Lee's Invasion of Maryland

DESCRIPTION: Rebel hordes plunder all they see until they meet "the hosts that Hooker led ..., gallant Meade at their head." They are defeated at Gettysburg, driven from the Potomac, and lose at the Rapidan River.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1866 (source: Frank-JollySailorsBold)
KEYWORDS: army battle Civilwar contest fight violence war patriotic soldier
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Sep 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam. Although a tactical draw, it forces Robert E. Lee to end the invasion of Maryland
July 1-3, 1862 - Battle of Gettysburg. Lee's second and final invasion of the north repelled
FOUND IN: US(NE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Frank-JollySailorsBold 58, "Lee's Invasion of Maryland" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #31330
NOTES [180 words]: The structure of each 8-line verse follows "Maryland, My Maryland: a, "Maryland My Maryland," a, "Maryland My Maryland," b,b,b, "Maryland My Maryland."
The ballad's Civil War references begin with Lee's Maryland campaign and follow later Confederate losses. - BS
The reference to the Rapidan near the end of the song is interesting. At first thought, this would refer to either the Battle of Chancellorsville or the Battle of the Wilderness, both fought in the Wilderness just south of the Rapidan. But Chancellorsville came before Gettysburg, so that can't be it, and the Wilderness is generally considered a Confederate tactical victory although the Union army did not retreat. I wonder if the reference might be to the wet firecracker of a fight at Mine Run at the end of November 1863 -- the closest thing to a battle between Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Lee thought he had a chance to get at Meade's army, but it turned out the chance wasn't as good as he thought, so the battle was (mostly) abandoned. It wasn't really much of a defeat for Lee, but it was embarrassing. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.0
File: FJSB058

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