Summer Lecture Series: Soldiers from the 29th Mass - Joe Stahl and Matt Borders

Who were the 29th Massachusetts? How did they end up with the Irish Brigade at Antietam? We will look into several of the individual soldiers and their stories. Who were these men fighting alongside the New York Irish? How did they do at Antietam? What impacted their fight? Looking at the images of these soldiers you will see the faces of men who were there on September 17, 1862. Join us on June 9 to hear author and battlefield guides, Joe Stahl and Matt Borders present – Soldiers from the 29th Massachusetts, the forgotten Irish Brigade Regiment.

A graduate of Michigan State and Eastern Michigan University, Matthew Borders holds a BA in United States History with a focus in the American Civil War and a MS in Historic Preservation. Following graduation he taught at Kalamazoo Valley Community College before accepting a position with the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program. He worked as the historian for the ABPP for six years, during which time he became a certified battlefield guide at Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historic Site. He is also the President of the Frederick County Civil War Round Table and a founding member of the Antietam Institute.

Joseph W. Stahl grew up in St. Louis and received BS, MS, and MBA degrees from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Washington University. After retiring from the Institute for Defense Analyses, he became a volunteer and NPS Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam and Harpers Ferry. Joe has authored more than two dozen articles and is co-author of several books, including: Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War, Faces of Union Soldiers at Antietam, Faces of Union Soldiers at South Mountain and Harpers Ferry and the Faces of Union Soldiers at Fredericksburg.

Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during our Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2025 schedule.

These indoors programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures free and open to the public. Each week we hold a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check our Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

You may also like the following events from Antietam Institute:

• Next month, 2nd June, 07:00 pm, Summer Lecture Series: “The Final Attack at Antietam” – Robert M. Dunkerly in Sharpsburg
• Next month, 7th June, 09:30 am, “Confusion Reigned Supreme:” The Desperate Counter-Attack of the 27th NC and 3rd AR in Sharpsburg
• Next month, 7th June, 02:00 pm, June 7: Justin Mayhue – Small Arms Weapons at Antietam in Sharpsburg

Also check out other Arts events in Sharpsburg, Literary Art events in Sharpsburg, Fine Arts events in Sharpsburg.