The Confederacy Drafting of Enslaved and Free Black Persons to Work on Fortifications in Richmond Virginia 1862-1865
Dublin Core
Title
The Confederacy Drafting of Enslaved and Free Black Persons to Work on Fortifications in Richmond Virginia 1862-1865
Subject
Correspondence
Lists
Drafts
Enslaved Peoples
Free Black Persons
Fortifications
Richmond, Virginia
Civil War
Confederacy
Executive Department
John B. Baldwin
George W. Munford
Lists
Drafts
Enslaved Peoples
Free Black Persons
Fortifications
Richmond, Virginia
Civil War
Confederacy
Executive Department
John B. Baldwin
George W. Munford
Description
This collection includes letters and correspondence between members of the local government and the representatives of the Confederacy regarding the drafting of enslaved and free black persons to work on fortifications in Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War (1860-1865).
Other records include ballots drawn and not drawn of slave owners who were required to send enslaved persons to work on the fortifications. Also included, are lists that have information on how many slaves were to be sent to the fortifications, the names of slaves, and the slave owners names.
These documents illuminate a period in Augusta County's history when the country was fractured by opposing political viewpoints and moral principles. Because Richmond was such a key industrial center for the South, there was tremendous pressure put on the slave owners of Augusta County to provide slaves to work on fortifications. The focus on the negative financial impact this had on slave owners can be seen in the various correspondence between members of the county and representatives of the Confederacy and the Commonwealth.
Most importantly, the implications that this draft had on the lives of the enslaved population, as well as the free black persons living in Augusta County was immense to say the least. Family members were painfully separated. Free black persons were pressed into labor, stripped of the fragile rights they had held. Many enslaved persons and free black persons lost their lives from disease, accidents, and the hazardous conditions in which they were forced to labor.
The uncertainty that wartime brought had a monumental impact on the lives of members of Augusta County. This period exacerbated the conditions of enslaved persons and free black persons. These historical documents help to shed light on the controversies of the period, how human lives were impacted, and the reverberations of the Civil War on Augusta County.
*Items will continue to be added as they are processed.
*A tremendous thank you to Cynthia Easterling for her insight and help with digitally scanning the documents in this collection! She was a driving force behind this project.
*Thank you to Donna Huffer, whose knowledge of the local history was extremely helpful in uncovering information on the outcome of many of the free black persons sent to the fortifications. She also provided insightful newspaper articles on the topic that correlate with the correspondence between members of the local government and members of the Confederate government.
*Thank you to Lynn Scott, who is a professional genealogist in the area, for volunteering her time to transcribe many of the documents in this collection! Your time and efforts are appreciated!
*Content Warning* Please be advised that some terminology in this collection of historical records contains outdated language that may be considered inappropriate and offensive to modern readers.
Other records include ballots drawn and not drawn of slave owners who were required to send enslaved persons to work on the fortifications. Also included, are lists that have information on how many slaves were to be sent to the fortifications, the names of slaves, and the slave owners names.
These documents illuminate a period in Augusta County's history when the country was fractured by opposing political viewpoints and moral principles. Because Richmond was such a key industrial center for the South, there was tremendous pressure put on the slave owners of Augusta County to provide slaves to work on fortifications. The focus on the negative financial impact this had on slave owners can be seen in the various correspondence between members of the county and representatives of the Confederacy and the Commonwealth.
Most importantly, the implications that this draft had on the lives of the enslaved population, as well as the free black persons living in Augusta County was immense to say the least. Family members were painfully separated. Free black persons were pressed into labor, stripped of the fragile rights they had held. Many enslaved persons and free black persons lost their lives from disease, accidents, and the hazardous conditions in which they were forced to labor.
The uncertainty that wartime brought had a monumental impact on the lives of members of Augusta County. This period exacerbated the conditions of enslaved persons and free black persons. These historical documents help to shed light on the controversies of the period, how human lives were impacted, and the reverberations of the Civil War on Augusta County.
*Items will continue to be added as they are processed.
*A tremendous thank you to Cynthia Easterling for her insight and help with digitally scanning the documents in this collection! She was a driving force behind this project.
*Thank you to Donna Huffer, whose knowledge of the local history was extremely helpful in uncovering information on the outcome of many of the free black persons sent to the fortifications. She also provided insightful newspaper articles on the topic that correlate with the correspondence between members of the local government and members of the Confederate government.
*Thank you to Lynn Scott, who is a professional genealogist in the area, for volunteering her time to transcribe many of the documents in this collection! Your time and efforts are appreciated!
*Content Warning* Please be advised that some terminology in this collection of historical records contains outdated language that may be considered inappropriate and offensive to modern readers.
Creator
Augusta County Circuit Court
Source
Augusta County Circuit Court
Publisher
Augusta County Circuit Court
Date
1862-1865
Contributor
Cynthia Easterling, Historic Records Volunteer
Donna Huffer, Augusta County Historical Society
Lynn Scott, Professional Genealogist
Whitney Rhodes, Historic Records Clerk
Donna Huffer, Augusta County Historical Society
Lynn Scott, Professional Genealogist
Whitney Rhodes, Historic Records Clerk
Rights
This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Format
PDF
Language
English
Identifier
ACCH-AA-Fortifications-1862-1865-000
Coverage
Augusta County
Virginia
United States
Virginia
United States
Collection Items
Letters: Harman, M. G. (September 1861)
This letter to the presiding justice of Augusta County, Robert Guy pertained to an ordinance passed in July of 1861 that required the counties to provide the Confederate Army wagons and supplies. This also included the impressment of "free…
Letters: John Letcher Response April 20, 1862
Letter from the Executive Department to J.B. Baldwin regarding request for compensation for slaves sent to work on the fortifications in Richmond. A transcription of the letter has been provided by Lynn Scott.
Letters: "Avis, John Capt." July 23, 1862
Letter from Captain John Avis requesting "twenty-five male & twenty-five female free negroes, as nurses, cooks, washerwomen & C, in the different Hospitals..." He referenced legislation that had been passed July 18, 1862, giving authority to impress…
Letters: John Letcher Slave Draft November 27, 1862
This document pertains to an Act of General Assembly in October of 1862 regarding the requisition of slaves from each county in Virginia “for labor on fortifications and other works necessary for the public defense”. A list of counties is provided…
Letters: George W. Munford Slave Draft Act November 27, 1862
Letter received by the Clerk of Augusta County from the Executive Department regarding an act passed by General Assembly in October of 1862. This act pertained to the requisition of slaves from the different counties and the allotment required.…
Letters: To The Presiding Justices of Augusta County From Lt. James Jones, December 28, 1862
Letter from the War Department of the Confederate States of America regarding the execution of an order for the drafting of twenty “Free Negroes” to work on “nitre caves”.
Letters: Confederate States of America, War Department, Nitre and Mining Bureau, To Presiding Justices of Augusta County From James F. Jones December 28, 1862
This letter shows the impressment of Free black persons by the Confederate Army to work in nitre and mining caves. 20 men were requested to be sent by Lt. James F. Jones.
Letters: James Seddon, Secretary of War April 16, 1863
Letter written to James Seddon, the Secretary of War, concerning compensation for enslaved persons who had died while working on the Confederate fortifications in Richmond, Virginia.
