On this side of history

Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President

n April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.

On April 9, 1865, the Civil War ended when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The final surrender of Confederate troops on the western periphery came in Galveston, Texas, on June 2.

During this war, thousands of Jewish men, including West Point graduates, fought on the side of Confederacy, guided primarily by their family affiliations and allegiances, honor and integrity. During this time, many of them were engaged in battles against their family, friends and business partners from the North. It is an unfortunate normalcy of wartime that we see in many conflicts throughout history, including both 20th century World Wars, the Cold War and modern day.

By that time the U.S. South was opened to Jewish settlers for just 100 or so years. Notably, for example, Louisiana since 1724 and Florida since 1763. Although both South and North Carolinas’ earliest Jewish settlers arrived as part of British colonization in the 16th century, they perished with the rest, and the real Jewish life there was established in the last quarter of 18th century. Most prominent Jewish families of those early days were related by both blood and trade.

Judah P. Benjamin, who served as Louisiana’s U.S. Senator March 4, 1853Feb. 4, 1861, was known as “the brain of the Confederacy.” He served in three posts during the Civil War, finishing as Secretary of State (Confederate). His Jewish face was on Confederate paper money. Born on Aug. 6, 1811, on the island of St. Croix, Benjamin was first cousin to Florida’s first Jewish statesman, David Levy Yulee, born June 12, 1810, on the island of St. Thomas.

Confederate Quartermaster General Abraham C. Myers was born in Georgetown, South Carolina on May 11, 1811. His family settled in the Carolinas in the 1760s. His grandfather was the first rabbi in Charleston, North Carolina, his father a mayor of Georgetown. The City of Fort Myers has proudly worn their name for more than 170 years, yet so few residents know why.

Born within one year from one another, these three Jewish men left an indelible mark on our country’s history. Their names are respected by some of current-day southern communities in which their families lived. Most northerners, including Jews, have never heard of them.

The name of President Ulysses S. Grant is generally revered. Despite the dirty history of his Union Army General Order No. 11, which was issued when he was Major General on Dec. 17, 1862. This order was to expel all Jews from Grant's military district, comprising areas of Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky, effectively blaming “Jews and other unprincipled traders” for corruption among Union Army personnel and the illicit trade in southern-produced cotton.

These are just facts. You can learn more and participate in discussions during future Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida presentations and events. Your membership and generous support help us in our work. Sign up to receive announcements, reminders and news by email. Donate online, mail or contact us at office@jhsswf.org.

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