Southern anti-war feeling

[JerryD]

Recently read "A Tainted Breeze" about the great Gainesville hanging of Unionists in Texas, and currently reading Foner's book on Reconstruction, and one thing that struck me was the numbers of Unionists purported to be in the South during the ACW. In the Gainesville area they were reported to be a majority, although the power was held by the wealthier slaver owner factions, as was generally true throughout much of the South. Foner cites significant Unionist factions in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. Again, these were mostly non-slaveholding small farmers and tradesmen who often resented the Slave Power that controlled politics in these areas. Andrew Johnston is a good example of this type.

We all know of the Copperhead movement in the northern states, but I wonder if we know of exactly how extensive these southern groups were, if they were organize, and how they were treated. The Unionists in Gainesville were subjected to a legalized vendetta that wanted to kill every man who did not support the CSA. Even the mildest comments in opposition could get you hanged.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

I think too many times people like Foner confuse the anti-war sentiment in the South with Unionism. A lot of people did not care for either side and simply wanted to be left alone. For the past two-decades, I have worked on several western North Carolina counties. Yes, there is some Unionism. However, most people who are not pro-Confederate really don't seem to care for the Union either. Some were opportunist, only joining the Union army in March or April 1865. They knew who was going to win and wanted to get a pension. Or, they joined the Union army simply to cover their sins of robbing their neighbors. Neither of those is not an allegiance to the Union.

 

[bayouace]

The OP and Post #2 make very valid points.

 

[JerryD]

I think too many times people like Foner confuse the anti-war sentiment in the South with Unionism. A lot of people did not care for either side and simply wanted to be left alone. For the past two-decades, I have worked on several western North Carolina counties. Yes, there is some Unionism. However, most people who are not pro-Confederate really don't seem to care for the Union either. Or, they were opportunist, only joining the Union army in March or April 1865. They knew who was going to win and wanted to get a pension. Or, they joined the Union army simply to cover their sins of robbing their neighbors. Neither of those is not an allegiance to the Union.

I think that is a fair statement. Foner does make clear that a lot of scalawags were simply opportunists in the post war era.

I am, however, struck by the economic divisions between the planter classes and the up-county yeomen, as related by Foner. Clearly there was a lot of antagonism between the two classes, and it seems there was a lot of post war resentment over the planter classes dragging the southern states into a war that the yoemen did not want or support.

I'd love to know more about your work on the western North Carolina counties. Is this work on a book about the ACW period?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

We all know of the Copperhead movement in the northern states

It's important to remember most Copperheads were anti-war, not pro-Confederate. They either agreed with the legitimacy of secession, didn't believe the South was worth a war to keep, or simply considered the war a failure and continuing was a waste of blood and treasure. When Valladingham was exiled to the Confederacy he had no desire to stay there.

Foner cites significant Unionist factions in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. Again, these were mostly non-slaveholding small farmers and tradesmen who often resented the Slave Power that controlled politics in these areas.

"Significant factions" should not be confused with significant population. Rather, parts of the South with low population density were more likely to be majority anti-war. These were generally rural mountain areas unsuitable for plantation agriculture. With their low population they lacked political power in their state government. The topography made it difficult for Confederates to suppress any organized resistance.

Some areas, like eastern Tennessee, seem to have been more actively Unionist while others, like the Ozarks, probably just wanted to be left alone.

While mostly it was mountainous areas, there were exceptions. In Florida it was the more central and southern parts of the state that were least developed, populated, and interested in the war effort. These were mostly transplants from Georgia; they were Southern crackers but their existence was so remote and hardscrabble they simply has more important things to do and/or wanted to be left alone.

I suspect many members of the Cow Cavalry cared not a bit about the Confederate cause and were motivated entirely almost entirely by self-interest i.e. protecting their livelihood (cattle) against the Union military.

Florida also seems to have had a lot of "buyer's remorse." There were two Florida Union cavalry regiments formed mostly from Confederate deserters. I think many of the Floridians who joined the Confederate Army were interested in defending Florida directly. They resented being pulled from the state and sent off to the two main Confederate armies while their state and families were left exposed to both Union occupation/raids and apolitical marauders. No particular source for this; just a general impression.