Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth

I had trouble finding a book I could get into. I went to the Pelham Bay library, partially since I went there with my sister when my younger brother was born 39 years ago Tuesday.  It's a spacious library with two areas in the adult section with cushioned chairs to read. It also is a library that still has a DVD section.  I found one book that looked promising.  

It is somewhat amusing among other things that with so many books and DVDs to pick from that I found only one item. Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth by Kevin Levin is a small book (main book is under 200 pages) on one of the side issues of the Civil War.  It is largely about camp slaves of the Confederate army, who relatively late (1970s) started to be believed to be soldiers. 

The first chapters discuss their role in the army and relationship with white soldiers during and after the war.  A few (under 3000) camp slaves and others (including I guess a few free blacks) such as laborers actually years later -- seems mostly like in the 1920s when they would be rather old -- were give state pensions (smaller than the whites) in a few states.  Loyal old blacks unlike those uppity youngsters back from the war.*

Then, when civil rights made supporting the South start to seem bad, the idea they were soldiers (even Henry Gates, the black scholar got into the act) grew up.  The book sort of ends on a positive note, suggesting the "persistent myth" is a lot less accepted these days, including the wider myth of a positive view of the South. The latter seems a bit optimistic.  

Overall, it is an interesting account.  I probably will write a more extensive review in upcoming weeks that might be posted on the Books In A Flash website. I thought the book was a bit repetitive in the first two chapters particularly about their time during the war. Also, the book had an incomplete feel. We have little on the blacks own point of view. The only major insights come from a subset that after the war who for whatever reason put forth a positive view of their experiences, especially at reunions.

There should be some material regarding the many blacks who were slaves or otherwise were forced into helping the war effort for the South with more negative views. We have a mention of Louisiana creoles who offered to serve for the South who later joined the Union army.  But, aren't there other sources on the views of these people?  We even have the oral history project (referenced) of former slaves in the 1930s. 

There is also absolutely no mention of women slaves or free blacks being involved.  The book focuses mostly on camp slaves, basically the personal servants of soldiers including those left to look over supply wagons. In fact, though the book does not mention it (in fact suggesting even the few official black Confederate soldiers were not involved in the final Lee retreat) I found a reference to a possible brief skirmish. 

The book To the Bitter End by Robert M. Dunkerly (written by a historian who served at historical sites) also cites this incident.  A little footnote, but I wish the author here had an occasion to make reference to it. 

Anyway, the book was early on a bit tedious, but the later chapters were more smooth reading. And, I finally did find a book to read. Onward.

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This entry was written artificially early clock-wise because Daylight Savings Time ends today, so the clocks were put back an hour. Fewer and fewer people have clocks these days, I guess, though I have two old clock radios and a watch to change.  There is various research done and it is unclear really what all of this gives us.  

And, even the change suggested in Congress might be the WRONG change!  Oh well. People are used to it all, I guess.   Mexico (mostly) opted out of the whole thing recently, so change is possible.  I am not sure how much it would affect me personally though it already does seem to get dark early these days.  Now, it will be dark sooner for some time.  

Let's just end the whole thing -- it's tedious and in the 21st Century probably makes less difference. As you can see, it isn't exactly up there on things I worry about. That's more a few days from now.  

(That show had a bit of potential early but it eventually got tiresome. Recognize her from the teen show?)

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* I still wonder if Confederate pensions are even constitutional given the terms of the fourth section of the Fourteenth Amendment.  It is an "obligation incurred in aid of insurrection."  The provision applies to both the United States and individual states.  And, the idea of paying people for their services in furtherance of a rebellion was directly cited as a concern (see here as an example). Confederate pensions directly do this.

Perhaps, that only covered existing claims, not ones arising out of later state policies.  But, the validity.  of public debt provision is assumed to apply to current debts. This discussion cites an even more limited benefit being questionable.  Maybe, there was no good legal way to challenge the whole thing or no one cared. Was it ever seriously questioned?  The provision never seems to come up in pension discussions.