Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia - Hardcover

by Ervin L. Jordan (Author)

On the eve of the Civil War, more Afircan-Americans lived in Virginia than in any other state- 490,000 slaves and 59,000 free blacks- and they were active participants in the single most dynamic event to shape the American consciousness. Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia is the first comprehensive study of Civil War Afro-Virginian history and culture. Through it we witness every aspect of black life: slave and free; rural and urban; homefront and battlefield; at work on plantations but also in munitions factories in Richmond; as wartime Union spies and as soldiers in the Confederate army.

Back Jacket

Some time ago I had the pleasure of meeting the renowned American scholar Vincent Harding and told him of my plans for this boo. He encouragingly inscribe a copy of his book: 'For Brother Ervin--keep the story well, Share the story widely!' His message sums up the responsibility of anyone attempting to narrate any aspect of African-American history.

Author Biography

Ervin L. Jordan, Jr., is Assistant Professor and Associate Curator, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library. He is author of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia in the Civil War and, with Herbert Thomas, Nineteenth Virginia Infantry.