The reconstruction of Southern states takes another step forward today when Louisiana delegates assemble in New Orleans to debate the wording of a new constitution that will abolish slavery and restore the state to the Union. Although prior to the war Louisiana claimed some of the richest counties in the nation due to the presence…
Although the war yet rages, reconstruction of the South is well underway. The Lincoln administration is soliciting oaths from citizens of the rebellious states prior to re-admitting a given state back into the Union. Much to the relief of the president, the response to his good faith overtures is being well-received in portions of the…
John R. Bowles, born June 13, 1826 in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a free black and a Baptist minister. As a young man, Bowles settled near Chillicothe in Ross County, Ohio, marrying Sarah Jane Bryant in 1848. There the couple grew their family, in addition to participating in the Underground Railroad. At thirty years of age,…