Update: the more i learn about this war, the more i realize Early's march, while not sluggish, was certainly no record. i just watched Tim Smith (ACHS) talk about how the Union 6th Army corps marched 37 miles in about 17 hours through Carrol County (MD) en route to Gettysburg. Now, all things being fair, one has to take into account conditions, i.e., weather, terrain, etc. Early's march was certainly an uphill one, whereas the 6th Corps' march was basically on a pretty flat road. Just some more notes from your devoted student.

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One thing i wish i emphasized more was Lee's motives and political instincts regarding Monacacy.

Beyond hoping to affect Lincoln's reelection, Lee also wanted to further divide northern PUBLIC SENTIMENT in general. By this time, many citizens in the north were growing weary of a war that everyone thought would by then be over. Some were against the war from the beginning. Some grew frustrated with it as it dragged on. And some in the north really turned sour on the war when they lost a husband, a sibling, or an uncle. And then came the draft riots.

Again, Lee read the northern papers. His finger was always to the wind. Had the south been more successful, had they caused more physical or political damage, it could have had more of an impact. Another Civil War "What If"...

Sorry for getting so choked up.

Finally, some folks had just walked in as i was wrapping up (and choking up 😀); so, i was about to say goodbye, but i ran out of time. i still don't know why GoPro cuts me off around 11 minutes (though i bet it's because they want me to upgrade my app ($).

Gonna try and get (published) Ranger Matt Borders for an interview sometime this spring/summer!

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