-----Original Message-----
From: H-South Review Editor Ian Binnington [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 October, 2001 2:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: H-South Review: Foley Replies to Schwarz


I appreciate the thoughtful reply of Professor Philip Schwarz to my review.
He is correct when he writes that approximately half of all Virginians
migrated to other slave states. In my review of the book I had originally
included some statistical evidence which documented this movement, but it
seemed awkward and unwieldy and thus it was deleted. Having said that, the
review limits itself to migration to free states.

With regard to George Gilliam and his family, Professor Schwarz is quite
correct. My review pointed out that a number of free blacks left Virginia
in the wake of Nat Turner's revolt, and I erred when I included Gilliam in
this group. Gilliam and his family left as restrictions on free blacks
grew, a trend that only gained momentum after August of 1831.

I appreciate Professor Schwarz's comments about a map of Virginia. I would
simply reiterate that if a second edition of this fine book comes off the
presses, I would push for a map to be included. I find that many college
students today are not as knowledgeable when it comes to geography as were
previous generations. The inclusion of a map would help them locate towns,
counties, and important topographical features, such as rivers and
mountains. I also think that the inclusion of a map will broaden the appeal
of this book to scholars who are not specialists in Virginia history.

Finally, I hope Professor Schwarz continues his research in white migration
from slavery. The secession of the western Virginia counties in 1861, into
what became West Virginia in 1863, is an important and relatively
unexplored topic. What were the most important factors in this secession
movement? Opposition to slavery? Long-standing grievances against eastern
planters? The proximity of Union troops? If it is the latter, we might see
an interesting parallel with what occurred as the Union Army moved into the
slaveholding regions of the South. In those cases, slaves fled their
plantations in large numbers in the search for freedom. Perhaps white
Virginians in the western counties did something similar. I hope Professor
Schwarz can answer these questions for us. I look forward to reading more
from him about this exciting topic.

James Foley
University of Mississippi
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