In the spring and summer of 1861, the nation tore itself apart. Maryland and Virginia stood on the front lines, with the Potomac River between them threatening to become an international border. In Washington, military planners quickly recognized the importance of securing the Potomac west of the nation's capital and protecting the vital Baltimore &…

Continue reading ➞ Detailed Timeline of Events Along the Upper Potomac, May 23 – July 27, 1861