Contrabands

[18thVirginia]

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Lists of Contrabands working on fortifications near Camp Parapet in New Orleans

 

[Dave Wilma]

You're suggesting that Ben Butler may not have been the worst possible general, that he may have actually effected a change that led to winning the war?

By war's end, approximately half a million formerly enslaved people and other African American freedmen had sought protection behind Union lines. These "contraband," as they became known, usually lived in camps hastily erected almost anywhere the army was stationed. The large number of runaways who flocked to Union lines belies the outdated and racist notion that enslaved African Americans simply waited for emancipation by singing hymns and strumming banjos; rather, they seized almost every chance to pursue their freedom, often risking death, and in so doing, helped make slavery a central issue of the Civil War. http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2011/may-june/the-forgotten.html

If 200,000 of the 500,000 were enlisted into the Union Army then 300,000 were available to add to the Union effort and subtract from the Confederate effort doubling the impact. Even using just the 500,000 figure, balance that number against Confederate effectives and this is one more factor that overwhelmed the Confederate Army. 500,000 leaving the slave states and helping the Union Army is a net gain to the Union of 1,000,000 people. These people were indeed an economic and even military resource to be utilized. Naturally some people were children or unable to help in either army camp, but still it was a factor.

Butler had it right, that to return the runaways to Confederate masters was to support the rebellion.

 

[18thVirginia]

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Contraband Camp, Baton Rouge - formerly used as female seminary
Some of Jefferson Davis's slaves were reputed to be among this group.

 

[18thVirginia]

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[Patrick H]

As I look at the recent pictures that are added to this thread, I am continually reminded of what a sheer logistical effort it must have been to house and feed and educate and employ and otherwise care for these people. This is very sobering to me, because I'll admit I previously looked at the whole issue of giving freedom to these former slaves with very shallow and passing thoughts. I was happy for their freedom, but I just never thought very far beyond that concept. My bad. These photos really hit hard. Thanks for posting them and please keep them coming.
PS: I still don't like the term "contraband" because it continues to define them as property. But there's nothing any of us can do about that 150 years after the fact.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

As I look at the recent pictures that are added to this thread, I am continually reminded of what a sheer logistical effort it must have been to house and feed and educate and employ and otherwise care for these people. This is very sobering to me, because I'll admit I previously looked at the whole issue of giving freedom to these former slaves with very shallow and passing thoughts. I was happy for their freedom, but I just never thought very far beyond that concept. My bad. These photos really hit hard. Thanks for posting them and please keep them coming.
PS: I still don't like the term "contraband" because it continues to define them as property. But there's nothing any of us can do about that 150 years after the fact.

Yes, it was indeed a dreadful term, awful- because this unbelievable, staggering population of 4 million enslaved human beings had not yet been able to succeed in pointing out to ' owners ' what an absurd state of affairs this was, the ' contraband' thing served a hideous kind of purpose. Butler was a huge humanitarian, as far from ' Beast' as someone could be. I know his order is seen as a way to thwart the Confederate war effort by depriving them of labor but it's in keeping with how repulsive the man found attitudes towards enslaved people. He had zero power to free anybody or change attitudes. There were men within the Union army who were still unsure on whether or no enslaved people should be returned- it was fuzzy ( weirdly ). ' Contraband ' cleared that up in a big hurry plus gave added impetus to the thousands who were in the process of freeing themselves.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, it's an awful word. You're correct, it does imply ownership- I'm not at all sure Butler's intent was all about depriving the South of labor, either. He was a huge humanitarian, not at all this Beast he's come to be portrayed- History has done a great disservice to the 4 million enslaved and Butler himself with that whole sidetrack. Not sure the man expected to find what he did, be as repulsed as he was by what he encountered. His secretary speaks of times in New Orleans when staff knew to leave him alone to get out of a black rage, regain control. Anyway, there was no power to free anyone and even Union officers still sometimes unbelievably turned away enslaved people coming for help to Union lines- unwilling to interfere with ' property'. Horrible. ' Contraband' as an order took care of all of this in a big hurry, gave energy to a movement of enslaved people attempting to free themselves.

