The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

Re: Would it make a difference
In Response To: Re: Would it make a difference ()

Yes loyalty is inbred in human nature that goes without saying, but also so is freedom and my post was proposing the question of the effectiveness of arming slaves. I believe it might have opened a can of worms that has never really been addressed. Lee in his letter to Hunter proposed they would, but, and this is the big question would it make a difference, would it lead to mass desertions of their white counterparts, would they fight against union black regiments, once armed would they rise up against the officers in their commands, or cross the lines to Federal authorities. Its a truly interesting debate that really has never been explored and probably can never really be answered with any real validity. Lee, who knew and understood the institution much better than i 150 years later made some very interesting statements to Hunter on the merits of the proposal. But, also might have over estimated the docility factor and now seeing after 150 years that large amounts of slaves who as soon as a Federal army was in an area emancipated themselves rather than stay in the system might tell us something of their true feelings.

Messages In This Thread

When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: Would it make a difference
Re: Would it make a difference
Re: Would it make a difference
Re: Would it make a difference
Re: Would it make a difference
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered
Re: When It Might Have Mattered