1800’s Kentucky

• By 1800, two societies were developing in Appalachia

•  "Tuckahoe" refers to the low-country, slave-owning plantation owners, with all of their economic, political, social, and English (mostly from Northern and Western England) ethnic traits.

• The "cohee" were typically non-Anglican, poor, non-slave-owning, hard-scrabble independent farmers, moving into or through the hills and mountainous regions of Virginia and both Carolinas.

• Cohee culture• Grazing, farmland economy with cattle and hog

grazing on an “open range” in the forests• Patch farming in cleared portions• Families lived in isolated farmsteads• Neighborhood churches and school houses were the

center of community interest

• It was not a capitalistic oriented agriculture• The focus was family survival

• During the pre-Civil War era the Southern Appalachia economy was quite diversified• Farming with a broader market based system• Small towns with stores beginning to develop• Ores (copper, lead, nickel, etc) and coal produced foundries• Salt mining • Gold mining

• Problems between the backwoods and the tidewater over representation

• This was an issue of slavery• In Virginia the westerners argued strongly for emancipation• Many Germans and Quakers argued against slavery• Many Appalachia counties had virtually no slaves (however

that did not mean it wasn’t there

• Though the numbers were low in Appalachia, it was growing up until the Civil War

• In Appalachia, the local elites did own several slaves, and theirs did not seem to be a consistent view across the board

• One thing is for sure, many of the Appalachians opposed slavery because of opposition to the planter elite

• Though Cohee society may have been largely antislavery, it had made peace with slave society

• In Appalachia it really did pit father against son and brother against brother

• Many areas of seceding states had treasonous section in the mountains• Many of these pro-union areas talked of their own potential

statehood

Kentucky’s Importance

• In 8 of the 10 elections prior to the Civil War, someone from KY was either a presidential or vice-presidential candidate.

• Leaders like John J. Crittenden and Henry Clay were national leaders.

• State’s large population and rich farming made it important as well.

Kentucky’s Importance

• Geography--• For the South: the Ohio River would provide a strong line

of defense, it would be hard for the North to invade b/c no bridges existed.

• The 3rd largest slave state could supply many men for the armies.

• Rich agriculture: horses and crops for armies

KY’s location

• Access to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad• As a border state, both sides needed access to the enemy

through Kentucky• Important commodities:• Hemp, tobacco, flour, mules, corn and wheat

Lincoln:

• “I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game.”

Neutrality vs. Reality

• No troops to either side• Asked Presidents to respect their neutrality• Gov. Magoffin’s plan for “armed neutrality”• KY would be a mediator

• In reality:• Both sides armed militias in hopes they would fight for

them Conf. occupied Eastern KY and Bowling Green• Union occupied Louisville & Paducah

• Clashes between the governor and the legislators• Gov. Magoffin supported state’s rights to slavery,

• Pro-Confederate sympathizers created a provisional gov’t to vote KY out of the Union (Columbus occupied)• A star on the flag of both sides!

• John Hunt Morgan’s raids • Couldn’t be prevented by the state militia• Some army deserters, other just taking advantage of war

• Frankfort remains solidly Union.• Popular opinion turns against Lincoln with the change of

direction in the war.• Emancipation Proclamation doesn’t affect KY—only

states in rebellion.

KY Map

• http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/KYmap.htm

• During the War this area was constantly part of the Western Campaigns

• The War was destructive to the entire area• What little schools there were closed• Agricultural life was destroyed (raiders on both sides)• Guerilla warfare• Feuds developed• Also a haven for deserters (rich man’s war, but a poor man’s

fight: based on conscription laws in the South)• Authority had collapsed

A brief visual, brought to you by Kentucky Tourism

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNPEZRTpwPw

Bottom line: A House Divided

• While officially neutral, KY couldn’t prevent either side from infiltrating the state.

• In terms of soldiers:• 103,000 Kentuckians serve the Union• ~40,000 Kentuckians serve the Confederacy (all volunteers

because KY was occupied by the Union)• Most fought in the western theater

• In military leaders:• 67 KY men become Union generals• 38 KY men become Confederate generals• Examples: Senator Crittenden, Henry Clay

Camp Nelson

• ½ of all male slaves who could fight joined the army• 3rd largest training ground for African American soldiers

(10,000 Union)• Established as a refugee camp, as soldiers brought

families with them• http://www.campnelson.org/tour/refugeecamp.htm

Post War

• Kentucky became more sympathetic to Confederacy• Resented Union treatment of South in Reconstruction• Economy in shambles

2 assignments

• 1. Read chapter 3 in Caudill’s book, with the guided notes

• 2. Go to http://www.ket.org/civilwar/kyrole.html and answer the following questions:

• 1. What was unique about Kentucky’s position during the war?

• 2. What were the economic ties to both North and South?

• 3. What was Kentucky’s official position when secession began?

• 4. Explain the raids and the “bushwackers” that happened during these years.

• 5. What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on KY?

• Read 1 of 2 articles today on either Kentucky’s Neutrality or Camp Nelson

• Neutrality Article:• Why were both the North and South so interested in

Kentucky’s location and its decision to remain neutral?• Who was John Hunt Morgan and what did he do?• How were Governor Magoffin’s intentions thwarted by both

sides during the war?• Camp Nelson article:• Why would the Camp expel refugees (blacks)?• Where blacks (free and slaves) allowed to serve in the army?• What were the conditions like at Camp Nelson?