleasant (as in Pleasant Valley) is thrilled to be back for another great day of Bluegrass! Hayden Shaw & This Side of Pleasant is a high-energy Bluegrass group comprised of some of Hayden’s best friends in Bluegrass. Last March they broke the attendance record for a Wehrly’s Auction House “Pickin’ and Biddin’” show. Hayden pulls from a wide array of influences and music genres to bring a fun and exciting bluegrass show that you won’t want to miss!

“Make me a Map” The Creation of the Artillery Atlas of Antietam – Aaron Holly & Jim Rosebrock
2026-08-24 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Captain Albert Monroe who commanded a Federal battery at Antietam believed that “the value of the light artillery in the army as a factor in the suppression of the Rebellion, has never been accorded that credit to which it is entitled.” James Rosebrock and Aaron Holley have partnered to set the record straight by creating a visual record of the employment of artillery in the Maryland Campaign. The Artillery Atlas of Antietam explores the contribution of the artillery in the Maryland Campaign and presents new insights through the lens of topography, geography, and the words of those who made history. Join the Antietam Institute on August 24, to meet authors, Aaron Holley and James Rosebrock during their talk, “Make me a Map”: The Creation of the Artillery Atlas of Antietam.
Aaron Holley is a native West Virginian and lifelong Civil War enthusiast. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 2013 followed by a Master of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in forest biometrics in 2015, both from West Virginia University. Upon graduation, Aaron entered the field of forest conservation consulting, working in forest ecosystems both domestically and internationally. His education and work experience introduced him to the concept of modern mapping and geospatial analysis, which led him to extensively map the Antietam battlefield beginning in 2019. The result of this mapping process was published both as a wall map and as a GPS-enabled digital map. In 2024, Aaron was invited to become a member of the board of directors for the Antietam Institute, where he assists with all things cartography. He has produced maps for several publications related to Antietam, including An Ornament to His Country, Roads to Antietam, The Artillery of Antietam and The Antietam Journal and is a co-author of the upcoming The Artillery Atlas of Antietam. Aaron lives in Fisher, Hardy County, West Virginia with his wife, daughter, and son.
Born in Buffalo New York, Jim received his undergraduate history degree in Russian history from Niagara University in 1976. He was commissioned in the US Army that year and held command and staff positions for nine years from 1976 to 1985 in the United States and Germany. His final assignment on active duty was with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Grenada in 1983 with the division staff as part of Operation Urgent Fury. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University in 2002 where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy. As an Army Reserve officer, Jim’s final assignment was as an instructor for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He retired in 2004 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Jim worked at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for 30 years, serving as Chief of the Security and Emergency Programs Division and subsequently as the Department of Justice’s liaison to FEMA during major disasters. He has served as a National Park Service volunteer since 2007 and is a certified battlefield guide at Antietam National Battlefield. He led the guide service from 2011-2018 and is a co-founder of the Antietam Institute, where he currently serves as the Institute’s president. Jim completed his first book The Artillery of Antietam in 2023 and is currently working on an artillery atlas of the Maryland Campaign, scheduled for release in 2026. He lives with his family in Jefferson, Maryland.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

The Battle of Henry House Hill at 1st Bull Run
2026-08-29 10:00 | Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center Street, Westminster, MD, 21157
Aug. 29th, Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM and Aug. 30th, Sunday 10 AM-3 PM
Battle reenactments will be Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 P.M.
The Battle of Henry House Hill at 1st Bull Run
The battle scenario will depict one of the climatic engagements of the 1st Battle of Bull Run/Manassas in 1861 where Stonewall Jackson earned his famous nickname by standing like a “stone wall.” The battle will feature the color and confusion of early Civil war units as both sides learn how to be soldiers while under fire for the first time.
Throughout the day Reenactors in full costume will demonstrate infantry drilling, artillery firing and camp life. Please note that the Camp will close at 2 PM on Sunday. Food is available for purchase at the event.
Admission: $10 per family, $5 per adult, $4 per senior (60 & over) FREE Parking.
