Very few firsthand accounts survive of African American experiences during the Civil War in western Maryland. One of them comes from the family of Rev. Daniel Ridout, an A.M.E. circuit preacher for Frederick and Washington Counties. Living in Hancock at the beginning of the war, and then outside Burkittsville, the Ridouts had many adventures before the Battle of South Mountain, part of which happened literally in their front yard. This talk will look at how the Ridout family–mother, father, and children–experienced the years 1859 to 1862, and especially the invasion of Maryland and the Battle of South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap. We’ll also learn about one of the Ridout sons who joined the United States Colored Troops.

The Rohrbach Inn summer lecture series is a fundraiser for the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. This is an outdoor event; to ensure adequate seating, please bring a chair. In case of inclement weather, lectures will be moved to the Sharpsburg Christ Reformed United Church of Christ on Main Street.

After the talk I’ll be available to sign my book, Black Antietam: African Americans and the Civil War in Sharpsburg.