Preface

Images

Prologue: Target Washington

Introduction: An Uncivil War

PART I. CAPITALS

1. The Long "Siege" of Washington

2. A Tale of Two Cities

3. To Washington, to Richmond

4. Capital Defenses

5. Tightening the Noose

6. Lee's Final Gamble

PART II. CAMPAIGN

7. The "Bad Old Man"

8. The Valley Campaign

9. Invasion

10. Chaos and Panic

11. Crossroads of History

12. The Race to Save Washington

PART III. CRUCIBLE

13. Skirmish

14. Attack!

15. The Incident

16. Victory

17. A Bitter End

18. Legacy

Epilogue: The Lost Cause

Appendix A: Timeline of Events

Appendix B: Map of Early's March to Washington

Appendix C: Map of Washington's Defenses

Sources

Notes

About the Author

Rebels at the Gate chronicles an intriguing series of events that nearly changed American history. In the last full year of the Civil War, Washington, DC came within hours of being invaded and Lincoln within inches of being shot.