Williamsport

History: On June 15, 1863, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee invaded the North once again, as 2,000 of Gen. Albert G. Jenkins's infantrymen crossed the Potomac River here. Almost 50,000 soldiers under Generals James Longstreet and A.P. Hill entered Maryland at Williamsport over eleven days. Hungry Confederates occupied the town, and many residents welcomed them in the streets with milk, bread and meat.

Less than a month later, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia returned, reeling from defeat at Gettysburg, but they were trapped here by the rain-swollen river. Williamsport became a hospital for the wounded. By July 14, most of the soldiers had left Maryland behind.

More to Explore: Downtown Williamsport offers dining and visitor services. While in Williamsport, see the McMahon's Mill Civil War Military & American Heritage Museum, which displays memorabilia from the Civil War, World War I and World War II, as well as collections of coins, antique record players and more. Don't miss the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Visitor Center at the Cushwa Basin in Williamsport. Situated where the Conococheague Creek meets the Potomac River, this is the only place on the canal where you can see a lock house, turning basin, railroad lift bridge, aqueduct, and a Bollman Iron Truss Bridge, all within a half-mile re-watered section of the canal.

Photo Credits:

1. “View North on Conococheague Street.” Courtesy of Tim Kiser Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 2.5; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Williamsport_Maryland.jpg
2. “Cushwa Basin and Visitor’s Center.” Courtesy of Brian M. Powell Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 3.0; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C%26O_Canal_-_Cushwa_Visitor_Cent...