Edisto Island, S.C., school for black children. Charlotte Forten, Robert Gould Shaw's good friend ran one of the schools in the Carolinas, I think Beaufort.

One of the families having made it to Union lines, this one with a few more possessions than a lot.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Did not know Cordelia Harvey also worked with black refugee camps! It cannot be anyone else, there is no other ' Mrs. ex-governor of Wisconsin ' Harvey. Gee Whiz- the ' Angel of Wisconsin was known for being a pain in Stanton's backside on behalf of wounded soldiers- he actually asked her when she was leaving Washington! Hee. She of course told him ' Not until I get what I came for. " Lincoln, being married to Mary, folded like a cheap suit- he knew when he was no match for a female.

Cordelia Harvey, Angel of Refugees. Wow.

 

[James B White]

Some of these pictures look so much like people I've met at reenactments. There was a young woman whose female owner was taking her on a road through the woods to avoid the encroaching Union army in Missouri, but we were all stopped by a flood. She was carrying a chicken that they would eat later, but if I recall correctly, her owner was taking her farther from her daughter and the owner feared she might take the chance to run away and go to her daughter. I offered to buy her, figuring I could sneak her back into Kentucky and sell her where prices were more stable, and I'd make sure she wouldn't run away from me, but her owner had a sentimental attachment and wouldn't sell, and I don't think liked my more commercial attitude all that well.

It's so strange being part of that world for a couple days, staying in the period mindset, saying or seeing nothing modern over a few miles of dirt road, thinking how it all might come to life in color, action, words... We can never really know, but we can only imagine. Seeing these pictures, I just wish I could step into that world and look around, ask, experience, see, hear, smell and be part of it if only for a few minutes.

Edited to add: Not that I want to be the white bad guy. That's just how I was cast one weekend. I know I couldn't change anything major for the better because the world was too complicated for that, but at least I could see and try to understand.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, not sure the entire world of reenacting gets understood- that it's so deep History stays where it transpires down to the man looking for a deal, a human to ' flip'. Kudos to our black fellow citizens who participate, allowing uglies out. Gosh- and must have been pretty common just like today your general sharp dealer would have a weather eye out for picking up a deal. Cringe. Did not understand reenacting as well before joining here- still do not. Better, that's all.

Also am a lot of the perspective shared by Patrick, when this entire, massive problem became apparent. What on earth happened to all our fellow citizens post-war, or just post-freedom? Ill prepared to fend for themselves, huge amounts never having been assigned any but one task in life and literally disallowed to think for themselves. Became interpreted as ' stupid'- or unwillingness to work across the board. SO, so many had the mind sets of captives, afraid to move one way or another and so deeply brainwashed as dependents it was terrifying to them, the notion they really were capable of standing alone as strong people.

Again, reading Elizabeth Keckley- she took this dependence thing as something to despise instead of understanding why. An entire year's worth of work would be ' paid' in 2 dresses- in the minds of someone deeply brainwashed, well, they would work but show me where 2 dresses might be forthcoming. This in turn became interpreted as ' They refused to work.' Refused? Offer to perform an entire year of labor in exchange for clothing, and not very good clothing? Talk about a language barrier and large segments of society determined to see the worst in the newly freed population.

I've read officers exasperated seeing ' exslaves' still living on defunct plantations, owners long gone, allowing crops to go unharvested, apparently doing nothing to keep the place going. Also interpreted as ' lazy'. There was no leadership, no one to say ' You are now harvesting this as paid employees '. Because they were not. For all these people knew, they were being asked to go back to labor once again for a now-absent master and his family for the same non-existent wages as in the old system. Lazy, no- freed and not inclined to help a white man profit one, more year, yes.

Flocking north and competing with recent, white immigrants for low-paying jobs was also watched with hostility- in all, such a massive problem, ramifications felt a century and a half later.

