Heart of the Civil War

Wounded for Life: Union Veterans of the Civil War
2026-06-20 14:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for their Saturday Speaker Series as Dr. Robert Hicks examines how wounded warriors survived after the war. By exploring how two Union veterans, an African American private who contracted malaria and a white colonel whose arm was amputated, survived to work, marry, and rear children, we see how they constructed new identities to cope with how the war changed their bodies. This talk is based on his book, “Wounded for Life: Seven Union Veterans of the Civil War.”
Robert D. Hicks, PhD is an independent scholar of the history of science and medicine. Formerly, he served as director of the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library and William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. He has worked with museum-based education and exhibits for four decades, primarily as a consultant to historic sites and museums. His most recent book “Civil War Medicine: A Surgeon’s Experience,” appeared in 2019 by Indiana University Press.

One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-06-20 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-14 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-06-13 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-07 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-06-06 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-05-31 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-05-30 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-05-24 12:00 - 13:30 and 5 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.

Citizen Meets Soldier
2026-06-20 10:00 | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
“Citizen Meets Soldier” is a living history of 1863 in Carroll County, Maryland. Join the Union Mills Homestead to commemorate the events of the hot summer of 1863. Walk in the footsteps of the citizens of Carroll County, Maryland, who were divided in their loyalties, and the Union and Confederate soldiers who camped along Big Pipe Creek at Union Mills in the days surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg. Union Mills’ Civil War encampment will celebrate and commemorate the chaos and excitement of the Civil War in Carroll County, Maryland.
In the days surrounding Lee’s Second Invasion of the North, small towns in Carroll County — including Union Mills — saw the movement of both U.S. and Confederate Armies, supply wagons, injured soldiers, and an important skirmish occurred in nearby Westminster. There, U.S. Cavalry charged headfirst into Confederate Cavalry under the command of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. But for a few hours, a battle may well have occurred at Union Mills, as it lay dead center in the Union Army’s defensive line along Big Pipe Creek and Union Mills served as the site of overnight encampments by both Stuart’s Confederate Cavalry and Sykes’ Fifth Corps of the U.S. Army. Stuart’s Cavalry pulled out of Union Mills just hours before the Union Army arrived!
Living history portrayals, encampments, and historic displays interpreting this period will take place on the scenic and spacious grounds of the Union Mills Homestead. This event is $10 per car.

Fighting for Freedom: African American Service in the United States Military
2026-06-19 14:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
African Americans have served in every United States conflict since the country began. This legacy of service however has been fraught with both struggle and triumph. Visit the Monocacy National Battlefield visitor center to learn about the trials of African American military service from the Revolutionary period up through the modern era.

Juneteenth: From Enslavement to Emancipation
2026-06-19 11:00 | Best Farm (Tour Stop #1), Urbana Pike, Monocacy National Battlefield, Frederick, MD, 21742, United States
Slavery was legal in Maryland until November 1, 1864, when the new State Constitution, voted on by Marylanders, went into effect ending the practice. Join a ranger walk to learn about the enslaved people who lived and worked on the six historic properties that make up Monocacy National Battlefield, as well as the United States Colored Troops who enlisted at Monocacy Junction.
This program meets at the Best Farm, tour stop #1, on Monocacy National Battlefield and includes about a one mile walk out to Monocacy Junction and back again. Appropriate clothes and footwear should be considered. Best Farm is located at 5106 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704.

