White Unionist in Civil War

In the Autumn 2022 edition of Civil War Times, a book review, tells us of the mostly forgotten or neglected history of white southerners fighting for the Union in the Civil War.  Obviously opposed to secession, they were not necessarily in favor of ending slavery or black civil rights.  But believed the Union should be saved.  We have always known of he opposition to secession in Virginia that created the state of West Virginia (not easy to ignore the birth of another state), but the degree to which opposition to secession in the southern states has not been explored.  This book reports on three cavalry regiments  that took part in the war fighting for the Union.  The 1st Louisiana Cavalry, the 1st Alabama Cavalry and the 13th Tennessee Cavalry.  The first two of these regiment served along the Mississippi River and the 13th was with General Sherman on his march to the sea.

"...about one in ten White Southerner males remained loyal.  However, when the war ended they choose to remain hidden from public view.  Some even joined Nathan Bedford Forrest's KKK and terrorized black southerners.

The book is True Blue: White Unionists in the Deep South During the Civil War and Reconstruction by Clayton J. Butler.  LSU Press 2022. Book Review in Civil War Times Autumn of 2022. "Dixie Blues" by William John Shepperd.

October 8, 2022.