When the Jessamine Grows

When the Civil War began in 1861, North Carolina was a border state—a pro-enslavement state that remained in the Union. In her Author’s Note, Donna Everhart explains that the divisions in North Carolina were not uncommon:

You had to imagine these Border States had citizens who wondered what their state governments would do while hoping they wouldn’t become involved. It’s also probable there were individuals or families in states that did secede more quickly who held secret unbiased views (373-74).

Everhart adds that North Carolina was mostly rural, and most people in North Carolina at the time were “yeoman farmers, or skilled laborers” who worked the land, while it was the smaller percentages of middle-class and wealthy Southerners who were enslavers (374). These yeoman farmers often lived modestly, growing crops primarily for subsistence rather than profit, and were less likely to have enslaved workers compared to the wealthy plantation owners. The limited presence of enslavement among the general population fueled ambivalence about secession and the Confederacy’s broader goals, as many North Carolinians felt disconnected from the interests of the elite class of enslavers. Shortly after the Battle of Fort Sumter, North Carolina seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. However, North Carolina remained divided, with many North Carolinians supporting the Union, especially in the western region. This division was evident in the number of North Carolinians who fought on both sides of the war; approximately 125,000 men served in the Confederate army, but at least 15,000 joined the Union forces. The tension between Unionists and Confederates created an environment of distrust and fear within communities, leading to violent clashes and deepened family rifts. In When the Jessamine Grows, Joetta’s father-in-law, her sons, and her brother all support the Confederacy. However, Joetta’s sister and brother-in-law support the Union. Joetta and Ennis are neutral, siding with neither the Union nor the Confederacy, which leads to their social ostracization. Their experience reflects the broader reality of life in divided border states, where taking a neutral stance was often seen as a betrayal, leading to social ostracism, targeted aggression, and even threats of violence. This societal pressure to choose a side exemplifies the heightened tensions faced by many families living in North Carolina during the Civil War era.