Episode Details

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, explains that in the summer of 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early, known as Lee's "mean old dog," launched a bold campaign that brought the war to the gates of the nation's capital. After repelling Union forces at Lynchburg, Early marched through the Shenandoah Valley and into Maryland, winning a time-consuming victory at Monocacy against Lew Wallace. This delay proved critical, as it allowed the Union's Sixth Corpsto rush to Washington's defense just as Early reached Fort Stevens. During the skirmish, President Abraham Lincolnfamously stood on the parapet under fire from Confederate sharpshooters before being told to step down for his safety. Simultaneously, the Confederate Secret Service planned a complex special operation to free 10,000 prisoners of war at Point Lookout, though the plot was eventually scuttled. While Early lacked direct coordination with Mosby, the Rangers supported the campaign by conducting the "Calico Raid" at Point of Rocks, severing the B&O Railroad and cutting off Union reinforcements. Mosby's tactics remained centered on swift, close-range attacks using pistols and shotguns to overwhelm the Union's Second Massachusetts Cavalry. Despite the brutality of these "running gunfights," Mosby was noted for treating high-ranking captives with respect, eventually forming post-war friendships with former enemies like the Union officer Forbes. This segment illustrates how close the Confederacy came to winning the war through a back-door strike on Washington. The Unvanquished (4)
1863