Battle of Harpers Ferry, 1862

As the Army of Northern Virginia entered Maryland in September 1862, Robert E. Lee divided his forces to capture the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry. Confederate columns under Thomas J. Jackson and other commanders occupied the surrounding heights and brought artillery to bear on the town.

The Union position became untenable, and the garrison surrendered on 15 September. The victory secured thousands of prisoners and valuable supplies, but the division of Lee’s army created severe operational risk as George B. McClellan advanced with knowledge of the Confederate plan.

This context supports fiction about siege operations, intelligence, punishment units and the opening of the Maryland Campaign. The Bloody Ground follows Starbuck’s command through Harpers Ferry before the armies converge near Antietam Creek.