Date of Award

Spring 2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Committee Director

Johnathan S. Phillips

Committee Member

Carolyn J. Lawes

Committee Member

Harold Wilson

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.H47 M635 2007

Abstract

The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was critical to the Confederacy, not only for its strategic importance, but also as a supplier of food and manpower. Due to its agricultural productivity, the area was known early on as the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy." Additionally, many of the units formed from this area were considered among the elite of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and included the famed "Stonewall Brigade." Thus, it has long been assumed that the great majority of the Valley's white residents strongly supported the Confederate cause.

However, in stark contrast to these assumptions, this paper will examine Page County, Virginia, which is located in the central Shenandoah Valley. Through an in depth examination of Southern Loyalist Claims, postwar newspaper accounts, military records and wartime letters, the combined findings demonstrate that nationalistic feeling in regard to the Confederate cause in this area was precarious at best. Although studies of "Southern Unionists," "reluctant Confederates," and "disaffected Confederates" are not new to contemporary academic studies, the Shenandoah Valley is one area where these groups have not been thoroughly examined, most especially as factors in disputing Lost Cause mythology.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/zvmr-dn44

Download

Share

COinS