About the book
After the Civil War’s end, reports surged of violence by Southern whites against Union troops and Black men, women, and children. While some in Washington, D.C., sought to downplay the growing evidence of atrocities, in September 1866, Freedmen’s Bureau commissioner O. O. Howard requested that assistant commissioners in the readmitted states compile reports of “murders and outrages” to catalog the extent of violence, to prove that the reports of a peaceful South were wrong, and to argue in Congress for the necessity of martial law. What ensued was one of the most fascinating and least understood fights of the Reconstruction era—a political and analytical fight over information and its validity, with implications that dealt in life and death.
Here William A. Blair takes the full measure of the bureau’s attempt to document and deploy hard information about the reality of the violence that Black communities endured in the wake of Emancipation. Blair uses the accounts of far-flung Freedmen’s Bureau agents to ask questions about the early days of Reconstruction, which are surprisingly resonant with the present day: How do you prove something happened in a highly partisan atmosphere where the credibility of information is constantly challenged? And what form should that information take to be considered as fact?
Editions of The Record of Murders and Outrages
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469663449
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469663456
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469663470
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890850904
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469663463
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890850898
Read an Excerpt
After the Civil War’s end, reports surged of violence by Southern whites against Union troops and Black men, women, and children. While some in Washington, D.C., sought to downplay the growing evidence of atrocities, in September 1866, Freedmen’s Bureau commissioner O. O. Howard requested that assistant commissioners in the readmitted states compile reports of “murders and outrages” to catalog the extent of violence, to prove that the reports of a peaceful South were wrong, and to argue in Congress for the necessity of martial law. What ensued was one of the most fascinating and least understood fights of the Reconstruction era—a political and analytical fight over information and its validity, with implications that dealt in life and death.
Here William A. Blair takes the full measure of the bureau’s attempt to document and deploy hard information about the reality of the violence that Black communities endured in the wake of Emancipation. Blair uses the accounts of far-flung Freedmen’s Bureau agents to ask questions about the early days of Reconstruction, which are surprisingly resonant with the present day: How do you prove something happened in a highly partisan atmosphere where the credibility of information is constantly challenged? And what form should that information take to be considered as fact?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Record of Murders and Outrages about?
After the Civil War’s end, reports surged of violence by Southern whites against Union troops and Black men, women, and children. While some in Washington, D.C., sought to downplay the growing evidence of atrocities, in September 1866, Freedmen’s Bureau commissioner O. O. Howard requested that assistant commissioners in the readmitted states compile reports of “murders and outrages” to catalog the extent of violence, to prove that the reports of a peaceful South were wrong, and to argue in Congress for the necessity of martial law. What ensued was one of the most fascinating and least understood fights of the Reconstruction era—a political and analytical fight over information and its validity, with implications that dealt in life and death.
Here William A. Blair takes the full measure of the bureau’s attempt to document and deploy hard information about the reality of the violence that Black communities endured in the wake of Emancipation. Blair uses the accounts of far-flung Freedmen’s Bureau agents to ask questions about the early days of Reconstruction, which are surprisingly resonant with the present day: How do you prove something happened in a highly partisan atmosphere where the credibility of information is constantly challenged? And what form should that information take to be considered as fact?
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Record of Murders and Outrages?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of The Record of Murders and Outrages?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469663449
How long is The Record of Murders and Outrages and how many pages does it have?
The Record of Murders and Outrages has 182 page(s)
Is The Record of Murders and Outrages 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 The Record of Murders and Outrages?
William A. Blair
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Record of Murders and Outrages is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469663449) and paperback(ISBN 9781469663456) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663470) and ebook(ISBN 9798890850904) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663463) and pdf(ISBN 9798890850898)
Where can I buy The Record of Murders and Outrages online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Record of Murders and Outrages from below
Where can I buy The Record of Murders and Outrages?