On June 14, 1863, US Major General John Adams Dix received the following directive from General-in-Chief Henry Halleck: "All your available force should be concentrated to threaten Richmond, by seizing and destroying their railroad bridges over the South and North Anna Rivers, and do them all the damage possible." With General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia marching toward Gettysburg and only a limited Confederate force guarding Richmond, Halleck sensed a rare opportunity for the Union cause.

In response, Dix, who had lived a life of considerable public service but possessed limited military experience, gathered his men and began a slow advance. During the ensuing operation, 20,000 US troops would threaten the Confederate capital and seek to cut the railroads supplying Lee's army in Pennsylvania. To some, Dix's campaign presented a tremendous chance for US forces to strike hard at Richmond while Lee was off in Pennsylvania. To others, it was an unnecessary lark that tied up units deployed more effectively in protecting Washington and confronting Lee's men on Northern soil.

In this study, Newsome offers an in-depth look into this little-known Federal advance against Richmond during the Gettysburg Campaign. The first full-length examination of Dix's venture, this volume not only delves into the military operations at the time, but also addresses concurrent issues related to diplomacy, US war policy, and the involvement of enslaved people in the Federal offensive.

Gettysburg's Southern Front also points to the often-unrecognized value in examining events of the US Civil War beyond the larger famous battles and campaigns. At the time, political and military leaders on both sides carefully weighed Dix's efforts at Richmond and understood that the offensive had the potential to generate dramatic results. In fact, this piece of the Gettysburg Campaign may rank as one of the Union war effort's more compelling lost opportunities in the East, one that could have changed the course of the conflict.

Stuart Dempsey is back and this time he's talking about an important brigade that was instrumental in saving the day for the Union position on East Cemetery Hill: Carroll's Brigade. Calling in is free 717-420-1978 or you can submit questions well in advance of the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg Support the show and receive a tax write off through The Digital History Pioneers Foundation at www.dhpioneers.com #gettysburg #battleofgettysburgpodcast #gettysburghistory #historyofgettysburg #addressinggettysburg #carrollsbrigade #eastcemeteryhill

Was it all Robert E. Lee's fault, as he claims? Or does it take two to tango? Codie Eash joins us to explore this topic of conversation.

As the nation's future hung in the balance, the Weather Gods delivered a wrath of fury on Union and Confederate forces throughout the Gettysburg Campaign. First, record-breaking heat and humidity wore down the warring armies during ungodly forced marches. Next, relentless storms plagued the soldiers with resultant muddy slogs on nearly impassable roads. As the armies met in mortal combat, soul-crushing heat turned the bucolic fields of Gettysburg into a sanguinary and barren expanse. Finally, torrential rains haunted the Confederate retreat and narrow escape across a swollen Potomac River. Authors Jeffrey J. Harding and Jon M. Nese present firsthand accounts, harrowing narratives and groundbreaking meteorological research that reshapes how we view the Civil War's Gettysburg Campaign.

🔴John Brown's War with Dennis Frye - April 24, 2026 A Primer For Addressing History's Tavern talks S1E2 Addressing History- Tavern Talk John Brown https://youtu.be/f1ncrYkzV58 Harpers Ferry National Historic Park National Park Service (.gov)https://www.nps.govHarpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. ... Kennedy Farmhouse https://johnbrown.org HARPERS FERRY UNDER FIRE A Border Town in the American Civil War - Dennis E. Frye Confluence: Harpers Ferry as Destiny - Dennis E. Frye & Catherine Magi Oliver Provisional constitution and ordinances for the people of the United States: The Chatham Constitution HathiTrusthttps://catalog.hathitrust.orgCatalog Record: Provisional constitution and ordinances for... Jeffrey Pasnik AG LOTY 2025

🔴Ask a Gettysburg Guide 127 Witness Trees with Larry Korczyk - May 13, 2026 Witness Tree Tours with LBG Larry Korczyk- to request a tour, send an email to Info@addressinggettysburg.com Discussion Points: Origin of Witness Trees Aging the trees and types in Gettysburg Larry's Witness Tree interest beginnings Using Witness trees as interpreting tools Gettysburg Witness Trees www.gettysburgwitnesstrees.com A Field Guide to the Witness Trees of Culp's Hill - Peter Lukacs A Field Guide to the Witness Trees of Little Round Top - Peter Lukacs A Field Guide to the Witness Trees of Pickett's Charge - Peter Lukacs Gettysburg Sentinels - Woodcraft items www.gettysburgsentinels.com Gettysburg Cyclorama GettysburgFoundation.orghttps://www.gettysburgfoundation.org- Gettysburg Cyclorama Gettysburg: A Journey in Time - William A. Frassanito Addressing Gettysburg Patreon: Join Today! www.patreon.comAddressing Gettysburg **Show notes painstakingly compiled by Jeffrey Pasnik**

Before you come to the tour, make sure you download the information found here: https://www.addressinggettysburg.com/get-out-of-the-car-tours/

May 23, 2026 – 10:00 AM Major General Abner Doubleday and the Defense of McPherson's/Seminary Ridges July 1, 1863 Led by LBG Lewis Trott Did Major General Doubleday accomplish all that could have been accomplished on July 1, 1863 or was the desperate struggle a futile attempt at holding ground at the cost of his Corps? Park where legal with all 4 wheels on the pavement. Meet at the Abner Doubleday statue on Reynolds Ave. S See you on the field!

While we are putting the finishing touches on the John Brown Tavern Talk, why not prepare yourself with this supplemental episode that non-Patrons won't see for weeks. Mr. Harpers Ferry himself, Dennis Frye, joins Matt to really get into John Brown's war.