Taut free verse tells the little-known story of the first contraband camp of the Civil War—seen by some historians as the "beginning of the end of slavery in America." One night in 1861, three escaped slaves made their way from the Confederate line to a Union-held fort. The runaways were declared "contraband of war" and granted protection. As word spread, thousands of runaway slaves poured into the fort, seeking their freedom. These "contrabands" made a home for themselves, building the first African American community in the country. In 1863, they bore witness to one of the first readings of the Emancipation Proclamation in the South—beneath the sheltering branches of the tree now known as Emancipation Oak.
About the Author
Susan VanHeke is a journalist and author as well as the former publisher and editor of Original Cool, a rockabilly/swing magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Spin, Creem, Goldmine, the Washington Post, and the Virginian-Pilot. She is the author of Race with the Devil: Gene Vincent's Life in the Fast Lane; Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story; Roadwork: 30 Years Touring with The Who, Rolling Stones, and Eagles, written with Tom Wright; and Flak Jacket Rock, written with Dean Ellis Kohler. She lives in Virginia.
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