Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This is a fascinating history of a married couple who both served in the Confederate (under duress) and the Union (willingly) armies. I've read a number of books about the the mountain regions of the Carolinas and the greatly divided loyalties there. Even by mid-war, large areas were no longer under Confederate control, but were run by bands of deserters---from both armies---outlaws and men just not wanting to join either army.
It might help if you know that in May 1861, when North Carolina held a plebiscite to determine if it should leave the Union, the vote was very close and in fact in favor of not seceding. But the state's governor decided it would and the state "left the Union." What makes it even more interesting is that North Carolina sent more men to fight for the Confederacy than any other state in the Confederacy. However, there was always strong support for the Union in the western counties, and many North Carolina regiments experienced a high rate of desertion.
In any case, being "mountain folk," the inhabitants of the western counties killed each other as often to settle old scores as they did for any allegiance to the North or South. Even for a period of time after the war, this region continued to experience anarchy. And the bad feelings there continued until the 20th century.
Another good reason for the high level of feeling for the Union, or for neither side, were the often continual actions of Confederate conscription and commissary officers who forcibly seized men, livestock, food reserves and such, leaving the inhabitants starving. Remember that by 1864, the South was conscripting men in the 55 to 15-year-old age bracket. These actions are covered in other books explaining why the South lost the war, in that the Confederate Army oppressed its own people. And the author of this book cites several instances of the state's governor writing to Jefferson Davis or the Confederate Congress deploring the actions of the commissary officers, often calling then worse than Union raiders. And, if you read other books, you are aware this was not the only governor of a state which complained.
If all this is news to you it is because the Lost Cause Mythologists did an excellent job rewriting history. Only in the last few years has it begun to catch up on them with the majority of the public.
It might help if you know that in May 1861, when North Carolina held a plebiscite to determine if it should leave the Union, the vote was very close and in fact in favor of not seceding. But the state's governor decided it would and the state "left the Union." What makes it even more interesting is that North Carolina sent more men to fight for the Confederacy than any other state in the Confederacy. However, there was always strong support for the Union in the western counties, and many North Carolina regiments experienced a high rate of desertion.
In any case, being "mountain folk," the inhabitants of the western counties killed each other as often to settle old scores as they did for any allegiance to the North or South. Even for a period of time after the war, this region continued to experience anarchy. And the bad feelings there continued until the 20th century.
Another good reason for the high level of feeling for the Union, or for neither side, were the often continual actions of Confederate conscription and commissary officers who forcibly seized men, livestock, food reserves and such, leaving the inhabitants starving. Remember that by 1864, the South was conscripting men in the 55 to 15-year-old age bracket. These actions are covered in other books explaining why the South lost the war, in that the Confederate Army oppressed its own people. And the author of this book cites several instances of the state's governor writing to Jefferson Davis or the Confederate Congress deploring the actions of the commissary officers, often calling then worse than Union raiders. And, if you read other books, you are aware this was not the only governor of a state which complained.
If all this is news to you it is because the Lost Cause Mythologists did an excellent job rewriting history. Only in the last few years has it begun to catch up on them with the majority of the public.
