Dana Vacca's Blog: Freedom Calling A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea - Posts Tagged "virginia"
Cotton & Tobacco and the Union Blockade
BOOK: Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea by Dana Vacca
BOOK HIGHLIGHTS
The Pettigrew Plantation, like Shamrock Valley, had large, airy barns to store tobacco and cotton bales that were ready for shipment north. The hogshead barrels of tobacco and the bales of cotton would be loaded onto buckboard wagons, driven to the harbor and unloaded onto waiting sailing ships.
During the Civil War the Union blockade halted all Confederate trade at all ports in the South, and the loss of income was bankrupting the landed gentry. Plantation owners plotted risky, clandestine, late-night schemes to secretively transport their season's harvest on fast, discreet packet steamers that could sometimes manage to slip out of the harbor unnoticed. Because of the risk of confiscation and arrest, though, the price offered for their produce was low, and the cost of shipping, high. Even when all went well, there was little, if any, profit to be made.
Book Excerpt -
"Friday night, just before sunset, we slipped quietly away from the plantation and hurried through the forest of tall oaks in the direction of the Pettigrew plantation. We neared the edge of the small pasture that led to the farmyard. Silhouetted against the purple sky were Mr. Pettigrew's large storage barns. A thin horse stood patiently in front of the cavernous doorway of the first storehouse while a few men loaded burlap-shrouded bales of cotton onto the wagon that was hitched behind the horse. Around the far side, at the rear of the building, two more horse-and-wagon teams stood tied and unattended. These wagons were already loaded, one piled high with the big blocks of tightly bound cotton and the other with oaken barrels. Even from a distance we caught the heavy sweet scent of the cured tobacco coming from the kegs."
LINK TO PHOTO ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
:
BOOK HIGHLIGHTS
The Pettigrew Plantation, like Shamrock Valley, had large, airy barns to store tobacco and cotton bales that were ready for shipment north. The hogshead barrels of tobacco and the bales of cotton would be loaded onto buckboard wagons, driven to the harbor and unloaded onto waiting sailing ships.
During the Civil War the Union blockade halted all Confederate trade at all ports in the South, and the loss of income was bankrupting the landed gentry. Plantation owners plotted risky, clandestine, late-night schemes to secretively transport their season's harvest on fast, discreet packet steamers that could sometimes manage to slip out of the harbor unnoticed. Because of the risk of confiscation and arrest, though, the price offered for their produce was low, and the cost of shipping, high. Even when all went well, there was little, if any, profit to be made.
Book Excerpt -
"Friday night, just before sunset, we slipped quietly away from the plantation and hurried through the forest of tall oaks in the direction of the Pettigrew plantation. We neared the edge of the small pasture that led to the farmyard. Silhouetted against the purple sky were Mr. Pettigrew's large storage barns. A thin horse stood patiently in front of the cavernous doorway of the first storehouse while a few men loaded burlap-shrouded bales of cotton onto the wagon that was hitched behind the horse. Around the far side, at the rear of the building, two more horse-and-wagon teams stood tied and unattended. These wagons were already loaded, one piled high with the big blocks of tightly bound cotton and the other with oaken barrels. Even from a distance we caught the heavy sweet scent of the cured tobacco coming from the kegs."
LINK TO PHOTO ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
:
Freedom Calling: Captain MacGregor & the Lady Grey
Book Highlights From:
FREEDOM CALLING: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea - by Dana Vacca
Captain Eben MacGregor, Master of the whaling ship, Lady Grey.
"...always present, like my own breath, was the sound of the blue-violet sea that whished along the sides of the great wooden ship like liquid silk as, heeled over with the wind on her quarter, the LADY GREY softly cut her path to the north."
Facebook Link To Photos: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
FREEDOM CALLING: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea - by Dana Vacca
Captain Eben MacGregor, Master of the whaling ship, Lady Grey.
"...always present, like my own breath, was the sound of the blue-violet sea that whished along the sides of the great wooden ship like liquid silk as, heeled over with the wind on her quarter, the LADY GREY softly cut her path to the north."
Facebook Link To Photos: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
General Robt E Lee Surrenders - President Lincoln Is Shot Just 4 Days Later!
FREEDOM CALLING: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea - by Dana Vacca
Book Highlights
PRESIDENT LINCOLN was shot just 4 DAYS after GENERAL LEE'S surrender at Appomattox!
