Comments on: Interview with Sally Jenkins & John Stauffer co-authors of “The State of Jones” http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/ An examination of the men, regiments and brigades that fought in the American Civil War - Plus book reviews, Author Interviews and Photo Essays Tue, 15 May 2012 12:48:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Confessions of a Small-Town Texas Gadfly « Renegade South http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Confessions of a Small-Town Texas Gadfly « Renegade South Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:45:10 +0000 http://thismightyscourge.com/?p=1283#comment-563 [...] you and your co-author’s remarks about me in your interviews last June with Mike Noirot of The Mighty Scourge, and on Diane Rehm’s NPR show. Who are you [...] [...] you and your co-author’s remarks about me in your interviews last June with Mike Noirot of The Mighty Scourge, and on Diane Rehm’s NPR show. Who are you [...]

]]> By: Michael Noirot http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Michael Noirot Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:00:54 +0000 http://thismightyscourge.com/?p=1283#comment-146 Jonathan, Thank you for your comment. I have never read Victoria Bynum's book. For me, the book was fascinating as it was new material for me. I know the authors had uncovered a lot of new source material in their travels to Mississippi, primarily from relatives of Knight. The authors were also quick to point out, in the interview, that Bynum had written a quality book on Knight and Unionism in Jones County. Jonathan,
Thank you for your comment. I have never read Victoria Bynum’s book. For me, the book was fascinating as it was new material for me. I know the authors had uncovered a lot of new source material in their travels to Mississippi, primarily from relatives of Knight. The authors were also quick to point out, in the interview, that Bynum had written a quality book on Knight and Unionism in Jones County.

]]> By: Jonathan Odell http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Jonathan Odell Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:50:31 +0000 http://thismightyscourge.com/?p=1283#comment-145 How very disappointing. After listening to the interview I read "State of Jones," wondering what else could possibly be documented concerning Newt Knight and the Free State of Jones, considering everything that has preceded this latest publication. Well, after reading the book, I can confidently say, Nothing. The book seems to be a rehash of Bynum's well documented work, "The Free State of Jones," plus a few fictional leaps plus a few lectures from what sounds like a high school history class on the Civil War. What is most distressing is the impression that I got early on in the book that authors started out with an agenda to romanticize Newt and Rachel's relationship and to liberalized Newt's views on race, torturing evidence, rumor and supposition until it confessed. That's fine. It certainly updates the story for 21st Century sensibilities, but at least call it fiction. Of course, this treatment of the material will undoubtably make for a great movie script. But I'm sure the authors never thought of that. How very disappointing. After listening to the interview I read “State of Jones,” wondering what else could possibly be documented concerning Newt Knight and the Free State of Jones, considering everything that has preceded this latest publication. Well, after reading the book, I can confidently say, Nothing. The book seems to be a rehash of Bynum’s well documented work, “The Free State of Jones,” plus a few fictional leaps plus a few lectures from what sounds like a high school history class on the Civil War. What is most distressing is the impression that I got early on in the book that authors started out with an agenda to romanticize Newt and Rachel’s relationship and to liberalized Newt’s views on race, torturing evidence, rumor and supposition until it confessed. That’s fine. It certainly updates the story for 21st Century sensibilities, but at least call it fiction. Of course, this treatment of the material will undoubtably make for a great movie script. But I’m sure the authors never thought of that.

]]> By: Michael Noirot http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Michael Noirot Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:21:34 +0000 http://thismightyscourge.com/?p=1283#comment-142 Victoria, Thank you for providing feedback on this article. I certainly look forward to your new book coming out and would be pleased to feature it on my blog. Best Regards, Michael Noirot Chief Blogger http://ThisMightyScourge.com/ Victoria,
Thank you for providing feedback on this article. I certainly look forward to your new book coming out and would be pleased to feature it on my blog.

Best Regards,
Michael Noirot
Chief Blogger
http://ThisMightyScourge.com/

]]> By: Victoria Bynum http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/06/20/interview-with-sally-jenkins-john-stauffer-co-authors-of-the-state-of-jones/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Victoria Bynum Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:27:36 +0000 http://thismightyscourge.com/?p=1283#comment-141 I listened to your interview with Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer with great interest. I am the "woman" that Ms. Jenkins referred to as having written a book about the Free State of Jones. For the record, I am a senior historian with a doctorate from the University of California, San Diego. The title of my book is "The Free State of Jones," (University of North Carolina Press, 2001), not "The Legend of the Free State of Jones," as stated by Jenkins. And, despite Mr. Stauffer's remark that historians have largely ignored Southern Unionism, my work is only one of many fine studies on that topic. My next book, "Southern Communities at War," (UNC Press, spring 2010), is a collection of essays about various Unionist communities, and will include an in-depth analysis of Newt Knight's thirty-year effort to gain compensation as a Unionist. Those interested in knowing more about my work may visit my blog at http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com Thank you, Victoria Bynum I listened to your interview with Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer with great interest. I am the “woman” that Ms. Jenkins referred to as having written a book about the Free State of Jones. For the record, I am a senior historian with a doctorate from the University of California, San Diego.

The title of my book is “The Free State of Jones,” (University of North Carolina Press, 2001), not “The Legend of the Free State of Jones,” as stated by Jenkins. And, despite Mr. Stauffer’s remark that historians have largely ignored Southern Unionism, my work is only one of many fine studies on that topic.

My next book, “Southern Communities at War,” (UNC Press, spring 2010), is a collection of essays about various Unionist communities, and will include an in-depth analysis of Newt Knight’s thirty-year effort to gain compensation as a Unionist.

Those interested in knowing more about my work may visit my blog at http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com

Thank you,
Victoria Bynum

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