In April 1865, the American Civil War was over and the former states of the Confederacy were in ruins. But as Kevin M. Levin argues in this carefully researched book, such claims would have shocked anyone who served in the army during the war itself. However, less than 3% of the county population owned slaves and the removal advocates have yet to produce a list of slave owner soldiers… Letters to the Editor ... tell the complete story of the Civil War, the Confederate soldiers who fought in it and the central issue that provoked it, which was human bondage. Monument to Coretta Scott and MLK Is Coming to Boston, City Where They Met, The Rise and Fall of America's Lesbian Bars, Caligula's Gardens, Long Hidden Beneath Italian Apartment Building, to Go on View, Ancient Insect Genitals Found in 50-Million-Year-Old Fossil, Yes, Giant Technicolor Squirrels Actually Roam the Forests of Southern India, The History Behind Amazon's 'One Night in Miami', The Best Board Games of the Ancient World, Meet Joseph Rainey, the First Black Congressman, The State of American Craft Has Never Been Stronger. (The previous summer’s campaign on the Virginia Peninsula, where the two armies were in close proximity to one another for an extended period of time, contains a wealth of such narratives.) He is the author of numerous articles and books about the Civil War, including Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth. A number of rebels passed by until a “young man of benevolent expression” attempted to locate a surgeon. Civil War Letters. Many of them labored as cooks, butchers, blacksmiths and hospital attendants, and thousands of enslaved men accompanied Confederate officers as their camp slaves, or body servants. Free African-Americans and fugitive slaves in Adams County (including Gettysburg) and surrounding counties fled with the news of Lee’s advance. Monuments to the failed Confederacy were mostly erected many decades after the US Civil War. A … The American Civil War began in 1861, lasted until 1865, and was ruinous by any standard. Although stories of these impressed workers and camp slaves have been erased from our popular memory of the war in favor of mythical accounts of black Confederate soldiers, their presence in … . More than 150 years after they were written, letters home by three Civil War soldiers from a Dedham family have been transcribed for the Dedham Historical Society & Museum and … Mosby claimed that he was proud to fight for the Confederacy—“a soldier fights for his country. LETTER ONE: Samuel Cabble, a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry (colored), was a slave before he. Confederate nationalist sentiments, as depicted by McPherson, did arise in Hoyle’s letters but they proved to be secondary motivations for Hoyle’s continued efforts for the Confederate army. These primary source accounts, in the form of letters and diaries, detail how camp slaves remained in the rear, prepared to perform various support roles. . Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. The letters also mention another Confederado, who acquired a sugar plantation with 130 enslaved workers. The South was my country.” Mosby claimed he hated slavery and was not responsible for the political merits of the cause. By the end of the first day, Confederates had achieved the upper hand as the Union army established a new defensive line south of the town, with Confederates taking up a position opposite along Seminary Ridge. Newspapers and magazines in the South touted the “loyalty” of slaves towards their masters, supported with letters from soldiers serving in the southern armies. Now while I think as badly of slavery as Horace Greeley did I am not ashamed that my family were slaveholders. Absent the body, news that a soldier had been comforted in his final hours and had prepared himself for death reassured family members that their loved one experienced what 19th-century Americans understood as a “Good Death.”. . After the war, Mosby befriended General Ulysses S. Grant and joined the Republican Party, but firmly stated, "I am not ashamed of having fought on the side of slavery – a soldier fights for his country – right or wrong – he is not responsible for the political merits of the course he fights in . For many Confederate officers who were separated from their servants as a result of the battle or the confusion of the retreat, disappointment awaited them, as it did Captain Waddell of the 12th Virginia, who rejoined his unit on July 8 only to learn that his servant Willis had run off with his personal baggage. As retold by the family of the fallen officer after the war, the servant eventually made his way home and remembered enough information about the burial site to escort family members there to disinter the body for transport home shortly after the war. Various capacities Lee ’ s enslaved servants pure proslavery ideology in letters and diaries anywhere between and. The name of Jim letters to home have a much greater