Aiming for Pensacola : Fugitive Slaves on the Atlantic and Southern Frontiers

Before the Civil War, slaves who managed to escape almost always made their way northward along the Underground Railroad. Matthew Clavin recovers the story of fugitive slaves who sought freedom by paradoxically sojourning deeper into the American South toward an unlikely destination: the small seaport of Pensacola, Florida, a gateway to freedom. In the decades before the Civil War, the small number of slaves who managed to escape bondage almost always made their way northward along the secret routes and safe havens known as the Underground Railroad. Offering a new perspective on this standard narrative, Matthew Clavin recovers the story of fugitive slaves who sought freedom by—paradoxically—sojourning deeper into the American South toward an unlikely destination: the small seaport of Pensacola, Florida.Geographically and culturally, across decades of rule by a succession of powers—Spain, Great Britain, and the United States—Pensacola occupied an isolated position on the margins of antebellum Southern society. Yet as neighboring Gulf Coast seaports like New Orleans experienced rapid population growth and economic development based on racial slavery, Pensacola became known for something else: as an enclave of diverse, free peoples of European, African, and Native American descent. Farmers, laborers, mechanics, soldiers, and sailors learned to cooperate across racial lines and possessed no vested interest in maintaining slavery or white supremacy. Clavin examines how Pensacola's reputation as a gateway to freedom grew in the minds of slaves and slaveowners, and how it became a beacon for fugitives who found northern routes to liberation inaccessible.The interracial resistance to slavery that thrived in Pensacola in the years before the Civil War, Clavin contends, would play a role in demolishing the foundations of Southern slavery when that fateful conflict arrived. In the decades before the Civil War, the small number of slaves who managed to escape bondage almost always made their way northward along the secret routes and safe havens known as the Underground Railroad. Offering a new perspective on this standard narrative, Matthew Clavin recovers the story of fugitive slaves who sought freedom byparadoxicallysojourning deeper into the American South toward an unlikely the small seaport of Pensacola, Florida. Geographically and culturally, across decades of rule by a succession of powersSpain, Great Britain, and the United StatesPensacola occupied an isolated position on the margins of antebellum Southern society. Yet as neighboring Gulf Coast seaports like New Orleans experienced rapid population growth and economic development based on racial slavery, Pensacola became known for something as an enclave of diverse, free peoples of European, African, and Native American descent. Farmers, laborers, mechanics, soldiers, and sailors learned to cooperate across racial lines and possessed no vested interest in maintaining slavery or white supremacy. Clavin examines how Pensacolas reputation as a gateway to freedom grew in the minds of slaves and slaveowners, and how it became a beacon for fugitives who found northern routes to liberation inaccessible. The interracial resistance to slavery that thrived in Pensacola in the years before the Civil War, Clavin contends, would play a role in demolishing the foundations of Southern slavery when that fateful conflict arrived. Before The Abolition Of Slavery In The United States, Pensacola, Florida, Was The Site Of Extensive And Enduring Interracial Resistance To Slavery. In Times Of Peace, Fugitive Slaves Running To And From Pensacola Encountered Free Men And Women Of Various Races, Ethnicities, And Nationalities--including Farmers, Laborers, Mechanics, And Seamen--who Subsisted On The Margins Of Society And Had No Vested Interest In Maintaining Slavery Or White Supremacy. In Times Of War, They Confronted Soldiers And Sailors Who Tried To Demolish The Foundation Of Slavery Entirely. As A Result, Interracial Resistance To Slavery Survived And Often Thrived In Pensacola In The Century Before The Civil War, And When The Shockwaves Of That Revolutionary Sectional Conflict Reverberated Across The City, They Proved Vital To The Institution's Destruction--provided By Publisher. Introduction -- Colonial Period -- War Of 1812 And Negro Fort -- Interracialism And Resistance -- Running Away -- Underground Railroad -- Civil War -- Conclusion. Matthew J. Clavin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Before the abolition of slavery in the United States, Pensacola, Florida, was the site of extensive and enduring interracial resistance to slavery. In times of peace, fugitive slaves running to and from Pensacola encountered free men and women of various races, ethnicities, and nationalities ... including farmers, laborers, mechanics, and seamen ... who subsisted on the margins of society and had no vested interest in maintaining slavery or white supremacy. In times of war, they confronted soldiers and sailors who tried to demolish the foundation of slavery entirely. As a result, interracial resistance to slavery survived and often thrived in Pensacola in the century before the Civil War, and when the shockwaves of that revolutionary sectional conflict reverberated across the city, they proved vital to the institution's destruction" ... Provided by publisher "Before the abolition of slavery in the United States, Pensacola, Florida, was the site of extensive and enduring interracial resistance to slavery. In times of peace, fugitive slaves running to and from Pensacola encountered free men and women of various races, ethnicities, and nationalities--including farmers, laborers, mechanics, and seamen--who subsisted on the margins of society and had no vested interest in maintaining slavery or white supremacy. In times of war, they confronted soldiers and sailors who tried to demolish the foundation of slavery entirely. The interracial resistance to slavery that thrived in Pensacola in the years before the Civil War, Clavin contends, would play a role in demolishing the foundations of Southern slavery when that fateful conflict arrived"--Provided by publisher Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. Colonial Period -- Chapter 2. War of 1812 and Negro Fort -- Chapter 3. Interracialism and Resistance -- Chapter 4. Running Away -- Chapter 5. Underground Railroad -- Chapter 6. Civil War -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index