Skip to Main Content

Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians

Online ISBN:
9780823240845
Print ISBN:
9780823230518
Publisher:
Fordham University Press
Book

Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians

Robert M. Sandow
Robert M. Sandow
Department of History, Lock Haven University
Find on
Published:
22 May 2009
Online ISBN:
9780823240845
Print ISBN:
9780823230518
Publisher:
Fordham University Press

Abstract

During the Civil War, there were throughout the Union explosions of resistance to the war–from the deadly Draft Riots in New York City to other, less well-known outbreaks. In this book, the author explores one of these least known inner civil wars, the widespread, sometimes violent opposition in the Appalachian lumber country of Pennsylvania. Sparsely settled, these mountains were home to divided communities that provided a safe-haven for opponents of the war. The dissent of mountain folk reflected their own marginality in the face of rapidly increasing exploitation of timber resources by big firms, as well as partisan debates over loyalty. One of the few studies of the northern Appalachians, this book draws revealing parallels to the War in the southern mountains, exploring the roots of rural protest in frontier development, the market economy, military policy, partisan debate, and everyday resistance. The author also sheds new light on the party politics of rural resistance, rejecting easy depictions of war-opponents as traitors and malcontents for a more nuanced and complicated study of the class, economic upheaval, and localism.

Contents
Close
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Close

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

View Article Abstract & Purchase Options

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Close