Did John Wilkes Booth figure to put America into chaos? Give the Confederates a chance to rally in the turmoil? Even though Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in the morning after Lincoln's death, Johnson's ideas were not completely in alignment with those of President Lincoln. With Lincoln dead would the whole of the Confederacy even honor Lee's surrender? Remember Lee said he was surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia. Confederate General Johnston was still down south, and still fighting!
Link to Photos: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
Book Highlights
PRESIDENT LINCOLN was shot just 4 DAYS after GENERAL LEE'S surrender at Appomattox!
Did John Wilkes Booth figure to put America into chaos? Give the Confederates a chance to rally in the turmoil? Even though Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in the morning after Lincoln's death, Johnson's ideas were not completely in alignment with those of President Lincoln. With Lincoln dead would the whole of the Confederacy even honor Lee's surrender? Remember Lee said he was surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia. Confederate General Johnston was still down south, and still fighting!
Link to Photos: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes by Sea
FREEDOM CALLING Book: The Great Dismal Swamp People
FREEDOM CALLING - Book Highlights
THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP
During the American Civil War, many runaways took refuge in the Great Dismal Swamp that spans the border of Virginia and North Carolina. But the Dismal had been a used as a safe haven even long before 1861. Many Native Americans, African-Americans, and even Portuguese and English seamen, for various reasons, inhabited the swamp from as early as the 1600s. Some were outlaws, some fled bondage, some were born there.
The Dismal was millions of acres of thick vegetation and deep, soggy bogs. Much of it was wetland and mire, but the interior had large hummocks with higher ground that was solid and dry.
The swamp was also home to many species of poisonous rattlesnakes and cottonmouths, cougar, alligators and other dangerous animals. Most folks kept to the edges of the swamp, if they entered it at all, and even the brave ones who dared push further in ended up losing their way, sometimes for days, - and afterward would never consider venturing into it a second time!
SEE PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP
During the American Civil War, many runaways took refuge in the Great Dismal Swamp that spans the border of Virginia and North Carolina. But the Dismal had been a used as a safe haven even long before 1861. Many Native Americans, African-Americans, and even Portuguese and English seamen, for various reasons, inhabited the swamp from as early as the 1600s. Some were outlaws, some fled bondage, some were born there.
The Dismal was millions of acres of thick vegetation and deep, soggy bogs. Much of it was wetland and mire, but the interior had large hummocks with higher ground that was solid and dry.
The swamp was also home to many species of poisonous rattlesnakes and cottonmouths, cougar, alligators and other dangerous animals. Most folks kept to the edges of the swamp, if they entered it at all, and even the brave ones who dared push further in ended up losing their way, sometimes for days, - and afterward would never consider venturing into it a second time!
SEE PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
FREEDOM CALLING Book: The Great Dismal Swamp
FREEDOM CALLING - Book Highlights
By the 1800's the inhabitants of the Great Dismal Swamp were known by many names,... Melungeons, Outliers, Maroons, Swampers... Some lived their whole lives without ever leaving the swamp.
The term Melungeon means a person of mixed race,... a combination of African-American, Native American and European descent, but freed and fugitive African-Americans, Native Americans from various tribes and white Caucasians also lived in the Dismal.
Their shelters were simple and small and rather crude but serviceable, (like the one in the photo below), and often cobbled together from logs, scavenaged board planks and bark. Usually living in small groups, their little communities, tucked in the secluded thickets of dry hummocks, were scattered within the interior of the swamp. The Outliers were almost completely self-sufficient, and lived off the land by hunting, gathering and planting. To make tools they reworked whatever iron and metal they found, traded for, or brought with them.
The swamp was a rich hunting ground with a large fresh-water lake (Lake Drummond; see photo) at the center. The water in Lake Drummond, though amber colored, is especially pure because of the tannic acids of the juniper, cypree and gum trees forests in the swamp. Kegs of the Dismal's swampwater was sold as drinking water for sailing ships since the water stayed fresh for a very long time! It was also thought to have magical qualities - that if regularly drunk would prevent illness and ensure long life!
SEE COOL PHOTOS of Dismal Swamp ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
By the 1800's the inhabitants of the Great Dismal Swamp were known by many names,... Melungeons, Outliers, Maroons, Swampers... Some lived their whole lives without ever leaving the swamp.
