In 2017, there was much controversy over old built monuments to people who, despite whatever personal accomplishments were racist, or represented racist ideals, in the extreme, in their lifetime. Around the globe, from Cape Town, South Africa to Oxford, England to various states in America, people were protesting to have these old testaments to hatred torn down. Many were vandalised. Soon though, the furore died down, and despite all the loud voices to the contrary, the vast majority of these monuments have stayed right where history had erected them.
Little did Bahamians know, as they watched the goings on across the world regarding these monuments, that one of the very first of these erected, to a Confederate general was made and displayed right on its very shores, on Frederick Street, Nassau.
It was made almost entirely of shells from the beach fronts of New Providence.
The sons of the South were alive and well, in Nassau, in 1864.
Bahamian Ties To Southern Slaveowners
One of the more shameful histories we find hidden within the curved annals and darkly lit corridors of Bahamian time, is our great effort to assist the South during the American Civil War, the bitter and bloody war over the question of slavery. The Bahamas, actively assisted Southern slaveowners to fund their fight to keep slavery alive. They did this despite slavery being abolished in the Bahamas just thirty years before. Bahamians did this by running the Blockade. Running the Blockade allowed Confederate goods to reach their destination and thereby receive payment. Money from these efforts help fund the war. It made many Bahamians rich in the process, but prolonged the agony of slaves in South of America, and furthered the bloodshed of war.
The years of Blockade running drew condemnation and severe criticism from the North well after the end of hostilities. Blockade running, as history showed, helped to prolong the American Civil War.
What has never been seemingly addressed by those who lived at the time is, what would have been the consequences for negroes in The Bahamas, had the South won the war.
WHO WAS STONEWALL JACKSON?
Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and the best-known Confederate commander after General Robert E. Lee.
Jackson was injured at the Battle of Chancellorsville, in a case of friendly fire. It was dark, Jackson and his party were fatally mistaken for Yankees. “As Jackson and his staff were returning to camp on May 2, they were mistaken for a Union cavalry force by the 18th North Carolina Infantry regiment who shouted, “Halt, who goes there?”, but fired before evaluating the reply. Frantic shouts by Jackson’s staff identifying the party were replied to by Major John D. Barry with the retort, “It’s a damned Yankee trick! Fire!” A second volley was fired in response; in all, Jackson was hit by three bullets, two in the left arm and one in the right hand. Several other men in his staff were killed, in addition to many horses. Darkness and confusion prevented Jackson from getting immediate care.”
How did the Bahamas come to be part of Confederate history?
Legally, slavery in British West Indian colonies ended in 1834, but the apprenticeship system came into force, which was really just slavery by another title. It seems though that the spirit of slavery was taking longer to die in the islands. It was still alive and well in the Bahamas.
In 1864, Nassau had erected the largest home constructed monument on the island, to the recently deceased Confederate General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson.
It was built on Frederick Street, Nassau which is bordered Shirley Street and Bay Street, by a Mr. T. J. Mott of Schrimshaw & Mott, News dealers.