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contraband
Civil War Encyclopedia >> Terms
| May 24, 1861 | Benjamin Butler uses the term "contraband" to describe slaves who have crossed into the Northern camps | |
| Benjamin Butler | ||
| Civil War Firsts |
contraband
According to Websters Dictionary a contraband was "An escaped slave during the Civil War who fled to or was taken behind Union lines," but the term "contraband" or "contraband slave" precedes the start of Civil War by almost 100 years. The first use of the term dates back to 1762 in Quaker documents.
During the Civil War the term became the Northern word for slave and was generally applied to slaves who voluntarily crossed into Union lines or were on land captured by the Union army. The term slave was still used when referring to those still controlled by Confederates. The first use of the term during The Civil War is commonly credited to Benjamin Butler.
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According to Websters Dictionary a contraband was "An escaped slave during the Civil War who fled to or was taken behind Union lines," but the term "contraband" or "contraband slave" precedes the start of Civil War by almost 100 years. The first use of the term dates back to 1762 in Quaker documents.
During the Civil War the term became the Northern word for slave and was generally applied to slaves who voluntarily crossed into Union lines or were on land captured by the Union army. The term slave was still used when referring to those still controlled by Confederates. The first use of the term during The Civil War is commonly credited to Benjamin Butler.
Links appearing on this page:
Civil War Encyclopedia >> Terms
contraband was last changed on - December 5, 2006
contraband was added on - December 4, 2006
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