Robert Watson on the Forgotten Confederate Plot to Capture Washington, D.C.

What if the Confederacy had captured Washington, D.C.? In this riveting episode of Between the Covers, host Anne Bocock sits down with award-winning historian and author Robert Watson to uncover a little-known but critical moment in American history.

Watson’s latest book, Rebels at the Gate, explores the Confederates' daring 1864 attempt to seize the U.S. capital—a plot that came dangerously close to success. He takes us inside the dramatic events that unfolded as Confederate General Jubal Early and his army marched toward Washington, how a desperate Lincoln refused to flee, and why a single day’s delay may have saved the Union.

Discover the shocking details of this near-catastrophe, from a tiny, overlooked national cemetery to the role alcohol played in derailing the Confederate assault. Plus, learn how Union General Lew Wallace—better known as the author of Ben-Hur—made a bold, unauthorized move that may have changed the course of history.

Join us for a deep dive into this pivotal but largely forgotten moment in the Civil War.