View single post by CalvryTeam
 Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2012 04:03 pm
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CalvryTeam
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Mana: 
 I'm sure they had opinions about slavery, but I don't think the ownership or opposition of slavery was the main motivation for their involvement. In most cases, they were dragged into the situation because their homes were raided or they had goods or services to provide. I am trying to include the element of slavery to the degree that it would have been present in this case. Their opinions probably would have been in reaction to reports from other areas, more than in their own small community. I guess most of them were generally opposed to the institution of slavery, but at the same time the ones who remained at home did not enlist to fight because of it.

One of the communities that I'm looking at was known to be loyal to the Union, because Confederate soldiers would raid their property and take animals and supplies. But the Federal troops did the same. However, the Federal troops would pay neighbors for animals or supplies rather than take them. So neighbors would steal from neighbors to sell to the Federals. The neighbors would fight amongst themselves, while each remained loyal to the Union. On a day to day basis, that was the type of conflict that they faced. I have another diary that may mention specific opinions about slavery from a pro-Confederate civilian perspective; after I look through it, I may have some better insight.

I'm starting to work with two historians and a reenactment leader to begin developing the script. Logistically, the hardest part is going to be getting enough horses.