Access Type

Online access to this book is only available to eligible users.

Download

Download Full Text (13.9 MB)

Description

One of the lesser-known stories of the Civil War is the role played by escaped slaves in the Union blockade along the Atlantic coast. From the beginning of the war, many African American refugees sought avenues of escape to the North. Due to their sheer numbers, those who reached Union forces presented a problem for the military. The problem was partially resolved by the First Confiscation Act of 1861, which permitted the seizure of property used in support of the South's war effort, including slaves. Eventually regarded as contraband of war, the runaways became known as contrabands. This book examines the relationship between the Union Navy and the contrabands. The navy established colonies for the former slaves and, in return, some contrabands served as crewmen on navy ships and gunboats and as river pilots, spies, and guides. The book presents a rare picture of the contrabands and casts light on the vital contributions of African Americans to the Union Navy and the Union cause.

Publication Date

2009

Publisher

The University Press of Kentucky

Place of Publication

Lexington, KY

ISBN

978-0-8131-2554-1

eISBN

978-0-8131-7348-1 (pdf version)

eISBN

978-0-8131-3927-2 (epub version)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5810/kentucky/9780813125541.001.0001

Keywords

Civil War, Slaves, Union blockage, African Americans, First Confiscation Act, Union Navy, Union cause

Disciplines

African American Studies | Military History | Politics and Social Change | Social History | United States History

Bluejackets and Contrabands: African Americans and the Union Navy
Read Sample Off-campus Download for UK only

Consortium members may access while on their campus.

Share

COinS