John Washington's Civil War: A Slave Narrative

by John Washington, Crandall Shifflett (Editor)

In 1872, just seven years after his emancipation, a thirty-four-year-old former slave named John Washington penned the story of his life, calling it "Memorys of the Past." One hundred and twenty years later, in the early 1990s, historian Crandall Shifflett stumbled upon Washington's forgotten manuscript at the Library of Congress while researching Civil War Fredericksburg. Over the ensuing decade, Shifflett sought to learn more about this Virginia slave and the people and events he so vividly portrays. John Washington's Civil War presents this remarkable slave narrative in its entirety, together with Shifflett's detailed annotations on the life-changing events Washington records.
While joining the canon of better-known slave narratives by Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and Solomon Northup, Washington's account illuminates a far different world. The son of a slave woman and an unknown white man, Washington never lived outside the seventy-five-mile radius that included Richmond and Fredericksburg, until his emancipation. His narrative spans his experiences as a household slave, a laborer in the Fredericksburg tobacco factory, and a hotel servant on the eve of the Civil War. He also tells of his bold venture across Union lines and his experiences as a slave under Union officers.
Washington's recollections allow for a singular look at the more personal aspects of slave life. Forced attendance at the slaveowner's church, much-anticipated gatherings of neighboring slaves at harvesttime, even a brief episode of courtship among slaves are among the events described in this remarkable narrative. On a broader scale, Washington was a witness to key moments of the Civil War, and his chronicle includes his thoughts about the wider political turmoil surrounding him, including his dramatic account of watching the Union Army mass around Fredericksburg as it prepared to invade the town. An excellent introduction and expert annotations by Shifflett reconstruct Washington's life through his death in 1918 and provide informative historical background and context to Washington's recollections.
An unprecedented window into the life of a Virginia bondsman, John Washington's Civil Warcommunicates with real urgency what it meant to be a slave during a period of extreme crisis that sounded the notes of freedom for some and the end of a way of life for others.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors publishing under this name are:

John Washington, American journalist, translator and author

Reviews

[chris ༄ ༘⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

rather than reframe its historical landscape, this narrative revives the living histories that exist throughout the city and surrounding counties of fredericksburg, and while often drowned out via the tourist carriage rides, eerie antique shops, and even eerier confederate landmarks every quarter mile or so, washington’s radical and abolitionist ideals and legacies remain present and ever pertinent within our own time and i wish i had come across this book a lot sooner or even as a child—it would have provided some much needed context and solace on all those field trips…

[Kateri Eastman · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Washnington’s account should be required reading in Fredericksburg. What a naturally talented writer he was.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. My one big complaint is that I would have liked it to be a little longer. Based on the title (which I don't think was John Washington's fault), I was expecting more about the Civil War, but Washington's narrative ended even before the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. I did learn that Fredericksburg had changed hands a couple of times in the war before the major battle. However, John Washington got his freedom and didn't stay with the soldiers in 1862, so I guess as far as he was concerned, his narrative didn't need to be longer. The historian in me is aching to hear about his life after he got his freedom, though.

All in all, it was a pretty nice, easy read.

[Malika-Liki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book on slavery, lived from the inside. A very important sight of how slaves lived some events and reached out for their journey to freedom.

[Ann Marie Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book written by my Maternal Uncle Crandall Shifflett.

[MB · Rating 3 out of 5]

for genealogical research

[Julia McAvinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books written on my hometown. I walk down the same streets over 100 years later and hear John Washington's stories about those streets!