About the book
The Civil War was just days old when the first enslaved men, women, and children began fleeing their plantations to seek refuge inside the lines of the Union army as it moved deep into the heart of the Confederacy. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands more followed in a mass exodus from slavery that would destroy the system once and for all. Drawing on an extraordinary survey of slave refugee camps throughout the country, Embattled Freedom reveals as never before the everyday experiences of these refugees from slavery as they made their way through the vast landscape of army-supervised camps that emerged during the war. Amy Murrell Taylor vividly reconstructs the human world of wartime emancipation, taking readers inside military-issued tents and makeshift towns, through commissary warehouses and active combat, and into the realities of individuals and families struggling to survive physically as well as spiritually. Narrating their journeys in and out of the confines of the camps, Taylor shows in often gripping detail how the most basic necessities of life were elemental to a former slave’s quest for freedom and full citizenship.
The stories of individuals — storekeepers, a laundress, and a minister among them — anchor this ambitious and wide-ranging history and demonstrate with new clarity how contingent the slaves' pursuit of freedom was on the rhythms and culture of military life. Taylor brings new insight into the enormous risks taken by formerly enslaved people to find freedom in the midst of the nation’s most destructive war.
Editions of Embattled Freedom
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469643625
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469661599
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469643649
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890853431
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469643632
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890853424
Read an Excerpt
The Civil War was just days old when the first enslaved men, women, and children began fleeing their plantations to seek refuge inside the lines of the Union army as it moved deep into the heart of the Confederacy. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands more followed in a mass exodus from slavery that would destroy the system once and for all. Drawing on an extraordinary survey of slave refugee camps throughout the country, Embattled Freedom reveals as never before the everyday experiences of these refugees from slavery as they made their way through the vast landscape of army-supervised camps that emerged during the war. Amy Murrell Taylor vividly reconstructs the human world of wartime emancipation, taking readers inside military-issued tents and makeshift towns, through commissary warehouses and active combat, and into the realities of individuals and families struggling to survive physically as well as spiritually. Narrating their journeys in and out of the confines of the camps, Taylor shows in often gripping detail how the most basic necessities of life were elemental to a former slave’s quest for freedom and full citizenship.
The stories of individuals — storekeepers, a laundress, and a minister among them — anchor this ambitious and wide-ranging history and demonstrate with new clarity how contingent the slaves' pursuit of freedom was on the rhythms and culture of military life. Taylor brings new insight into the enormous risks taken by formerly enslaved people to find freedom in the midst of the nation’s most destructive war.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Embattled Freedom about?
The Civil War was just days old when the first enslaved men, women, and children began fleeing their plantations to seek refuge inside the lines of the Union army as it moved deep into the heart of the Confederacy. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands more followed in a mass exodus from slavery that would destroy the system once and for all. Drawing on an extraordinary survey of slave refugee camps throughout the country, Embattled Freedom reveals as never before the everyday experiences of these refugees from slavery as they made their way through the vast landscape of army-supervised camps that emerged during the war. Amy Murrell Taylor vividly reconstructs the human world of wartime emancipation, taking readers inside military-issued tents and makeshift towns, through commissary warehouses and active combat, and into the realities of individuals and families struggling to survive physically as well as spiritually. Narrating their journeys in and out of the confines of the camps, Taylor shows in often gripping detail how the most basic necessities of life were elemental to a former slave’s quest for freedom and full citizenship.
The stories of individuals — storekeepers, a laundress, and a minister among them — anchor this ambitious and wide-ranging history and demonstrate with new clarity how contingent the slaves' pursuit of freedom was on the rhythms and culture of military life. Taylor brings new insight into the enormous risks taken by formerly enslaved people to find freedom in the midst of the nation’s most destructive war.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Embattled Freedom?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Embattled Freedom?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469643625
How long is Embattled Freedom and how many pages does it have?
Embattled Freedom has 368 page(s)
Is Embattled Freedom part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Civil War America
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Embattled Freedom?
Amy Murrell Taylor
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Embattled Freedom is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469643625) and paperback(ISBN 9781469661599) and ebook(ISBN 9781469643649) and ebook(ISBN 9798890853431) and ebook(ISBN 9781469643632) and pdf(ISBN 9798890853424)
Where can I buy Embattled Freedom online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Embattled Freedom from below
Where can I buy Embattled Freedom?