;
Our friend David Britton joins us today to discuss his thesis paper on the subject of the Contraband Encampment associated with the Civil War era Union Fort in Clarksville Tennessee. This encampment had not been the subject of much scholarship until now.
David was able to uncover and explore a trove of documentary materials which reveal a great deal about the lives of African American people and their struggles and resilience during the time of war. These were the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau and also the widows pension applications filed by the widows of Colored Troops soldiers.
This encampment has had a lasting legacy in the formation of neighborhoods in Clarksville and the lives of African American citizens in that city
Recovering the Celestial City_Britton Thesis updated oct26.pdf click for pdf of thesis paper