The new British
Consul, Robert Bunch, was not happy with his placement in Charleston.
He hated the weather, detested slavery, found the town provincial,
and the people arrogant. He'd been stationed there with the
assignment to get a repeal of the Negro Seaman Act. Under this act,
British sailors who were Negros were taken off their ship when it was
in port and jailed. Britain wanted this law repealed and felt Bunch
was the man to do it.
In spite of his
dislike of Charleston and it's elite, Bunch had to become not only
friendly with them, but a member of their society. He managed this
very well, so well in fact that as war approached some in the North
distrusted him as a secessionist. His reports to London and Lord
Lyons, the ambassador in Washington, were some of the best
intelligence they received on the Southern position. However, Bunch
was playing a dangerous game,and in the end it almost caught up with
him.
This is an excellent
book about the Civil War. It is well researched including much of the
correspondence from Bunch with the tensions in the South as
background. In Bunch's mind and in the mind of Lord Palmerston, Prime
Minister, the issue was slavery and the potential reopening of the
African slave trade. It is very clear in this book that in fact
reopening the slave trade and conquering territory in Central and
South America for more land to support their cotton based economy was
a major consideration in the minds of many in South Carolina.
I highly recommend
this book. Bunch is a fascinating character. Although the book is
serious history, the description of his activities makes the book as
interesting to read as a novel. If you're a Civil War buff, don't
miss this one.
I reviewed the book
for Books for Bloggers.
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