The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832

by Taylor, Alan

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As an author, my debts are many, but a pleasure to acknowledge. This project began in the mid-1990s during a visit to the Nova Scotia Archives, where I first encountered the records of black refugees from the Chesapeake, revealing a story entirely new to me. At that archives, I benefited greatly from the assistance of Barry Cahill; from the sage advice of my friend and fellow researcher David Jaffee; and from the generosity and hospitality of Marian Binkley and Jack Crowley. More recently, Dr. Henry Bishop and Dr. Afua Cooper provided insights drawn from their own work with the records and legacy of the refugee communities. Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Bruce Gilchrest provided splendid hospitality, including a revealing tour of the Halifax Citadel Army Museum.

  Fifteen years passed before I could return to the intriguing tale of the Chesapeake refugees. Thanks to the University of Richmond, I had the good fortune to hold the Douglas Southall Freeman Professorship during the fall of 2010, which enabled me to explore the archives and libraries of Virginia, where I found a surprising wealth of documentation, making this book possible. At the University of Richmond, I enjoyed great support from the president, Ed Ayers; the best of chairs, Hugh West; and wonderful colleagues, especially Joanna Drell, Woody Holton, Robert Kenzer, Manuella Meyer, John Pagan, Carol Summers, and Doug Winiarski. My sojourn in Richmond was also enriched by the generous friendship of Mark and Lynn Valeri. Mark McGarvie helped to kick start my work by sharing his own interests in St. George Tucker and Chinese food.

  I received great assistance from the staff at the Virginia Historical Society, particularly Canan Boomer, Jamison Davis, Bill Obrochta, and Katherine Wilkins; and from the archivists at the Library of Virginia, especially Brent Tarter and Minor Weisiger. I am especially grateful to Brent for sharing his formidable knowledge of Virginia history and its sources. A trip to the special collections at the Duke University Library proved especially rewarding thanks to the staff, particularly Josh Larkin-Rowley. I also enjoyed the hospitality of Kathleen DuVal and Marty Smith, although I did suffer a steady string of humiliating defeats at board games invented or adapted by their sons Quinton and Cal.

  My research and writing benefited enormously from a fellowship at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville, where I received extraordinary suppor
t from Christa Dierksheide, Mary Scott Fleming, and Mary Mason Williams. I never lacked for sources thanks to the work of the librarians Anna Berkes, Jack Robertson, and Endrina Tay. Laura Voisin George, Jeff Looney, Cinder Stanton, and Gaye Wilson provided valuable research leads and suggestions. I am also grateful to the center’s director, Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy, for arranging the fellowship and sharing his own expertise.

  My sojourn in Charlottesville proved especially pleasant thanks to the generous hospitality and great, good spirits of my amigos Pedro and Kristen Onuf and new friends Alice and Jon Cannon. I enjoyed an especially memorable and revealing visit to Bremo, John Hartwell Cocke’s former plantation, thanks to Andrea Cumbo, who shared her insights into slavery. At the University of Virginia, Max Edelson, Gary Gallagher, John Stagg, and Liz Varon generously gave of their time and expertise.

  I proceeded to the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where I spent two rewarding weeks as the Frederick Douglass Fellow, for which I thank the generous and able director, Adam Goodheart, and his staff: Michael Buckley, Lois Kitz, and Jill Ogline Titus. During my visit to Chestertown, I also enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Donna and Kenny Miller, who graciously arranged a townball match. Despite having the teams stacked against me, justice and decency prevailed in a victory that would have thrilled Quinton DuVal Smith. I also thank Joan and Richard Ben Cramer for offering the best of company during my sojourn.

  While in Maryland, I had the good fortune to research at the Maryland Historical Society, where I received able guidance from Katherine Gallagher, Dustin Meeker, and Francis O’Neill. At the Maryland State Archives, I enjoyed generous support from the archivist, Edward C. Papenfuse, and his staff, particularly Maya D. Davis, Rachel Frazier, and Owen Lourie. I owe my greatest Maryland debt to Ralph Eshelman, who shared his extraordinary knowledge of the local history and geography. I spent a delightful and revealing day exploring the Patuxent Valley with Ralph and his wife, Evelyn, who kept us on the right roads. Ralph, Burt Kummerow, and Gerry Embleton also helped me locate and obtain key illustrations.