The term Melungeon means a person of mixed race,... a combination of African-American, Native American and European descent, but freed and fugitive African-Americans, Native Americans from various tribes and white Caucasians also lived in the Dismal.
Their shelters were simple and small and rather crude but serviceable, (like the one in the photo below), and often cobbled together from logs, scavenaged board planks and bark. Usually living in small groups, their little communities, tucked in the secluded thickets of dry hummocks, were scattered within the interior of the swamp. The Outliers were almost completely self-sufficient, and lived off the land by hunting, gathering and planting. To make tools they reworked whatever iron and metal they found, traded for, or brought with them.
The swamp was a rich hunting ground with a large fresh-water lake (Lake Drummond; see photo) at the center. The water in Lake Drummond, though amber colored, is especially pure because of the tannic acids of the juniper, cypree and gum trees forests in the swamp. Kegs of the Dismal's swampwater was sold as drinking water for sailing ships since the water stayed fresh for a very long time! It was also thought to have magical qualities - that if regularly drunk would prevent illness and ensure long life!
SEE COOL PHOTOS of Dismal Swamp ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Civil War Era NEW BEDFORD WHALING SHIP - The Lady Grey
FREEDOM CALLING: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Book by Dana Vacca
BOOK HIGHLIGHTS - Lady Grey (Ship)
The beautiful sailing barque, Lady Grey, underway with nearly full sail, her hull cuts gracefully through the water toward New Bedford.
Like many whaling and merchant ships of her day, she had "painted on" gun ports (only two were real), so that, from a distance, she had the look of a "ship of the line" and would be thought to be carrying a row of cannon along her larboard and starboard sides. However, this did not insure safety as a privateer captain worth his salt had every ship he had ever seen etched into his memory,... by the line of her hull, the configuration of her masts and sails, - and most often knew which battlements were feigned and which were real!
See pics on my FACEBOOK BLOG: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Book by Dana Vacca
BOOK HIGHLIGHTS - Lady Grey (Ship)
The beautiful sailing barque, Lady Grey, underway with nearly full sail, her hull cuts gracefully through the water toward New Bedford.
Like many whaling and merchant ships of her day, she had "painted on" gun ports (only two were real), so that, from a distance, she had the look of a "ship of the line" and would be thought to be carrying a row of cannon along her larboard and starboard sides. However, this did not insure safety as a privateer captain worth his salt had every ship he had ever seen etched into his memory,... by the line of her hull, the configuration of her masts and sails, - and most often knew which battlements were feigned and which were real!
See pics on my FACEBOOK BLOG: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
IT WORKS! Check out FREEDOM CALLING's VIDEO TRAILER!
Check out the new VIDEO TRAILER for FREEDOM CALLING!
Let me know what you think!
LINK: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDrC...
(Let me know if you have a problem viewing trailer.)
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Let me know what you think!
LINK: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDrC...
(Let me know if you have a problem viewing trailer.)
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Freedom Calling - Dismal Swamp Legends - BIG JAKE
FREEDOM CALLING - Book Highlights
Character - "Big Jake"
The Great Dismal Swamp on the Virginia - North Carolina border has been surrounded with legend and myth as long as anyone can remember, and the stories run the gamut from the divine to the demonic. It had once been thought to be the miraculous and elusive Fountain of Youth, as its water was very pure and thought to have healing properties. It also was thought to be the dwelling place of cannibal witches and red-eyed demons, and that hidden somewhere in its murky, wet expanse, was a portal to hell.
The earliest known legend was handed down from the Native American Nottoway and Meherrin tribes and describes how the swamp was created. The legend tells about a Great Phoenix, the firebird. Its eyes like hot coals and its fiery wings big enough to blot out the sun. It flew low to the earth and its wings set fire to the land. Where the great bird nested, a hole was burned into the ground. That deep bowl became Lake Drummond, at the center of the swamp. The area cooled, and the scorched depression that remained around the lake became the Great Dismal Swamp.
There is another tale of the Dismal originating from the early antebellum era preceding the Civil War. It is the legend of Big Jake, giant of a man who stood seven foot-two and weighed over three hundred and fifty pounds. No one knew where Big Jake came from. It is supposed that he was born in the swamp to an escaped slave who had sought refuge there. Jake worked for the logging company and lived in the swamp. He had no last name and could not read or write, but he had a heart that was bigger than he was. He most always had a smile on his face.
