A Conversation with Marc Leepson

One of the best parts of my job here at The Book Studio is how much I learn while reading my guests' books. But sometimes I wind up learning more while interviewing my guests! As you'll see in this interview with historian Marc Leepson, the timeline of battles in his book "Desperate Engagement: How A Little-Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C and Changed American History" gave me fits. Fortunately, Leepson was patient and gentlemanly in reminding me which battle took place on which day. 

I'm being hard on myself (not unfairly so!) because it is important to understand what happens in the Civil War events Leepson is depicting. If Confederate General Jubal Early had succeeded in his plan, our nation's capital might have been captured by forces of the South -- and our nation might not have the same history it does today.

That's a big "what if," and as Leepson acknowledges, historians hate "what if" propositions -- but he also acknowledges that this one is too important to ignore. I hope you'll watch this interview and consider picking up "Desperate Engagement" -- it has an immediate feel, and Leepson is a great storyteller.