Jeff Levine on Confederate Emancipation

[samgrant]

I am confounded by this, there are references to a "Bruce Levine" and to a "Jeff Levine", are you all refering to the same person? Furthermore, googling either name returns not one significant information.

Are we using this so called "Levine" as a proxy for another arguement?

[matthew mckeon]

Bruce Levine is the historian who wrote "Confederate Emancipation" a recent book describing the debate in the Confederacy around recruiting slaves as soldiers. "Jeff " was a mistake on someone's part.

[unionblue]

To All,

I offer some sites which review the book. Feel free to add other sites.

http://www.militaryink.com/books/200...0195147626.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Em.../dp/0195147626

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev...58861153158885

Think it will give a little background on the matter.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[unionblue]

I wish to thank rock city guard for this item he posted on another thread.

Wednesday, Feb.24, 1864
CONGRESS CONFIRMS COMPLICATED COMPENSATION

President Lincoln today signed a bill passed by Congress that offered up to $300 compensation for any Union master whose slaves volunteered to join the Army. The slave would be freed at the end of his service. The act also offered increased compensation for volunteers, increased penalties for draft resistance, allowed blacks to be subject to the draft, and ordered alternative service in non-combat roles for those who would not bear arms for religious reasons.

In the book, Confederate Emancipation, the author says the Confederate Congress could not do the same for it's black slaves.

Comments?

Unionblue

[johan_steele]

Originally Posted by unionblue

I wish to thank rock city guard for this item he posted on another thread.



In the book, Confederate Emancipation, the author says the Confederate Congress could not do the same for it's black slaves.

Comments?

Unionblue

Could Not & would not. By Feb of 64 the CS Economy was a mess; the CS dollar already going nowhere fast and add to that the men of the CS Congress all being wealthy land & slaveowners.. no, I mean no incentive to adopt such a program. I would wager my socks the thought never even crossed their collective minds.

There was still a chance, however remote, of victory. THe CS AoT was in competant hands for the first time and Lee had largely rebuilt after the debacle of Gettysburg. But Vicksburg was gone along w/, for all practical purposes Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri & Tennessee. The only major seaports still in CS hands were Savannah, Chalreston Wilmington & Mobile; w/ the noose of the US naval blocade ever tightening.

Europe was still willing to accept CS cotton in payment, but not their money as it was worthless. Neither England or France were even pretending willingness to recognize the CS anymore. It was all but over and yet the CS Congress was still unwilling to arm and equip slaves en masse. Why? There is no doubt those politicians knew that the Black man understood which flag he was better off under. It was not until more than a year later when the walls of power of the CS were collapsing around their ears and they were beyond depserate that they even considered such a move.