The Confederate Soldier, Food, and the Maryland Campaign – Michael Hardy
2026-06-15 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
It is a common cliché – that food makes the army move. That is especially true for the Maryland Campaign. Food was one reason why Lee moved north following his victories at Second Manassas and Chantilly. While some of the soldiers, like those who captured Harpers Ferry, were well fed, others went hungry through much of the campaign. It was the opinion of Assistant Surgeon Spencer Welch of the 13th South Carolina Infantry that during the Maryland Campaign, “we were almost starved.” Historian and author, Michael C. Hardy will discuss this dire condition on June 15 as he presents, “we were almost starved” The Confederate soldier, Food, and the Maryland Campaign.
Michael C. Hardy is an award-winning and widely published author. He has written on a large array of subjects – airplanes, Southern places, and Confederate regiments—in books, articles, and blog posts. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama. In 2010, Hardy was named North Carolina Historian of the Year by the North Carolina Society of Historians. He was also awarded the James I. Robertson Literary Prize by the Robert E. Lee Civil War Library and Research Center in 2018 for his history of the Branch-Lane Brigade, General Lee’s Immortals (Savas Beatie, 2018). Michael has presented at a number conferences, like the Appomattox/Longwood Civil War Seminar, Pamplin Historical Park’s Symposium, and the American Battlefield Trust’s Annual Meeting, as well as being featured on an episode of Blood and Fury on the American Heroes Channel. When not researching, writing, and traveling, he volunteers at historic sites, sharing his love for history.
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.

Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage - Frederick County Tour
2026-06-13 10:00 - 17:00 | Throughout Frederick County, Frederick County, Frederick, Maryland, 21701
The Maryland House and Garden Tour of Frederick County showcases the region’s rich layers of history, from its earliest Native inhabitants to its role as a crossroads of trade, culture, and conflict. Formed in 1748, Frederick County flourished along the Old National Road, where stagecoaches and Conestoga wagons once carried settlers and goods westward, fueling the growth of thriving towns like Frederick, Middletown, and New Market. Visitors will explore historic homes and gardens that reflect the area’s agricultural prosperity, industrial innovation, and Civil War legacy. Today, Frederick County remains a vibrant mix of scenic farmland, mountain landscapes, and lively Main Street communities, where the past and present come together in one of Maryland’s most picturesque and historic destinations. Find the full list of tour sites here. Learn more and purchase your tickets here: https://www.mhgp.org/frederickcounty

The Marines Land in Sharpsburg – Keith Snyder
2026-06-08 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
The largest event ever to take place in Sharpsburg, after the Battle of Antietam, was in 1924 when the Marine Expeditionary Force marched to Antietam for a twelve-day training encampment. They brought aircraft, tanks, balloons, machine guns, plus their band and baseball team. On June 8, see numerous historic photos of this somewhat unknown event in the history of the park, as retired ranger, Keith Snyder presents: The Marines Land in Sharpsburg.
Keith Snyder had worked for the National Park Service since 1985 at four National Parks. He recently retired as the Chief of Resource Education and Visitor Services at Antietam National Battlefield. He is a graduate of Shepherd University and received his master’s degree from the U. S. Army War College. He retired from the United States Air Force and Air National Guard in 2016 after 40 years of service.
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.

"Ancestors at Antietam" - Lt. Samuel McBride Pringle and Garden’s Battery
2026-06-06 14:00 | Antietam Institute Education Center, 101 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Drawing on decades of research in original letters, diaries, and archival records, this presentation tells the story of Lieutenant Samuel McBride Pringle, set within the decisive stand of Captain Hugh R. Garden’s Palmetto Light Artillery during the Final Assault at Antietam. Under devastating Union fire across Antietam Creek, Garden’s Battery held Cemetery Hill until A. P. Hill’s arrival turned the tide. Mortally wounded, Pringle—great-great-uncle of the presenter—attempted to rise three times before being carried from the field, calling to his men, “They have killed me, boys, but stand by your guns!” Join us Saturday, June 6, as Institute member, Susie Ingles shares the story of her ancestor during her talk called, “They have killed me boys but stand by your guns!” Lt. Samuel McBride Pringle and Garden’s Battery in the Final Assault at Antietam”.
Susie Ingles is a legal aid lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina, practicing consumer protection law. She obtained a B.A. in History from Clemson University and her law degree from the University of South Carolina. She has spent many years researching and eventually writing the story of her great, great uncle, Confederate 1st Lieutenant Samuel McBride Pringle, the namesake of her father and brother, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam. She has traced his life through his original letters preserved by her family from his college years at Furman University in Greenville, through the 1st and 2nd Battles of Bull Run, and finally Antietam, where he was mortally wounded, then on to Winchester, Virginia, where he ultimately died and was laid to rest.
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.

Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy
2026-06-06 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for a special First Saturday Speaker Event with Barbara Franco. She will share her findings from a 10-year project to identify the surgeons who cared for the wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. A database of more than 1,200 surgeons, both Union and Confederate, is the basis for her new book, “Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War’s Deadliest Battle.” The study includes not only well-documented and prominent physicians who left written accounts, but also the lesser-known surgeons who were part of a complex system of doctors and caretakers both during and after the battle.
Barbara Franco is Founding Executive Director Emerita of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center and a new board member of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. As a public historian, curator, and museum director she has written and consulted about museum practice and historical interpretation. Her broad interest in the social, cultural, and intellectual history of the 19th century includes the decorative and fine arts, communal societies, fraternal organizations, the role of religion, and the Civil War era. She served as executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and Assistant Director for Museums at the Minnesota Historical Society.

14th New York State Militia in the Maryland Campaign – Jim McLean
2026-06-01 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
The Antietam Institute will be kicking off their 2026 Civil War Lecture Series on Monday, June 1st, with historian James L. McLean, Jr., telling the unique story of the 14th New York State Militia (14th Brooklyn) and the regiment’s actions in the 1862 Maryland Campaign.
The 14th New York State Militia, nicknamed the “14th Brooklyn,” “Brooklyn Chasseurs,” or “Red-legged Devils,” was a prominent Brooklyn volunteer regiment famous for its distinctive red-pants Zouave-style uniform and service in the Civil War as the 84th New York Infantry. Formed in 1847, it saw major action at First & Second Manassas and Gettysburg, earning high praise for bravery, and remained in service through later conflicts.
McLean’s interest in the Civil War, sparked at an early age on a bus trip to Gettysburg. In November 1863 (on the eve of JFK’s assassination), Jim attended his first meeting of the Baltimore Civil War Round Table at the age of 12. His interest in the Civil War has never waned. In September 1978, Jim gave a talk to the Round Table about Lysander Cutler’s brigade at Gettysburg. He had collected material on that brigade, which included the 14th New York State Militia/14th Brooklyn, ever since. Cutler’s Brigade at Gettysburg was published in 1987, revised and enlarged in 1994, and recently republished in 2023 by Savas Beatie. Jim has also published several articles in Civil War magazines. In October 2025, Savas Beatie released The 14th New York State Militia Volume I: “Baptized by Fire”—from Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861–August 1862, of Jim’s proposed trilogy about the 14th NYSM. The book is full color throughout. It includes: 36 color maps; more than 100 photos/illustrations (many in color); over 500 pages; several appendices, one of which provides a detailed list of casualties, discharges, and desertions; footnotes at the bottom of the pages; high-quality, glossy paper; and an attractive dust jacket.
For thirty years, Jim taught high school mathematics. Much of the time, Jim also ran Butternut and Blue, a Civil War book business.
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 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.

Ranger Hike and Skirmish Demonstration at Historic Newcomer House
2026-05-30 13:00 | Newcomer House, 8422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, Maryland, 21756
On Saturday, May 30, the 3rd US Regular Infantry will present military and civilian living history near the Newcomer House, including a skirmish demonstration. The demonstration will be part of a ranger-led hike of the Middle Bridge area of the battlefield, including the Tidball Trail and Sherrick Farm Trail, to focus on the 5th Corps at the Battle of Antietam.
Visitors will meet at the historic Newcomer House on the Antietam National Battlefield at 1:00 pm for an introduction and safety briefing before walking to the Tidball waysides for the skirmish demonstration. After the demonstration, visitors may return to the Newcomer House, talk with the Regulars, or continue on the ranger-led hike. The hike will be under 2 miles and will last up to two hours. Visitors are reminded to wear comfortable footwear and to dress appropriately for the weather. This program is free and does not require advance registration.
The Newcomer House is the only dwelling on the Antietam National Battlefield that witnessed the battle and is regularly open to the public. It serves as an exhibit and visitor center for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Knowledgeable volunteer docents are available to share information about the Newcomer House and offer assistance to visitors to the three-county Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.
This is the tenth season of Porch Programs at the Newcomer House. Porch Programs feature presentations, demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, interactives and more during the season.

