The Heart of Confederate Appalachia: Western North Carolina in the Civil War

Civil War America

by John C. Inscoe, Gordon B. McKinney

In the mountains of western North Carolina, the Civil War was fought on different terms than those found throughout most of the South. Though relatively minor strategically, incursions by both Confederate and Union troops disrupted life and threatened the social stability of many communities. Even more disruptive were the internal divisions among western Carolinians themselves. Differing ideologies turned into opposing loyalties, and the resulting strife proved as traumatic as anything imposed by outside armies. As the mountains became hiding places for deserters, draft dodgers, fugitive slaves, and escaped prisoners of war, the conflict became a more localized and internalized guerrilla war, less rational and more brutal, mean-spirited, and personal--and ultimately more demoralizing and destructive.

From the valleys of the French Broad and Catawba Rivers to the peaks of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, the people of western North Carolina responded to the war in dramatically different ways. Men and women, masters and slaves, planters and yeomen, soldiers and civilians, Confederates and Unionists, bushwhackers and home guardsmen, Democrats and Whigs--all their stories are told here.

Genres: History, Civil War, American History, Nonfiction

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

John C. Inscoe is the Albert B. Saye Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Georgia.

Reviews

[Gregg Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best histories on the American Civil War I have read for several Reasons.

1) This is the First Book that I ever read concerning the Smoky Mountains of TN/NC during the Civil War. For the last 150 years what happened was told was mostly Myth (ie that the mountain fold were pro Union only) now Inscoe's research shows the opposite. Most were pro Confederate in 1861.
2) The Appalachia Mountains was economically well off. It did provide a lot of food items to the big cities (ie Fruit/apples, cherries, etc. with a lot of pork and whisky) After the war, the demand was just not there anymore.
3) In human demographics this was a very diverse population. Yes we had Black and White but we had Natives as well. Slaves were present but there were no plantations. Even owners who had many farms would lease these out to white tenants instead of using slaves.

For those interested in the causes of the Civil War, this is a must read. Enjoy!

[Talmadge Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched description and discussion of the mountain counties of North Carolina during the Civil War. More academically oriented than "Bushwhackers" by William Trotter. Inscoe & McKinney attempt to dispel both of the contradictory myths about mountain people during the war: (1) That they were solidly abolitionist and anti-Confederate; and (2) That they were solidly pro-Confederate patriots. Like everything else in life, it's complicated.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, I finished! Of course, the personal stories and tales were my favorites - especially of the towns where I have actually been. The politics and economics were more of a drag to get through...but that's expected. It was refreshing to read a view of WNC as an intelligent, enterprising corner of the world.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the Civil War and its effects in our local area. It was interesting to see a lot of local family names.