The release of Battlelog 1.7 represents a major milestone: narratives for all 39 military actions in Virginia and West Virginia from May through July 1861 have been completed and revised with the most accurate and up-to-date information on what happened, where, when, and why. So what’s next for our encyclopedia?
Well, we have the military aspects of the conflict nearly mapped out. We know where clashes took place and their role in larger campaigns. With a few minor exceptions, we know exactly which units and commanders were involved, how many men took part, and how many casualties they suffered.
For the next few months, I would like to shift focus to what Virginia looked like in early 1861. What was its economy like, and how did it contribute to regional differences? What role did free black Virginians play in these events? What were women doing? Were they caught up in the same conflict over secession as the men, even though they couldn’t vote?
We often study the military aspects of the war as if they were detached from economic and political events, but we know that wasn’t the case. Passions were inflamed during this tumultuous period, and everyone was rushing to choose a side or trying to stay out of it and weather the storm as best they could.
At the moment, I’m creating a series of maps based on the 1860 census showing Virginia’s economic and demographic trends. I, for one, was surprised to learn how much corn the state produced. I was always under the impression that tobacco was its predominant crop.
This doesn’t mean a post or two won’t revisit military events. There are a couple of new skirmishes I’m trying to gather more information on for possible inclusion in our encyclopedia. But I think exploring these civilian aspects of life in the Old Dominion in 1861 will help fill in the bigger picture.