Jake loved three things, Jesus, cutting timber, and making wood carvings of all the creatures that dwelt in the swamp. He was a very gifted artist and his carvings were exquisite! He would spend hours whittling scrap cedar and cypress into bear, raccoons, deer, cougar and other native wildlife. He captured every nuance and detail,… including the spirit of each animal. He gave his creations to friends and neighbors. After he died, woodsmen who went into the swamp to cut timber would sometimes find a little wooden statue at the base of a tree, - placed where they would certain to see it. To this day, it is said that campers and hikers continue to find similar wooden carvings on the paths around the outer rim of the swamp.
The legend of “Big Jake” was an inspiration in the development of one of the characters in Freedom Calling.
SEE PICS on FACEBOOK BOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
BUY BOOK NOW at AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Character - "Big Jake"
The Great Dismal Swamp on the Virginia - North Carolina border has been surrounded with legend and myth as long as anyone can remember, and the stories run the gamut from the divine to the demonic. It had once been thought to be the miraculous and elusive Fountain of Youth, as its water was very pure and thought to have healing properties. It also was thought to be the dwelling place of cannibal witches and red-eyed demons, and that hidden somewhere in its murky, wet expanse, was a portal to hell.
The earliest known legend was handed down from the Native American Nottoway and Meherrin tribes and describes how the swamp was created. The legend tells about a Great Phoenix, the firebird. Its eyes like hot coals and its fiery wings big enough to blot out the sun. It flew low to the earth and its wings set fire to the land. Where the great bird nested, a hole was burned into the ground. That deep bowl became Lake Drummond, at the center of the swamp. The area cooled, and the scorched depression that remained around the lake became the Great Dismal Swamp.
There is another tale of the Dismal originating from the early antebellum era preceding the Civil War. It is the legend of Big Jake, giant of a man who stood seven foot-two and weighed over three hundred and fifty pounds. No one knew where Big Jake came from. It is supposed that he was born in the swamp to an escaped slave who had sought refuge there. Jake worked for the logging company and lived in the swamp. He had no last name and could not read or write, but he had a heart that was bigger than he was. He most always had a smile on his face.
Jake loved three things, Jesus, cutting timber, and making wood carvings of all the creatures that dwelt in the swamp. He was a very gifted artist and his carvings were exquisite! He would spend hours whittling scrap cedar and cypress into bear, raccoons, deer, cougar and other native wildlife. He captured every nuance and detail,… including the spirit of each animal. He gave his creations to friends and neighbors. After he died, woodsmen who went into the swamp to cut timber would sometimes find a little wooden statue at the base of a tree, - placed where they would certain to see it. To this day, it is said that campers and hikers continue to find similar wooden carvings on the paths around the outer rim of the swamp.
The legend of “Big Jake” was an inspiration in the development of one of the characters in Freedom Calling.
SEE PICS on FACEBOOK BOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
BUY BOOK NOW at AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Freedom Calling - Celia's Journey - Virginia
A good part of the this saga takes place in the state of Virginia, circa 1864. Virginia offers a wide array of landscape and topography. It is a very beautiful state! This clear, flowing river and beautiful cascading waterfall is just one example!
Celia traveling through Virginia, c1864, Civil War raging. Avoiding soldiers & gunfire, she seeks solace in the wilderness & hides for a day in a small cave beside this waterfall.
Celia's journey changes her, and she slowly transforms from the child-like girl into a young woman as she searches for truth, - her own truth.
BOOK LINK at AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Callin...
See PICS & MORE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Celia traveling through Virginia, c1864, Civil War raging. Avoiding soldiers & gunfire, she seeks solace in the wilderness & hides for a day in a small cave beside this waterfall.
Celia's journey changes her, and she slowly transforms from the child-like girl into a young woman as she searches for truth, - her own truth.
BOOK LINK at AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Callin...
See PICS & MORE: https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarHist...
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
Freedom Calling A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea
FREEDOM CALLING is a page-turner packed with action, emotion, romance and adventure - vibrantly painted with powerful characters, vivid imagery and factual details of the Civil War era.
Runaway slaves ...more
Runaway slaves ...more
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