~ Crossing the Potomac River ... In Commemoration Of Our History~

White's Ford Crossing celebration takes place annually on the last Saturday of August. The purpose is for Southern Heritage organizations to gather & commemorate General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia's (ANV) 1862 crossing into Maryland during the Sharpsburg Campaign.

(These people come to walk across the Potomac River for a fun day. They have a huge barbecue for the hundreds of people to attend & other events during the day. My DH is in the bottom two pics in ithe red shirt & red cap).

Over a 3-day period, from Sept. 5 - 7, 1862, the bulk of the ANV's 55,000 soldiers crossed White's Ford to liberate Maryland from the Federal occupation forces and, hopefully, force an end to the conflict. On the first day General 'Stonewall' Jackson's command crossed & moved northeast to Buckeystown. Later that day General Stuart crossed his cavalry & maneuvered towards Poolesville as the screen to the Army's right flank. The next day General Longstreet crossed his command. The third day General 'Sandy' Pendleton's artillery reserve crossed. The ford was used before & after by numerous Confederate forces of varying sizes during the course of the war.

Some of the organizations involved in this event are the Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the confederacy & The Military Order of the Stars And Bars.