Alexander to speak at Antietam Historical Association annual meeting

Antietam Historical Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 19, at Fountain Head Country Club, 13316 Fountain Head Rd., Hagerstown. The meeting is open to the public, but reservations are required.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour including cash bar and exhibits related to the topic of the feature presentation. This year’s exhibitors include the Sharpsburg Historical Society and Stephen J. Recker, Smithsburg.

At 6:30 p.m., a chicken dinner (or vegetarian alternative) will be served.

Following dinner, Civil War historian Ted Alexander will present “Sharpsburg and the Battlefield Farms.” He will describe the town of Sharpsburg and surrounding countryside as it appeared when Union and Confederate armies met there in September 1862. This inspection of the scenes of the Battle of Antietam provides insight into the lifestyles of the local people prior to the battle as well as the privations they suffered as a result of the fighting.

A resident of Greencastle, Alexander recently retired as historian at Antietam National Battlefield. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, and has authored numerous works on Civil War history.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Cost of the event is $35 per person, payable to “AHA” no later than Monday, April 11. Those requesting the vegetarian dinner must do so at the time reservations are made. For further assistance, call AHA at 717-762-2006 or email events@antietamhistory.org.

AHA was founded in 2006 to process historical information about the region in Maryland and Pennsylvania drained by Antietam Creek. It pursues its mission through what its literature describes as “a blend of scholarly publications and fun events.”