Soon after World War I, the U.S. government promised its servicemen bonuses for their time in uniform, beginning in 1945. When the American stock market crashed in 1929, however, out of work veterans living through the Great Depression became desperate for relief, and by 1932 loudly demanded that their bonuses be paid immediately. Learn from historian John R. Maass how thousands of veterans marched on Washington, D.C., to plea for their pensions, and the violent reaction their protest provoked.
Dr. John R. Maass is an education specialist and historian at the National Museum of the United States Army. He received a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in early U.S. history and military history. His most recent book is “From Trenton to Yorktown: Turning Points of the Revolutionary War” (2025).
Register for the Virtual Battle Brief on December 2 at 7 pm
This program is offered VIRTUALLY and IN-PERSON on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Museum guests may attend in-person. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register for the Virtual Battle Brief on December 9 at 12 pm
Register for the In-person Battle Brief on December 9 at 12 pm
As part of the 1864 Overland Campaign in Virginia during the Civil War, Union forces under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant faced off against a smaller but determined Confederate army led by General Robert E. Lee at Cold Harbor. Despite the strong entrenchments defended by Lee’s troops, Grant ordered repeated assaults against the Rebels from May 31 to June 3. None of the attacks were successful and resulted in heavy casualties among the Northern troops. Learn from Museum educator John Maass how Grant’s attacks were born of weeks of frustrating attempts to bring the Confederate army to battle and a determined Yankee strategy of destroying Lee’s command.
Dr. John R. Maass is an education specialist and historian at the National Museum of the United States Army. He received a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in early U.S. history and military history. His most recent book is “From Trenton to Yorktown: Turning Points of the Revolutionary War” (2025).
Register for the VIRTUAL Battle Brief on 1/6/2026 at 7pm
This program is offered VIRTUALLY and IN-PERSON on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Museum guests may attend in-person. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register for the VIRTUAL Battle Brief on 1/13/26 at 12pm
Register for the IN-PERSON Battle Brief on 1/13/26 at 12pm
In the Spring of 1778, Continental Army commander George Washington entrusted the young Marquis de Lafayette with a strong detachment of his forces at Valley Forge to gather information about the British Army in the Philadelphia area. Learn from Museum historian John Maass how the French general conducted his first independent operation and how he narrowly avoided disaster at Barren Hill, along the banks of the Schuylkill River.
Dr. John R. Maass is an education specialist at the National Museum of the United States Army. He received a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in early U.S. history and military history. His most recent book is “From Trenton to Yorktown: Turning Points of the Revolutionary War” (2025).
Register for the Virtual Battle Brief on February 3 at 7pm
This program is offered VIRTUALLY and IN-PERSON on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Museum guests may attend in-person. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register for the Virtual Battle Brief on February 10 at 12pm
Register for the In-person Battle Brief on February 10 at 12pm