 

[18thVirginia]

Contrabands in Tennessee

 

[18thVirginia]

I wonder if our concern about "contrabands" meaning property is not part of our 21st Century perception. One of the National Park Service sites says that the term quickly took on another meaning as more Southerners, previously slaves, fled from slavery. If you look at some of the photos, of the Grand Contraband Camp in Hampton, for example, you'll see picket fences around the houses that the Contrabands have constructed from the ruins of burned out Hampton. These were people putting their families back together, raising gardens, making a step toward a new life.

At Corinth, where engineer General Grenville Dodge was in charge, the camp was laid out with roads and walkways, those known as Contrabands built homes, a school, sold vegetables from their farm program. I will post some contemporary photos of statues that honor the Corinth camp residents.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I guess? On the other hand, our 21st Century perceptions are correct and would have been all those years ago. One of the dumbest, most frustrating arguments to me is the one where ' Well, we're looking at ' slavery' all wrong. It was considered just the way it was in the old days, no one knew any better, can't blame them! We're the ones at fault for interpreting this stuff through 2014 eyes. ' Just no. 1830 and 40 and 50 and 60 eyes worked just fine. If they did not, plenty of people pointing this stuff out on a regular basis.

Always have had a theory no one knew better than anyone, people who lived with enslaved people knew exactly how normal these folks were. Can't have it both ways- that an entire race was so ' stupid' they were literally subhuman but forbid them learning to read. Why DO that if they would be so dim? Where's the threat, they wouldn't be able to read regardless, why hang or beat someone? If this entire enlaved population was so happy, and required white people to care for them ( because they were so dim, how would it be possible for them to fend for themselves ), why fence them in, chase them don with bloodhounds, force them to buy their freedom if it were possible at all? If all were so happy, open the locks, let them all come and go at will, who would go?

If any of this had somehow been missed, there'd been indications perhaps something was not quite correct in the concept of owning other human beings- the word was out.

I'll get it in the neck for saying this. Oh well. Sources are out there if need be, just would rather not have a brouhaha. Sticking to it.

 

[ForeverFree]

Historian Thavolia Glymph is currently working on a book about African descent families, women, and children during what I call the "contraband era." This is a video for one of her lectures on the subject. There are others on the Internet if you spend a minute or so searching. The sound/volume is not good, but the talk is audibly intelligible.

Published on Feb 4, 2014. Duke University's Thavolia Glymph delivers the keynote address at Lay My Burden Down, a 2013 Civil War symposium that we hosted. Glymph , an associate professor of African and African American Studies, discusses women refugees during the Civil War.

-Alan

 

[Yulie]

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Unidentified Contrabands who escaped to Union lines, 1862

FYI: This is taken in Decherd, Tennessee.

-Y

 

[godofredus]

Question: in the foto of Contraband Cooks, Culppeper Va., are those used up canned food tins on the ground in front of them? If so, nice evidence of the importance of early canned foods. Or, conversely, it is a modern reenactment?

 

[Yulie]

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Corinth, Mississippi Contraband Camp

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Corinth Mississippi Contraband Camp

Thanks for posting.

I've seen these photographs before and question them as being THE Corinth Contraband Camp. The photographs are problematic because they are undated. The contraband camp in Corinth did not acquire prior buildings and was not located this close to the railroad. It was south and in walking distance of the main railroad junction. From all accounts, the camp had built wooden structures and laid out streets by winter 1862/1863. Through my research I could not find any photographs of the Corinth Contraband camp. Also, the lack of photographs has been expressed to me by other researchers. There was a photographer in Corinth during Union occupation but there are no lasting pictures if he took any of the camp. There are only a few sketches of a few buildings and descriptions. Additionally, there are written accounts from the American Missionary Association and the Western Sanitary Commission. These are referenced in this published paper: http://mlsandy.home.tsixroads.com/Corinth_MLSANDY/histcw6.html. Today, a very small portion of the camp is part of the NPS Shiloh system. http://www.nps.gov/shil/planyourvisit/contrabandcamp.htm The USCT artillery battery (then known as the First Alabama Special Siege Artillery) was northeast of the main railroad junction -- where the Corinth CW Interpretive Center is now located. This is the artillery unit that ended up at Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864.

