Blizzards, Revenge, & In-Laws

Discover how Confederate raiders captured two Union generals without firing a shot in this daring 1865 raid on Cumberland, Maryland!
About this Event

The American Civil War Museum–Appomattox is pleased to host the Appomattox Petersburg Preservation Society for their lecture.

On a cold February night in 1865, Confederate Partisan Rangers led by Jesse McNeill slipped into Cumberland, Maryland, and captured not one but two Union generals—Benjamin Kelley and George Crook—without firing a single shot. Discover how this daring raid unfolded, the fate of the captured generals, and how Crook would go on to participate in the final Virginia campaigns leading to the surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House.

Aaron Siever holds bachelor's degrees in History and Criminal Justice from Liberty University and a certificate in American Civil War and Reconstruction from Columbia University. Following a 15-year career in law enforcement, he served as a Park Ranger with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, overseeing preservation projects, maintaining historic battlefields, and leading tours and educational presentations. In 2024, he founded Aaron’s Civil War Travels LLC, building on his extensive experience documenting Civil War sites across the country. He currently serves as secretary of the Appomattox-Petersburg Preservation Society.