Southern Confederates - HIS 115 - Civil War Documentary Project - SCC Research Guides at Spartanburg Community College

Fort Pillow Massacre

Topics: What was the Confederacy's reaction to the Union's use of Black troops? Did they view them as soldiers? How were they treated if they were caught? What was the Union's reaction to the Confederacy's actions?

"Prisoners of War"
Has some information on Fort Pillow and Black POW policies. From the National Park Service's online book, The Civil War's Black Soldiers. You may also use images from this page.
"And the War Came"
Discusses Northern and Southern views of Blacks in the military at the beginning of the war. From the National Park Service's online book, The Civil War's Black Soldiers. You may also use pictures from this page.

Emancipation Proclamation

Topics: The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and the Emancipation Proclamation: How did Southerners react to Lincoln's Proclamation? Did they feel he had gone too far or not far enough? Were there any public outbursts in reaction: i.e. riots, rebellions?

"Support for the War"
See the section "Support in the South" that mentions Southerners reaction to emancipation.
"Slavery and Race"
See section "Southern Ideology and American Culture" for mentions of Southerners reactions.
"Blacks in the Civil War"
Section "Word of Emancipation Spreads in the South" mentions slaves finding out they were free.

Robert Smalls

Topics: Smalls was a slave, but a skilled pilot in Charleston, who knew the harbor well. In May of 1862, Smalls and 15 others escaped on his master's ship, The Planter. What is the whole story on the escape? What was the South's reaction to his mastermind plan? What is the rest of Smalls' story? Create a short biography of Smalls. Look for primary source material, i.e. personal letters, news articles, etc. from the era.

"Robert Smalls"
Biography from Dictionary of American Biography.
"Robert Smalls"
Biography from Encyclopedia of World Biography.
"Robert Smalls"
Biography from Notable Black Men.
Newspaper Stories
On Page 8 and 9 of this PDF file are excerpts from The Charleston Daily Courier and The New York Herald presenting two different view of Smalls' escape. From the Smithsonian.