The first in-depth historical account of the events that inspired Toni Morrison's novel Beloved. In the middle of a frigid Sunday night in January 1856; a twenty-two-year-old Kentucky slave named Margaret Garner gathered up her family and raced north; toward Cincinnati and freedom. But Margaret's master followed just hours behind and soon had the fugitives surrounded. Thinking all was lost; Margaret seized a butcher knife and nearly decapitated her two-year-old daughter; crying out that she would rather see her children dead than returned to slavery. She was turning on her other three children when slave catchers burst in and subdued her. Margaret Garner's child-murder electrified the United States; inspiring the longest; most spectacular fugitive-slave trial in history. Abolitionists and slaveholders fought over the meaning of the murder; and the case came to symbolize the ills of the Union in those last dark decades before the Civil War. Newspaper columnists; poets; and dramatists raced to interpret Margaret's deeds; but by the century's end they were all but forgotten. Steven Weisenburger is the first scholar to delve into this astonishing story in more than a century. Weisenburger integrates his innovative archival discoveries into a dramatic narrative that paints a nuanced portrait of the not-so-genteel Southern culture of slavery and its destructive effect on all who lived in and with it.
#963073 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2012-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .70 x 6.10l; .68 #File Name: 0807872253304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Remembering the dead and the Lost Cause.By R. H. SwensonThis monograph is a very well written account of a seldom examined piece of post Civil War history. For anyone interested in the American Civil War - the causes; the events; and the lasting after affects; I highly recommend this book. The best way to absorb; learn; and understand this book; one must read it at least twice.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Nice gift for an existing fanBy zerolagtimeGot these books for my parents for Christmas. They had been reading several of the later books in the series and were quite excited to get these delivered.10 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Women Show Their Political PowerBy Robert ReddThe "Lost Cause" is a standard mythology in Confederate history as to why the states in rebellion against the Union were unable to secure their freedom. One of the groups responsible for the Lost Cause mythology were the Ladies Memorial Associations; the subject of a fascinating book by Caroline Janney.Ladies Memorial Associations; or LMAs as they are called in the book; were groups of mostly elite; solidly white women that took shape almost immediately after the war. Within a year of the surrender at Appomattox there were more than seventy such groups. With the federal government of course giving priority to Union soldiers and dead the LMAs in effect took on a governmental role. Some of their goals were the helping of the poor and injured but most important was memorializing the dead and bringing dead Confederate soldiers home for a proper burial.For Janney the women of the LMAs were becoming more political despite the traditional view that women were not interested in politics. Janney's definition of politics is the "ability of individuals or groups to wield influence in their community; state; or region". Using this definition there can be little doubt that many Southern women were indeed becoming more political.While there were Associations across the former Confederate states this book focuses almost exclusively on those from Virginia with those from the cities of Richmond; Fredericksburg; Petersburg; Lynchburg; and Winchester. The Hollywood Memorial Association and Oakwood Memorial Association; both of Richmond; appear to have been the leading organizations and take the lead in this work.These groups experienced much success including the formation of Confederate Memorial Day which helped lead to the celebrating of our current Memorial Day. Due to the hard work and fund raising undertaken by various LMAs many Confederate monuments; including the famous Pyramid at Hollywood Cemetery; were built. Perhaps the greatest achievement however was the finding and returning of Confederate dead and burying them in what Janey calls National Confederate Cemeteries. Thousands of Confederate dead were eventually brought "home" due to the efforts of these women.While there were great accomplishments all was not roses for these groups. There was the constant struggle to raise money. In fact the Hollywood Memorial Association was unable to pay for the removal of all the Confederate dead from the Gettysburg battlefield. This debt haunted them for many years. Another struggle was with former Confederate men who were regaining their ability to be active politically. The men who had played a supporting role to women for many years in the immediate aftermath of the war expected the women to return to their prewar social position. These women were having no part in this and fought the men bitterly. Another struggle was declining membership as time went on. During the 1890's the rise of the United Daughters of the Confederacy also raised concerns as the UDC was seen as a younger and more vibrant organization.Janey has put together an impressive listing of sources. She has scouted through many manuscript repositories; has referenced the remaining records of several LMAs; and has a large listing of other primary and secondary sources. The research looks to be very thorough and it shows in the writing which is smooth and easy to read.This is a book that should be read by anybody with an interest in the post Civil War period; those wanting to learn about a seldom discussed aspect of Confederate women's history; or those interested in the memorializing of Confederate dead. Highly recommended!
