Carroll 1
Sarah Carroll
AMST 495
Dr. Berkey
4 September 2016
Authority and Ownership of Civil War Stories
While it is expected that stories of the Civil War can evolve into interpretations of experiences rather than non-fictional, fact based recounts, a theme of narration through the eyes of the victor seem to dominate the popular understanding of the history of a war fought over the emancipation of African Americans. The tone set by the author is just as pertinent to interpretation as the role of the author, themselves, in relation to the event upon which they are writing. An argument can be made about who may claim ownership over the legacy of the African American soldier during the Civil War by comparing and contrasting perceptions regarding their role as represented in Louisa May Alcott's "The Brother" and Frederick Douglass' "Men of Color, to Arms!”
Beginning with Alcott's narrative, she sets the tone for an emotionally complex and romanticized fictional account of the struggles of a Black soldier. While the narrator shares her imagined back story to explain contraband's stern and mysterious demeanor, she states "my heart warmed to him at that idea; I wanted to know and comfort him; and, following the impulse of the moment, I went and touched him on the shoulder" (Alcott). Later in the story, the truth is revealed that the soldier is in fact grappling with emotional turmoil, but not as anticipated by the narrator as his strife exists in finding a justification between vengeance and justice for his dead wife. In an attempt to liberate him of his bondage to the idea of killing his half-brother, the narrator convinces the soldier to spare his brother's life and leave the camp in exchange for the promise of seeing his wife, Lucy, again, if not in his journey to follow, possibly in the afterlife because of his mercy and virtue. By doing so, she robs him of his chance to act on his own will and claims ownership of his story that will be told beyond his time after he takes on her last name and defeats his brother in battle.
Following up with the idea of the African American voice in civil war literature, Frederick Douglass seeks to galvanize enslaved African Americans to take control of their fate. Having a militant and transactional tone, Douglass assures valor and gratitude to former slaves in return for their actions against rebel soldiers. He asks his listeners to "Leave it to the future. When the war is over, the country is saved, peace is established, and the black man's rights are secured, as they will be, history with an impartial hand will dispose of that and sundry other questions", imploring them to ignore the fact that there has been a lack of action among African Americans in a war of which race and emancipation lies at the heart.Additionally, Douglass argues that there is power behind a former slave’s seizure of their inalienable right to freedom when he urges “Let us win for ourselves the gratitude of our country, and the best blessings of our prosperity through all time” (Douglass). By allowing White Union soldiers to fight against Confederate soldiers of the same skin color, Black soldiers surrender their right to tell their own stories of triumph, further silencing their voice by washing out their role in their fight for freedom.
Although both accounts aim to exalt the efforts and struggles of African Americans during the Civil War, Alcott’s piece errs on the side of pity for the Black soldiers while Douglass’ speech aims to rejuvenate their innate desire for freedom by framing their outcome as a personal triumph rather than another way of further serving their oppressors. The narrator in “The Brother” feels the need to provide assistance to a man of whom she assumed had been defeated in mind and spirit, undermining his will and ability to achieve his own form of emancipation. By claiming him as “my contraband”, she takes possession of his legacy and harnesses a pride for which she had not directly fought. Douglass negates this means of storytelling when he claims “Liberty won by white men would lose half its luster”, raising the question of to whom his audience wants to hold accountable for fabricating their stories of triumph to be heard by future generations? He does not assume that the soul of the formerly enslaved Black soldier is not capable of grappling with the realities of war, but rather he is reminding them that the war had been started over their potential freedom. By not participating, they allow their stories to become “white-washed” with reinterpretations of the victories of the privileged.
Keeping in mind the responsibility of the author to provide a realistic description of events related to the Civil War, there is no set angle upon which they must base their tellings. For this reason, it is not possible to truly retell the history of the Civil War, and pertinent literature will always, to some extent, contain imagined components. Although this does not discredit fictional accounts of war stories, such as Alcott’s piece, it commentates on the writer’s desire to produce a work of literature that may be digested by the reader. Her story exists for a reader whose understanding exists beyond the scope of personal experience, as it would not be fair to expect contemporary readers to obtain a genuine grasp upon events that could otherwise only be imagined. With a piece like Douglass’ speech, more evidence is provided for the reader to understand the context of the actions of those fighting in the war, but the reader is still limited to a historical understanding of past events, void of emotional complexities.
Concluding with thoughts about who has authority over the retelling of personal accounts during the civil war, not only does the author and their relation to the Civil War play an important role in interpreting historical texts, the style in which the text is presented helps determine the reader’s ability to process what they read. The authors themselves must claim ownership of the ethos of their writings, as it is not possible for the contemporary reader to understand beyond the logos of the text.
Works Cited
Alcott, Louisa May. "The Brothers." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, Nov. 1863. Web. 02
Oct. 2016
Douglass, Frederick. "Men of Color, To Arms!" (1863) Frederick Douglass, Men of Color, To
Arms! | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., 23 Feb. 1863. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.