Mr. B's Summer Scholars : Day Three- Digging Deeper

Slavery In Southwest Virginia
Slavery was not as common in Southwest Virginia as it was other places where large scale farms required massive amounts of labor. Most the slaveholders in Southwest Virginia held fewer that 100 slaves, and many only under 10. Slaves were often engaged in small agriculture or rented to larger farmers. If a slave remained with their master and worked it agriculture, the master often worked besides the slave in the field. More often they were used in non-agriculture (not working in the fields).

Brother Against Brother
The issue of slavery (whether states had the right to allow slavery OR the United States success remaining divided) split states, communities, and families across the country, but this problem was especially pronounced in the border states and where slavery was not as prevalent. The most notable case of this occurred May 23, 1862, at the Battle of Front Royal, Capt. William Goldsborough of the Confederate 1st Maryland Infantry captured his brother Charles Goldsborough of the Union 1st Maryland Infantry and took him prisoner. The battle is also notable for being the only time in United States military history that two regiments from the same state with the same numerical designation have engaged each other in battle.

The Civil War In Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia did not experience any major engagements during the Civil War, but it provided nessacry support in the way of vital goods. The regions wet limestone caves provided saltpeter which was a major ignition fuel in black power. Lead was mined as well in Southwest Virginia. Maybe most importantly salt was harvested from the Saltville salt marshes. The Confederate States of American felt that Saltville salt was so important that by the end of the war, it was the most heavily fortified installation in the south. Also vital to the South was the only east-west rail line that ran from Lynchburg,VA to Knoxville, TN. Connection lines brought the saltpeter, lead and salt down from the hills and to the main line where it was sent to the troops in the field. Emory & Henry College's Wiley Hall and Byars Hall were used as hospital facilities by the Confederate States to house both Union and Confederate soldiers.