Kidnapping the Generals: The South's Most-Daring Raid Against the Union Army

By James Rada, Jr.

In the waning days of the Civil War,  McNeill's Rangers launched a daring raid against the Union Army in the hopes of reinvigorating the Confederacy. The 40 Rangers snuck into Cumberland, Maryland, which was occupied by 8,000 Union soldiers. Their mission was to kidnap two Union generals and take them to Richmond as prisoners.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Legacy Publishing
• Release date: Oct 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393957171

James Rada, Jr.

James Rada, Jr. has written many works of historical fiction and non-fiction history. They include the popular books Saving Shallmar: Christmas Spirit in a Coal Town, Canawlers, and Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity Work as Civil War Nurses. He lives in Gettysburg, Pa., where he works as a freelance writer. James has received numerous awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, Associated Press, Maryland State Teachers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc. for his newspaper writing. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed this book, please help other readers find it. Reviews help the author get more exposure for his books. Please take a few minutes to review this book at the site where you purchased it. Thank you, and if you sign up for my mailing list at jamesrada.com, you can get FREE ebooks.

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KIDNAPPING THE GENERALS

During the Civil War, Cumberland, Maryland, was one of the most-well-defended cities in the Union. The city was essentially under martial law with about half of the population of 16,000 made up of Union soldiers. The city was a hub of transportation activity, which is why it was important to the Union. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had a major stop in the city. The National Road had started in Cumberland and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal had ended there. Keeping Maryland’s Queen City safely in Union control helped keep soldiers, equipment and goods flowing quickly throughout the North.

Baltimore Street in Cumberland, Maryland during the winter of 1864. Photo courtesy of the