In the mid-nineteenth century, Alexandria was a port across from the Nation’s Capital; Arlington was an eleven-hundred acre estate managed by U.S. Colonel and Mrs. Robert E. Lee; Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun Counties consisted of rolling farmland and tiny villages. This peaceful region was thrown into chaos as South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860 and other slave states followed until Virginia finally joined the Confederacy in April and May 1861. The “invasion” of Northern Virginia on May 24, 1861, created a no-man’s land between Yankee and Rebel armies. Some citizens joined Confederate forces, while others stayed to face uncertainty. William S. Connery offers new insights into this most important time in American history. *******************************************************************
William S. Connery grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, considered to be “neutral territory” in the Civil War/War Between the States. As a young boy, his family visited the battlefields of Gettysburg, Antietam and Harpers Ferry and other local historical sites. He has a degree in history from the University of Maryland, College Park. Since 1989, Mr. Connery has lived in Fairfax County, near Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. He has contributed to the Civil War Courier, the Washington Times Civil War page and other publications. Mr. Connery is a member of the Company of Military Historians, the Capitol Hill Civil War Round Table, the Sloop of War Constellation Museum and the E.A. Poe Society of Baltimore. As a frequently requested speaker on Civil War and American history topics of that period, he speaks often in the Washington, D.C., metro region.
