Remembering Dixie in a Border State: Reunion and Reconciliation in Post-Civil War Maryland

Abstract

Many historians have researched the aftermath of the American Civil War and its effects on public memory. However, the border states, and particularly Maryland have not received as much attention. An examination of historical newspapers, monument dedications, memorial services and veterans' organizations' events revealed that Maryland had a strong Confederate constituency that existed immediately following the war and lasted well into the twentieth century. This analysis revealed that both Union and Confederate veterans protected their own memories of the war. However, both veterans' groups united against the idea of black suffrage and opposed legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. This research adds to a larger conversation about race relations in the state of Maryland. A review of newspaper articles, monument dedications, and memorial services revealed a larger narrative of sectional conflict in Maryland in the post - Civil War period.