Civil War historian Ed Bearss follows the escapades of dashing Confederate cavalry general James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart between Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, 1862 on this tour.
In a daring raid that kept the Union forces from capitalizing on their success at the Battle of Antietam, Stuart and 1,800 of his horsemen embarrassed Union Gen. George B. McClellan a second time by riding around his army, which lingered in western Maryland. The tour begins at The Bower (the home of Stephen Dandridge II near Martinsburg, West Virginia), where Stuart set up camp before the ride, and proceeds to McCoy's Ford, where the Confederates slipped across the Potomac River from Virginia to Maryland at daybreak on Oct. 10.
Travel north to trace the ride of Stuart and his men through Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. After lunch at the Mercersburg Inn, proceed to Chambersburg, to visit sites associated with Stuart's 12-hour stop in town. Stuart's return via Cashtown and Emmitsburg, and Libertytown in Maryland and his recrossing the Potomac at White's Ford on the morning of Oct. 12 are also followed.
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C Street, S.W. (corner of 6th St. & C St.), with a pickup stop at the Best Western Rockville Hotel, 1251 W. Montgomery Ave., I-270, Exit 6B, at about 7:55 a.m.
The Best Western Rockville Hotel does not assume responsibility for the safety of cars and you are parking at your own risk.
Dress for battlefield walks. Lunch is at the Mercersburg Inn.
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