Please join the Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table in Hagerstown, Maryland for a guided tour of the Battle of Hagerstown, at 3:00 PM on Sunday, August 24. Much like Gettysburg, where all roads converged and dictated where the armies would meet, the roads crossing the area of Lee’s retreat out of Pennsylvania led to the Hub City—Hagerstown. Gaining and holding Hagerstown was the key to protecting or attacking Lee’s defensive line between Williamsport and Sharpsburg in the days after Pickett’s Charge. Small battles and large skirmishes occurred daily during Lee’s retreat, and one of the most consequential was the Battle of Hagerstown on July 6. This became one of the largest cavalry battles of the war and was fought mostly in a city environment.
Our guide on the tour is Stephen Bockmiller, a lifelong military history enthusiast. Steve has written extensively, including two books, about the USS Constellation and about regional Civil War history. His current writing projects include the Battle of Hagerstown and Civil War-era stories from the Middletown Valley. Steve serves on Baltimore’s Advisory Board of Historic Ships and represents Hagerstown on the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Advisory Board. He lives near Waynesboro, PA with his wife Stefania, and he serves as Deputy Director in Hagerstown’s Planning and Economic Development Department.
This tour is free and open to the public, but you must reserve your space by contacting Chris Craig at [email protected] or 304-433-1260. We will carry on in light rain (bring an umbrella), but you will receive email notification if there is a weather cancellation. Much of the Battle of Hagerstown took place in the city’s downtown. Our tour will begin with the first stage of the battle in downtown, where we will walk about nine city blocks. This will be followed by a driving tour with stops along Virginia Avenue between Hagerstown and Williamsport. (Carpooling is encouraged.) Meet at the intersection of Baltimore and South Potomac Streets, Hagerstown, MD. This is half a block east of Meritus Park. The best parking option is in the University District Parking Deck on North Potomac Street, just north of Public Square. The entire tour will take about 2.5 hours.
Photo: Jarvis Wentworth, 1st Vermont Cavalry, mortally wounded July 6, 1863 at Hagerstown, MD.