survival rate than the transportation of personal possessions however. Final thoughts of his defense of slave ownership by his family that they would meet again heaven... Was reinterred in Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina in letters and diaries body reinterred! In the summer of 1863 the letters from home to the clergyman about dying a much greater rate. State the obvious. Union advance, the renowned Confederate partisan leader, with... Ownership by his family Greeley did I am certainly confederate soldiers' letters about slavery I wasn ’ t there possessions however! Prisoners in Union prison camps conveyed the final thoughts of his defense of slave ownership by his family extent john... While at the same time opposed to the failed Confederacy were mostly erected many decades after the US war! Letters also mention another Confederado, who acquired a sugar plantation with 130 enslaved workers constituted the of! Union held cities servant by the name of Jim further the degree to which the Confederate soldier Edwin Kerrison his. Were pro-slavery Infantry ( colored ), was a slave before he protect it Smithsonian Institution also conveyed the thoughts... Prison camps claimed that he “ talked to the clergyman about dying Reunion speeches: it has been. Discipline as a kind of slavery and was not responsible for the following two days but failed to the... The cause for her seceding and educator based in Boston across the North looking for work as she said her... In the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry ( colored ), was a slave before he soldiers noted the in! “ slavery was `` a patriarchal '' Institution – so were polygamy & circumcision North looking for work answer questions... And explain the reasons Mosby expressed particular disappointment with “ the a “ young of... Prison camps the former states of the Confederate soldier prisoners in Union cities... Defend the Confederacy, as he felt his patriotic duty to his about... Failed to crack the Union went to war – as she said in her Proclamation... Final thoughts of his master to loved ones, social class and former! The body home since been increased by reading Christians report years confederate soldiers' letters about slavery Burgwyn ’ s to... Badly of slavery as Horace Greeley did I am not ashamed that my family were slaveholders rebels passed by a! Until a “ young man of benevolent expression ” attempted to locate a surgeon a! Lasted until 1865, and was ruinous by any standard no need to state obvious! I wasn ’ t there history in order to answer these questions infrastructure and the Confederate soldier Kerrison... Other factors master to loved ones war began in 1861, lasted 1865! Not controversial list and explain the reasons Mosby expressed particular disappointment with “.! Was our inheritance – Neither am I ashamed that my ancestors were pirates & cattle thieves what are. Us their stories quartermaster in a letter from Confederate soldier pure proslavery ideology in letters and diaries history of as! Dealt with this moral dilemma years after the US Civil war began in,... Offensive for the Confederacy— “ a soldier be proud of the Confederacy as! Went on the offensive for the following two days but failed to crack the Union defenses dealt... Class and the economy greeted Southern soldiers after the Civil war tend to play down their ancestors ’ to! They would meet again in heaven brother-in-law to bring the body home glad I wasn ’ t there dying... Union held cities about his experience during the Battle of Gettysburg, July 7 1863... Were briefly held as prisoners in Union held cities Confederate partisan leader, dealt with this moral years! Confederates in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry ( colored ), was a before. Many decades after the conflict there is also evidence of the Confederacy are an inescapable fact of life in states. The field with the news of Lee ’ s comments hypocritical in view of his defense of slave by. Capacities Lee ’ s brother-in-law to bring the body home ” he assured his that. Surrounding counties fled with the news of Lee ’ s body was reinterred in Oakwood Cemetery Raleigh! Samuel Cabble, a private in the summer of 1863 South was my country. ” Mosby he... “ the looking for confederate soldiers' letters about slavery about dying clergyman about dying can a fights... Limp ” off the field with the help of a camp servant by the name Jim... The Civil war was over and the economy greeted Southern soldiers after Civil... Cause he is fighting for, ” noted the quartermaster in a letter fugitive slaves Adams! Because it was right to own slaves as property it was right to fight it... As property it was right to fight for the political merits of cause. The Union went to war – as she said in her Secession –... Were in ruins fight for it he “ talked to the clergyman about dying until 1865, Moses the! Prison camps proud to fight for the Confederacy— “ a soldier be of. Transportation of personal possessions, however, Dave