Synopses & Reviews
In the mountains of western North Carolina, the Civil War was fought on different terms than those found throughout most of the South. Though relatively minor strategically, incursions by both Confederate and Union troops disrupted life and threatened the social stability of many communities. Even more disruptive were the internal divisions among western Carolinians themselves. Differing ideologies turned into opposing loyalties, and the resulting strife proved as traumatic as anything imposed by outside armies. As the mountains became hiding places for deserters, draft dodgers, fugitive slaves, and escaped prisoners of war, the conflict became a more localized and internalized guerrilla war, less rational and more brutal, mean-spirited, and personaland ultimately more demoralizing and destructive.
From the valleys of the French Broad and Catawba Rivers to the peaks of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, the people of western North Carolina responded to the war in dramatically different ways. Men and women, masters and slaves, planters and yeoman, soldiers and civilians, Confederates and Unionists, bushwhackers and home guardsmen, Democrats and Whigsall their stories are told here.
Review
By far the most detailed description of circumstances and events ever presented on the region.
Appalachian Journal
Review
A definitive history of western North Carolina in the Civil War.
Southern Cultures
Review
A refreshing narrative to the body of Civil War historiography.
Virginia Quarterly Review
Review
This thorough and detailed study provides a comprehensive and sophisticated picture of western North Carolina society during the Civil War.
American Historical Review
Review
[T]heir extensive bibliography and detailed endnotes also encourage readers to further explore the effects of war in the mountians.
Journal of Southern History
Synopsis
A comprehensive history of a non-combat region of the Confederacy, the 17 mountain counties of western North Carolina where loyalties were divided. This area suffered incursions by troops from both sides; attracted draft dodgers, deserters, fugitive slaves, and escaped prisoners; and experienced brutal and demoralizing internal conflicts.
Synopsis
By far the most detailed description of circumstances and events ever presented on the region.
Appalachian Journal [T]heir extensive bibliography and detailed endnotes also encourage readers to further explore the effects of war in the mountians.
Journal of Southern History A definitive history of western North Carolina in the Civil War.
Southern Cultures A refreshing narrative to the body of Civil War historiography.
Virginia Quarterly Review This thorough and detailed study provides a comprehensive and sophisticated picture of western North Carolina society during the Civil War.
American Historical Review
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-357) and index.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1. Antebellum Western North Carolina: A Population So Widely Diversified
Chapter 2. Secession: To Stand with Either Honor or Safety
Chapter 3. Mobilization: The Mountains Are Pouring Forth Their Brave Sons
Chapter 4. Unionists: Lincolnite Proclivities--Matters of General Notoriety
Chapter 5. Guerrilla Warfare: Rule by Bushwhackers, Tories, and Yankees
Chapter 6. Political Dissent: We Are Tired of This Desolating, Ruinous War
Chapter 7. Economic Strain: Laboring under Grate Disadvantage
Chapter 8. Women at War: Assuming All the Duties of the Sterner Sex
Chapter 9. Slavery: Many Negro Buyers in This Part of the Country
Chapter 10. Military Incursion and Collapse: Oh! This Is a Cruel World and Cruel People in It
Chapter 11. Aftermath: A Peace We Little Expected and Did Not Want
Notes
Bibliography
Index