JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
One of two Harper's images, depicting Southern families fleeing War. Harper's Weekly ( opinion only ) seems to have been fairly even handed, when representing civilian matters towards war's genesis- later, seem to have been so much more likely to write pointed, pro-Union captions, it is tough to ascertain civilian stories.
No order here, as no order was to be found in a war noted for chaos, spilling to each side as neat lines of troops marched from home towns.
So... it's extremely hard to ascertain who went where, and why, from Northern based papers. I'd have to guess it unlikely a slave holding family was required to flee through fearing Southern troops- banditi or otherwise. Perhaps, just seems odd. No sides in this thread- please do not begin one. Displaced by war, is the theme.
Few topics become as contentious, as quickly in who-did-what-to-whom arguments, as those stories ending with " And civilians were driven from their homes. " Goodness. It was an awful war. Civilians suffered mightily. Largely non-combatants and without protection or the wherewithal to sustain themselves in what amounted to hostile territory, our black population swelled those ranks.
Still paging through, finding which Richmond refugees were here. Images were sent back to publishers as reporters encountered them. This is from NYPL- always a challenge tackling Harper's ( or Leslie's ), to find the story!
Here's another " Grand Skedaddle ", from Charleston, South Carolina- as Federal troops approach.
All the way into 1865, women leaving Savannah, under orders if they refused Sherman's terms. Perhaps not the refugees living in caves, and it was their choice. Displaced by war? Yes. Savannah was no picnic by 1865- ravaged by Blockade and loss- must have felt desperate.
" Quietly at home " in Savannah, in 1865 looked a little different than quietly at home in Boston, or Harrisburg, PA.
Not as heart tugging as you'd think. The war is the west was a desperate, barbaric struggle - images tried to convey how desperate.
Which begs the question " Who were the war's refugees? " What a huge question? We had a lot. The thing is, following events as they transpired, through era media, the sheer scope of what does not seem to have been viewed as a' problem' is clearer. Arguing who-did-what-to-whom seems a little besides the point?
Union general Nelson's " The women and children will leave this city without delay " caused panic- and created more refugees. Where did he think they would all go?
Frank Leslie's war artists found some here.
And they came and came and came and came, called ' contraband like it was a passport,- they displaced themselves. What could be worse than what was left?
Anderson's little garrison sent wives and children away, from Ruffin's awful, finite yank on that cord, that awful, finite day- the beginning of so many ends. The first refugees? Maybe.
Will not beat the topic to death. There is article after article on refugees but we don't manage to see them later or have a clear idea what became of most. A few famous examples are so contentious you simply may not bring them up- which is a shame. Most frequently women and children, displaced by war, it'd be great History for all of us.
1865, Virginians drawing rations from a Federal camp. Some civilians lived in camps themselves, not permanent homes. It was a very, very long war.