The Yankee Plague

Escaped Union Prisoners and the Collapse of the Confederacy

By Lorien Foote | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

During the winter of 1864, more than 3,000 Federal prisoners of war escaped from Confederate prison camps into South Carolina and North Carolina, often with the aid of local slaves. Their flight created, in the words of contemporary observers, a “Yankee plague,” heralding a grim end to the Confederate cause. In this fascinating look at Union soldiers' flight for freedom in the last months of the Civil War, Lorien Foote reveals new connections between the collapse of the Confederate prison system, the large-scale escape of Union soldiers, and the full unraveling of the Confederate States of America. By this point in the war, the Confederacy was reeling from prison overpopulation, a crumbling military, violence from internal enemies, and slavery’s breakdown. The fugitive Federals moving across the countryside in mass numbers, Foote argues, accelerated the collapse as slaves and deserters decided the presence of these men presented an opportune moment for escalated resistance.

Blending rich analysis with an engaging narrative, Foote uses these ragged Union escapees as a lens with which to assess the dying Confederate States, providing a new window into the South’s ultimate defeat.

Editions of The Yankee Plague

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469630557
Paperback
ISBN 9781469652054
EBook
ISBN 9781469630571
EBook
ISBN 9798890850768
EBook
ISBN 9781469630564
PDF
ISBN 9798890850751

Read an Excerpt

During the winter of 1864, more than 3,000 Federal prisoners of war escaped from Confederate prison camps into South Carolina and North Carolina, often with the aid of local slaves. Their flight created, in the words of contemporary observers, a “Yankee plague,” heralding a grim end to the Confederate cause. In this fascinating look at Union soldiers' flight for freedom in the last months of the Civil War, Lorien Foote reveals new connections between the collapse of the Confederate prison system, the large-scale escape of Union soldiers, and the full unraveling of the Confederate States of America. By this point in the war, the Confederacy was reeling from prison overpopulation, a crumbling military, violence from internal enemies, and slavery’s breakdown. The fugitive Federals moving across the countryside in mass numbers, Foote argues, accelerated the collapse as slaves and deserters decided the presence of these men presented an opportune moment for escalated resistance.

Blending rich analysis with an engaging narrative, Foote uses these ragged Union escapees as a lens with which to assess the dying Confederate States, providing a new window into the South’s ultimate defeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Yankee Plague about?

During the winter of 1864, more than 3,000 Federal prisoners of war escaped from Confederate prison camps into South Carolina and North Carolina, often with the aid of local slaves. Their flight created, in the words of contemporary observers, a “Yankee plague,” heralding a grim end to the Confederate cause. In this fascinating look at Union soldiers' flight for freedom in the last months of the Civil War, Lorien Foote reveals new connections between the collapse of the Confederate prison system, the large-scale escape of Union soldiers, and the full unraveling of the Confederate States of America. By this point in the war, the Confederacy was reeling from prison overpopulation, a crumbling military, violence from internal enemies, and slavery’s breakdown. The fugitive Federals moving across the countryside in mass numbers, Foote argues, accelerated the collapse as slaves and deserters decided the presence of these men presented an opportune moment for escalated resistance.

Blending rich analysis with an engaging narrative, Foote uses these ragged Union escapees as a lens with which to assess the dying Confederate States, providing a new window into the South’s ultimate defeat.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Yankee Plague?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of The Yankee Plague?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469630557

How long is The Yankee Plague and how many pages does it have?

The Yankee Plague has 256 page(s)

Is The Yankee Plague part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Civil War America

Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Yankee Plague?

Lorien Foote

Who is the Publisher of the book The Yankee Plague?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

The Yankee Plague is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469630557) and paperback(ISBN 9781469652054) and ebook(ISBN 9781469630571) and ebook(ISBN 9798890850768) and ebook(ISBN 9781469630564) and pdf(ISBN 9798890850751)

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Where can I buy The Yankee Plague?