Last Full Measure of Devotion - Memorial Day at Monocacy National Battlefield
2026-05-25 14:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Join Park Rangers as they discuss the history and importance of Memorial Day. Listen to patriotic music and participate in the National Moment of Silence as they commemorate those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Box Lunch Talk: A Tribute to Carroll County’s Hometown Heroes Presented by Steve Bowersox
2026-05-19 12:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County – Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157
Remembering the reason for Memorial Day by paying Tribute to several of Carroll’s war casualties. Steve will speak about five soldiers from various conflicts and tell their stories.
Steve is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Historical Society of Carroll County. He is a lifetime resident of Westminster and is retired from the Carroll County Public School system. He loves history in general and is particularly fond of Westminster History.
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.
Questions? Please contact Laura Bankard, Outreach & Events Director at lbankard@hsccmd.org or 410.848.6494 ext. 200.

Monocacy's Lost Battalions
2026-05-16 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
At the Battle of Monocacy, fought July 9, 1864, Union troops launched a desperate attempt to delay a Confederate advance on Washington, D.C. Throughout the battle, the Federal commanders, Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace and Brig. Gen. James Ricketts, waited for additional reinforcements that never came. Where was the rest of Rickett’s command? Nearly a thousand of his men failed to reach the battlefield on July 9. Park Ranger Matt Borders will unravel the fascinating story of what happened to them, and where they were found.

Mount Airy Civil War Living History Experience
2026-05-16 12:00 | Mount Airy MD Museum, 1 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD, 21771
Join the Historical Society of Mount Airy at the Mount Airy Museum on Saturday May 16, noon-4pm, to experience The Living History Battalion as they will portray Company G of the 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. This company was stationed in Mt. Airy from 1863 to 1864. In July 1864, they were sent to Frederick and participated in the Battle of Monocacy. Besides guarding the railroad at Mt. Airy, Company G also sent patrols through Carroll and Frederick Counties capturing and guarding confederate and political prisoners, as well as protecting the polls during elections. Throughout the day, there will be displays on Company G activities and lessons on the “life of a soldier.” Bring the family for a fun learning experience where the kids can march and drill with members of the Company! The Mount Airy Museum is located inside the historic Train Station at 1 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD.

The Maryland Iron Festival
2026-05-16 10:00 - 2026-05-17 10:00 | Catoctin Furnace, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, Maryland, 21788
The Maryland Iron Festival Celebrates 250! May 16-17
It’s the 250th birthday of our country and of Catoctin Furnace, home of the Maryland Iron Festival, and they’re pulling out all the stops. Join for a patriotic weekend of family fun, tours of the village, food trucks, live music, a beer and wine garden, a makers’ market, kids’ activities, an antique car show, and the exciting 2,800-degree molten iron pour at 1 pm on Saturday. You can purchase molds to carve in advance and take home your own cast iron tile. For the full schedule and information about parking and shuttle service, go to catoctinfurnace.org/mif/. A celebration like this only happens once every 250 years!

Catoctin Furnace Outdoor Theater Festival
2026-05-14 19:00 - 2026-05-17 19:00 | Catoctin Furnace, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, Maryland, 21788
On May 14-17, join the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society for theater under the stars at four nightly performances of Iron Will, a tale of American colonists and enslaved African Americans who are both fighting for their freedom. Walk through the quaint village of Catoctin Furnace as the play unfolds. Combine it with a trip to the Maryland Iron Festival during the day on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17. Tickets are $25 in advance at catoctinfurnace.org/theater/