My great grandfather and his brother left Pleasant Site Plantation in Franklin County, Alabama, and ended up in the Corinth contraband camp before enlisting in the Union Army.

Best Regards,
-Y

 

[Yulie]

[/QUOTE]

Historian Thavolia Glymph is currently working on a book about African descent families, women, and children during what I call the "contraband era." This is a video for one of her lectures on the subject. There are others on the Internet if you spend a minute or so searching. The sound/volume is not good, but the talk is audibly intelligible.

Published on Feb 4, 2014. Duke University's Thavolia Glymph delivers the keynote address at Lay My Burden Down, a 2013 Civil War symposium that we hosted. Glymph , an associate professor of African and African American Studies, discusses women refugees during the Civil War.

-Alan

Yep. This is well worth to highly recommended watching. Dr. Glymph makes an important distinction between African American contrabands and refugees. She analyzes the photograph of the Helena, Arkansas camp as well (which is posted above as "Contraband Camps -- Arkansas.").

The point Dr. Glymph makes is that NOT ALL fleeing enslaved people received the contraband designation. The designation depended on the military command, the location, and whether a particular settlement officially received this designation and could become a labor force for the Union. A supporting factor is also Camp Nelson. A woman and her dependents received the contraband designation and privileges ONLY if her husband was enlisted in the Union Army. When the USCTs left Camp Nelson and headed for Virginia, the new commander expelled all the family members without due notice. There was no shelter for them at Nicholasville or Lexington for these former contraband now refugees. As a result, many died of exposure and are buried in the National Cemetery adjacent to the camp.

-Yulie

P.S. Here's an article that pretty much sums up the contraband expulsion on November 23, 1864 from Camp Nelson: http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4363000/expulsion and http://history.ky.gov/landmark/civil-war-refugees-at-camp-nelson-kentucky-1864-1865/ Regiments from Camp Nelson had fought at Saltville, Virginia the month prior and experienced at horror only to have their families tossed out into the cold. There is a lot of primary material on Camp Nelson contraband camp and surrounding refugee camps. The US Sanitary Commission and the American Missionary Association were there and were in constant flux with each other.

 

[ForeverFree]

Yep. This is well worth to highly recommended watching. Dr. Glymph makes an important distinction between African American contrabands and refugees. She analyzes the photograph of the Helena, Arkansas camp as well (which is posted above as "Contraband Camps -- Arkansas.").

The point Dr. Glymph makes is that NOT ALL fleeing enslaved people received the contraband designation. The designation depended on the military command, the location, and whether a particular settlement officially received this designation and could become a labor force for the Union. A supporting factor is also Camp Nelson. A woman and her dependents received the contraband designation and privileges ONLY if her husband was enlisted in the Union Army. When the USCTs left Camp Nelson and headed for Virginia, the new commander expelled all the family members without due notice. There was no shelter for them at Nicholasville or Lexington for these former contraband now refugees. As a result, many died of exposure and are buried in the National Cemetery adjacent to the camp.

-Yulie

It's not even clear how many African descent people called themselves "contraband." This was a popular term in the northern lexicon, to be sure, and many slaves were familiar with it. But I don't know if all the escaping slaves left the farm with the language that "I'm going to be a contraband." That probably used words to the effect that "I'm going to be free," that is, they saw themselves as becoming free people.

One other note. Hari Jones of the African American Civil War Museum has made the point that, with the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in particular areas of the Confederacy were free. That is, they did not have this limbo state of quasi-freedom as was true for those who were termed contrabands. He suggests that for those who escaped bondage after the EP, the term "freemen" and "freewomen" would be used.

- Alan