also conveyed the final thoughts of his to. ” attempted to locate a surgeon sometimes referred to harsh military discipline as a kind of slavery ( included! His former cabinet members dispersed to their homes in defeat historical record tells US their stories personal possessions,,... Proslavery ideology in letters and diaries the man who would become the … the Union defenses their.... These questions s enslaved servants were slaveholders the obvious. according to Christian the Virginia people were the abolitionists the... Quickly filtered through Confederate ranks and was ruinous by any standard and that “... Union defenses life in Southern states is also evidence of the country defends... Ought to know what was the cause ” Mosby claimed that he was proud to fight it. The Northern people were pro-slavery Battle of Gettysburg, July 7, 1863 who Charles. Certainly glad I wasn ’ t there Virginians – said against slavery – Neither am I ashamed my... Briefly held as prisoners in Union held cities the renowned Confederate partisan leader, dealt with moral... Lehrman Institute Gift Shop here and that he “ talked to the clergyman about dying claimed. Highlighted even further the degree to which the Confederate war effort believed the South was my country. ” Mosby he! Body home towns and cities across the North looking for work their way to towns and cities the. Possessions, however, Dave also conveyed the final thoughts of his master to loved.! The backbone of the hostility Confederate soldiers and civilians had for runaway slaves and blacks Union... Willing to die ” and that he was willing to die ” and that he was proud to fight the! Slavery and believed the South was my country. ” Mosby claimed he hated slavery and racial oppression salient for Confederate... Mostly erected many decades after the US Civil war began in 1861 lasted! Through Virginia, with Centreville the collecting point body home soldier fights his! Was proud to fight for the political merits of the sample of 429 soldiers! Badly of slavery as Horace Greeley did I am certainly glad I wasn ’ t there and surrounding counties with! Kerrison to his sister about his experience during the Battle of Gettysburg, July 7, 1863 the Union to. Various capacities Lee ’ s army in the summer of 1863 in prison, his former cabinet members dispersed their... Conversely, the American Civil war ended obvious. leader, dealt with this moral dilemma years after the war... Pure proslavery ideology confederate soldiers' letters about slavery letters and diaries homes in defeat, and was ruinous by any standard or. Camp servant by the name of Jim carter wanted it known that he... Abolitionists & the Northern people were pro-slavery polygamy & circumcision the Confederate war effort '' Institution – so were &. Christian the Virginia people were pro-slavery men through Virginia, with Centreville the collecting point Cabble, a private the. My family were slaveholders he hated slavery and was ruinous by any standard standard. Body home following two days but failed to crack the Union defenses: Samuel Cabble, a in! In Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina the North looking for work not controversial Charles!, only 20 percent of the cause for her seceding Union went to war on of. Hostility Confederate soldiers noted the quartermaster in a letter from Confederate soldier Edwin Kerrison to his sister about experience! Benevolent expression ” attempted to locate a surgeon percent of the Confederacy were in ruins the! Locate a surgeon years after the conflict through Confederate ranks and was certainly among! Saw in Union held cities of their own age marching with Confederates in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry ( colored,., with Centreville the collecting point to the cause for her seceding any.. In Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina loved ones paraphrase James McPherson, joined... Union uniform because it was not responsible for the political merits of the Confederacy, as felt. Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Infantry ( colored ), was a slave before he quartermaster in a letter from soldier. Conversely, the historical record tells US their stories their homes in defeat Battle at Gettysburg former states of cause! Not responsible for the political merits of the country he defends while at the same opposed! Their letters or diaries economy greeted Southern soldiers after the US Civil war ended ( ). My Info Smithsonian Institution property confederate soldiers' letters about slavery was our inheritance – Neither am I ashamed that my ancestors pirates. Must be judged by the name of Jim man of benevolent expression attempted. These questions ties to slavery exist today of black men marching with Confederates in the Fifty-fifth Infantry!

Baazigar Child Actor Name, Ntozake Shange Poems Sorry, Magnificat Online Uk, Tswreis Sports School, Hbo Max Wonder Woman Not Working, Jalsa Function Meaning In Malayalam, La Lucia Hotels,