In Reconstruction in the Cane Fields; John C. Rodrigue examines emancipation and the difficult transition from slavery to free labor in one enclave of the South -- the cane sugar region of southern Louisiana. In contrast to the various forms of sharecropping and tenancy that replaced slavery in the cotton South; wage labor dominated the sugar industry. Rodrigue demonstrates that the special geographical and environmental requirements of sugar production in Louisiana shaped the new labor arrangements. Ultimately; he argues; the particular demands of Louisiana sugar production accorded freedmen formidable bargaining power in the contest with planters over free labor.Rodrigue addresses many issues pivotal to all post-emancipation societies: How would labor be reorganized following slavery's demise? Who would wield decision-making power on the plantation? How were former slaves to secure the fruits of their own labor? He finds that while freedmen's working and living conditions in the postbellum sugar industry resembled the prewar status quo; they did not reflect a continuation of the powerlessness of slavery. Instead; freedmen converted their skills and knowledge of sugar production; their awareness of how easily they could disrupt the sugar plantation routine; and their political empowerment during Radical Reconstruction into leverage that they used in disputes with planters over wages; hours; and labor conditions. Thus; sugar planters; far from being omnipotent overlords who dictated terms to workers; were forced to adjust to an emerging labor market as well as to black political power.The labor arrangements particular to postbellum sugar plantations not only propelled the freedmen's political mobilization during Radical Reconstruction; Rodrigue shows; but also helped to sustain black political power -- at least for a few years -- beyond Reconstruction's demise in 1877.By showing that freedmen; under the proper circumstances; were willing to consent to wage labor and to work routines that strongly resembled those of slavery; Reconstruction in the Cane Fields offers a profound interpretation of how former slaves defined freedom in slavery's immediate aftermath. It will prove essential reading for all students of southern; African American; agricultural; and labor history.
#221055 in Books Louisiana State University Press 1997Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.33 x 1.48 x 6.37l; 1.87 #File Name: 0807121363483 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Rhea shows the bloody consequences of failures in leadershipBy Michael A. KleenIn The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern; May 7-12; 1864; Gordon C. Rhea charts the maneuvers and battles from May 7; 1864; when Union General Ulysses S. Grant broke convention and flanked Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of the Wilderness; through May 12; when his attempt to break Lee’s entrenched army by frontal assault reached a chilling climax at what is now called the Bloody Angle.Drawing on previously untapped materials; Rhea challenges conventional wisdom to construct a detailed and thorough account of Grant and Lee at Spotsylvania; including the rise of Union cavalry commander Philip Sheridan and death of the legendary J.E.B. Stuart. This is the second of a five volume series on General Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign during the American Civil War.In the aftermath of the Wilderness; General Grant learned from his mistakes; but familiar problems still shadowed his army. At Spotsylvania; Ambrose Burnside continued to conduct the IX Corps at a glacial pace. His failings “… were so flagrant that the army talked about them openly.†While Sheridan’s ride south in pursuit of J.E.B. Stewart earned him fame and resulted in Stewart’s death; it also deprived Grant of the eyes and ears of his army at a critical time. The result was eight days of brutal combat; with little to show for it. Once again; Grant’s divided command was a hindrance.The Battle of Spotsylvania showed Grant’s stubborn determination and persistence; but Rhea puts the blame squarely on Grant for his failure to decisively defeat Lee. Grant’s impulsiveness and impatience undermined what was otherwise a sound strategy. He imposed unrealistic timetables and gave little time for preparation; so plans that looked good on paper failed miserably in execution. As the battle progressed; Grant took an increasingly active role and sidelined Maj. Gen. Meade. Meade was unable or unwilling to temper Grant’s more aggressive tendencies.Rhea did not let General Lee off the hook; generally praising his conduct but arguing he made two critical mistakes. First; he failed to recognize the importance of Spotsylvania Courthouse. It was only quick thinking by Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson that saved his army from disaster.Second; he ordered the withdrawal of artillery from a salient in his lines (known as the Muleshoe); leaving it essentially indefensible. Confederate artillery chief Porter Alexander believed they could have used artillery to devastating effect against the Northern assault; perhaps stopping it altogether. Lee himself admitted this was a fatal mistake.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great informative read.By IanKHMy interest in the American Civil War is quite a recent thing and having limited knowledge about this era; I've been been doing a fair bit of reading about it in recent times. I first read the Author's first volume regarding the Overland Campaign and found it very informative and readable. I then decided to move onto this volume and found it just a good.To me it seemed to be unbiased in it's commentary of the various combatants involved and presented their successes; failures; strengths and weaknesses in a nonpartisan commentary.I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an in depth look at the subject matter. As I said; I'm quite new to ACW history but I'm sure this volume has plenty to offer to the more experienced Civil War enthusiast.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Spotsylvania Court HouseBy TylerThis book describes in great detail about the conflicts that ranged on even after Grant led his battered army south from the Wilderness in May; 1864; over 17;000 men less from where he started; and thus beginning a race to get to Spotsylvania; so Grant could get there first and force Lee to fight him with his Army of Northern Virginia in order to protect Richmond. But Lee's cavalry; with the infantry not far behind; managed to reach there first; dug in their trenches; and thus started another bloody battle that composed of some of the fiercest hand-to-hand combat struggles that lasted for days on end. Grant lost almost 10;000 men in this struggle; and General Lee lost close to that; many of them being captured during a Union breakthrough into Anderson's Confederate division; and the battle that rendered the famous "Stonewall" Brigade combat-ineffective; with barely 200 unhurt men remaining at the end. The book also gives great insight into the death of cavalry leader Maj.Gen. J.E.B. Stuart at Yellow Tavern; just miles outside of Richmond; who insisted that his staff gather at his bedside and sing "Rock of Ages." Sadly; his wife arrived with her children shortly after his death; and the famous Southern cavalry would never be the same after that. But Grant could always afford to replace his losses; and Lee couldn't. But the Federal casualties here added up to the 50;000 losses from the Army of the Potomac before it settled into the siege at Petersburg; something that lowered morale from the people in the North and which could affect Lincoln's reelection campaign. This is a great; enjoyable book!
