Contested Borderland

by Mcknight, Brian D.

• ISBN13: 9780813141138
• ISBN10: 0813141133
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-24
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Kentucky

Summary

During the four years of the Civil War, the border between eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia was highly contested territory, alternately occupied by both the Confederacy and the Union. Though this territory was sparsely populated, the geography of the region made it a desirable stronghold for future tactical maneuvers. As the war progressed, the Cumberland Gap quickly became the target of invasion and occupation efforts of both armies, creating a chaos that would strain not only the soldiers but all those who called the area their home. Contested Borderland examines the features of the region's geography and the influence of the attacks on borderlands caught in the crossfire of the Union and Confederate forces. The land surrounding the Kentucky-Virginia border contained valuable natural resources and geographic features considered essential to each army's advancement and proliferation. While the Appalachian Mountains barred travel through large parts of the region, the gaps allowed quick passages through otherwise difficult terrain and thus became hotly contested areas. Brian D. McKnight explores the tensions between the accomplishment of military goals and the maintenance of civilian life in the region. With Kentucky remaining loyal to the Union and Virginia seceding to the Confederacy, populations residing between the two states faced pressure to declare loyalty to one side. Roadside towns found themselves the frequent hosts of soldiers from both sides, while more remote communities became shelters for those wishing to remain uninvolved in the conflict. Instead of committing themselves to either cause, many individuals claimed a neutral stance or feigned dedication to whichever side happened to occupy their land. The dual occupation of the Union and Confederate armies consequentially divided the borderland population, creating hostilities within the region that would persist long after the war's conclusion. Contested Borderland is the first Civil War study exclusively devoted to the border separating eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia. McKnight's unprecedented geographical analysis of military tactics and civilian involvement provides a new and valuable dimension to the story of a region facing the turmoil of war.

Author Biography

Brian D. McKnight is associate professor of history at the University of Virginias College at Wise. He is the author of Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia and coeditor of Interpreting American History: The Age of Andrew Jackson.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Map of the Kentucky-Virginia Borderland Region	p. x
Introduction	p. 1
The Central Appalachian Divide in Unity and Secession	p. 9
Recruitment, Training, and Baptism: June-November 1861	p. 29
Locking the Confederates into Virginia: December 1861-June 1862	p. 53
The Kentucky Campaign, Cumberland Gap: July-October 1862	p. 71
The Kentucky Campaign, Pound Gap: July-October 1862	p. 91
An Aggressive Union Army: November 1862-February 1863	p. 114
Return to Kentucky, Return to Virginia: February-April 1863	p. 138
Southwestern Virginia Besieged: May-September 1863	p. 151
East Tennessee Rescued, Southwestern Virginia Harassed: October 1863-March 1864	p. 170
Impending Defeat: April-September 1864	p. 188
Violent War, Violent Peace: October 1864-April 1865	p. 206
Conclusion	p. 227
Notes	p. 235
Bibliography	p. 275
Index	p. 297
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