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African-American Women, Power, and Freedom in the Contested Landscape of Camp Nelson, Kentucky

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Archaeology and Preservation of Gendered Landscapes

Abstract

The above quote (Hanaford 1864a) hints at a conflict that began at the U.S. Army Post of Camp Nelson, Kentucky, in the spring of 1864. This conflict, which I like to call the “Second Battle of Camp Nelson,” pitted escaped slave women and children against the U.S. Army in a fight for self-determination and control of at least a portion of Camp Nelson’s landscape where they could make a home for themselves. More particularly, the battle was over who had ultimate authority over this landscape and how and why these women challenged this authority to ultimately win their own freedom.

Lieut. Information has reached these Headquarters that a bevy of women and children are quartered near the Commissary Warehouse, the women (colored) are engaged in lewd business annoying everything and everybody in the vicinity. You are directed to place the whole kit beyond the lines for five (5) miles with a parting injunction to not return on pain of being imprisoned.

Col. Andrew H. Clark

Commander, Camp Nelson

June 17, 1864

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park, Nicholasville, KY, 40356, USA

    W. Stephen McBride

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  1. W. Stephen McBride
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Correspondence to W. Stephen McBride .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University, Kennedy Hall 440, Ithaca, 14853, U.S.A.

    Sherene Baugher

  2. Dept. Sociology, Oakland University, Verner Hall 520, Rochester, 48309, U.S.A.

    Suzanne M. Spencer-Wood

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McBride, W.S. (2010). African-American Women, Power, and Freedom in the Contested Landscape of Camp Nelson, Kentucky. In: Baugher, S., Spencer-Wood, S. (eds) Archaeology and Preservation of Gendered Landscapes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1501-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1501-6_5

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