Southern Loyalty to the Confederacy

The Southern Mind Under Union Rule (2009)

Although Federal authorities, including Lincoln, would maintain that eastern North Carolina presented an opportunity to seize control over a largely Unionist population, many under occupational control maintained their Confederate allegiance, only submitting to Unionist ideologies for the protection of themselves and property. In reference to those locals who supported the Union, James Rumley would say, “traitors, who will…have the curse of Cain upon them” and stated that they were “induced, by false representations, to sell themselves to the public enemies of their country”[1] The large expeditionary force stationed in eastern North Carolina forced merchants to quickly decide where their allegiance lies, with the Union or the Confederacy.  Many were quick to switch their loyalties back to the Union, seeing as retribution was immediately taken against those known for their secessionist’s ideology. “The impressive number of soldiers in the occupying army ...prompted many to proclaim their Union allegiance and induced secessionist to keep their dissent private.”[2] As occupation continued, the allegiance that the Union maintained in occupied North Carolina started to wax and wane, so much so that even U.S. soldiers noticed the flip in public opinion. “I doubt very much the union feeling in North Carolina,” a soldier remarked, while Treasury agent John Hendrick would proclaim, “ The great loyalty, which is said to exist in some parts of this State, I think, exists in the minds of the news writers rather than reality.”[3]

The main reasons for the noticeable shift in overall public opinion was due to the increase of hostility exhibited by local whites. Growing tired of an occupying force; the populace was burdened successively with the tactics of the invading force, as well as Federal implications of policies, which drastically changed daily life.  Many in eastern North Carolina were disillusioned with the arbitrary use of Federal power as well as imposed racial policies. For the initial term of occupation, trade among the occupiers and the locals was largely uninterrupted and unregulated. However, a time progressed the Federal government would enforce trade regulations which would help grow discontent among the local populace. One burden imposed by the occupying force, which targeted secessionist, was the application of trade passes that were issued after taking the “Oath of Allegiance.” The oath was a federal implication that required citizens under Union control to pledge their allegiance to the Union. Only after swearing allegiance, would the Union occupying force ensure the protection of their rights, funds, and families, however this was not always the case. James Rumley would opine that the oath was, “ A most disgusting subject to the loyal citizens of this country, is the “Oath of Allegiance” required by the Federal authorities to place its citizens rectus in curia with them.”[4] Rumley would go on to portray his distastefulness towards the oath stating that it not only goes against public opinion, but breaks North Carolina state laws and is illegally enforced by an invading army of the “nigger government.”[5] Rumley suggest that those who take the oath are mostly doing it out of opportunity to maintain protection within their homeland, but few take it as a morally binding oath. Another example of these imposed policies includes “Government order No. 28,” which restricted freedom of speech and declared anyone who speaks against the government of the United States shall be prosecuted.  Federal agents would soon take notice of the public discontent toward the occupying force, mostly due to infringement on civil rights, destruction of private property, and proscriptions against trade, but the Emancipation Proclamation was the tipping point for most.

Perhaps the most noticeable creation of animosity due to Federal policy imposition was the Emancipation Proclamation. From the onset of the occupation, local whites greatly resented the utilization of slaves by Union forces. As soon as they arrived, slaves were drawn to them and then typically possessed as contraband of war. However, the Emancipation proclamation was a step too far for many. James Bryn, a prominent antebellum Whig politician would state, “This is a nation of white people, its office, honor, dignities, and privileges are alone open to, and to be enjoyed by, white people.”[6] James Rumley shared similar discontent, “The sudden enfranchisement of an entire servile race, millions in number, living in the midst of a superior race, where the relation has subsisted for ages, and forming part of the household of thousands of families, would be regarded, we would suppose, by the true friends of humanity everywhere as a most hazardous experiment.”[7]  Like many residents, Rumley showed extreme distaste towards the Emancipation Proclamation and how the Federal troops seemingly treated blacks as if they were of greater importance then the local white population vehemently expressing his racist nature in his diary. Rumley suggest that, “Niggerism,” is why, “the white man, as a general thing, is eyed with suspicion, and deprived of privileges which his own slaves were never refused, and is probably a subject of negroe espionage; runaway negroes are the special objects of protection and favor with the nigger government here.”[8] Emancipation brought major social changes throughout occupied eastern North Carolina. Rumley, like many other southerners, was extremely perturbed by the notions of blacks not only gaining political and civil legitimacy but the use of black soldiers severely affected him.  After witnessing the creation of an African American recruiting office in Beaufort, Rumley would note, “nothing, during our captivity, has shocked the feelings of some of our people more than the act of the military authorities here, converting the court room of our Court House, in Beaufort, into a negro Recruiting office.”[9]